CULTURE

The Nacirema activity showed me that it is easy to misunderstand the idea of culture, depending on how it is described.  Although my students were confused and shocked while reading, the cultural rituals (going to the doctor, seeing a dentist, washing their faces, etc.) are actually quite familiar to them.  The author of this article chose to describe these rituals using language that made these familiar habits seem foreign and weird.  This shows me that culture can be easily misunderstood.

With this in mind, culture is an important topic to learn about.  Understanding my own personal cultures helps me know what is important to me and my ancestors.  It shows me what I value, how I think and guides my behavior.  Understanding other cultures helps me better understand why people act the way they do and believe the faiths/ideas that they believe in.  Culture helps inform why the world is the way it us.  In this way, understanding culture could help us solve problems around the world.

Sense of Self

    An important aspect of my "sense of self" would have to be the trait of kindness.  Although it's difficult to treat all people with kindness, important people in my life have raised me with an awareness to the feelings of others.  This above all other characteristics has been instilled in my from a young age and now I try to carry it into my interactions with others.  I've found that this tendency makes me prone to being too trusting of others.  I also have the tendency to let my own self esteem wane based on the way others treat me.

   Stubbornness and hardheadedness is a trait that I, unfortunately, exhibit frequently.  When faced with contradiction or constructive criticism I automatically want to continue doing things my way. Because of this, I have the tendency to mentally shut down against those people and situations that might push me out of my comfort zone.  

   

     These images show the affinity I have for education.  I love learning about new things.  I am intrigued by certain topics and love learning more about them.  This connection with learning has obviously influenced my choice of occupation, but it's also impacted how I choose to use my time and money.  Growing up, I always wanted to learn about new places and cultures.  Watching movies and shows about faraway places made me want to go there and experience them.  As an adult, used my financial resources to make traveling a priority.  While on trips, I fill my time with museums and guided tours, learning and experiencing as much as I can.

    

   I see myself as a "people person" - I seek out fulfilling and supportive relationships.  Although "alone time" is nice, I am more happy when I am with someone or people whom I care about and who care about me.  In this way, family is an important component of my life.  More than any other, my relationship with my husband Jake provides me with emotional support and happiness.  Having my daughter has also intensified this aspect of myself.  I want to spend more time interacting with her, than on other activities/endeavors. 

On a less personal level, this trait makes me seeking out connections with coworkers and acquaintances.  I despise confrontation of all forms and prefer stable, positive relationships with those around me.

The coolest place I've ever been...

... is the city of Riomaggiore in Italy.  Riomaggiore is located on the coast of the Ligurian Sea.  The houses are all painted different colors, stacked one right next to the other.  The seafood is caught fresh daily, meaning it is delicious!  

Buddhism cartoon

Based on what you know, is this really how a Buddhist would react?  Why or why not?

"Moving" Pictures

Below is a photo taken after Hurricane Isaac hit the community of Reserve, Louisiana.  

After analyzing it, please leave a comment.  Explain how this photo connects to the topic we're studying in class (don't be stingy with your words....EXPLAIN yourself thoroughly!).

Jewel Rico and her dog Chico are rescued from flood waters from hurricane Isaac in Reserve, Louisiana. Photograph: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

GPS shoes...and Global Studies???

Global Studies - check out this video, then read the short article below. 

 Comment on the following question: HOW DOES THIS ISSUE CONNECT TO WHAT WE'RE LEARNING?*

"Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease can now breathe a sigh of relief.Next month, shoes fitted with GPS tracking systems will hit store shelves in the U.S., reports Agence France Presse. The shoes have the potential to help the 5.4 million people in the United States with Alzheimer's.

Priced at $300 and created by GTX, the shoes' heels hold a global positioning system (GPS) to track a wandering patient with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, notes USA Today. Project adviser Andrew Carle of George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services, first suggested the company create a GPS shoes for tracking Alzheimer's patients. He told reporters that 60 percent of those who suffer from the disease wander, and about half of them who aren't found in 24 hours may risk death because of dehydration or injury.

The New York Times explains the shoes require a $30 to $40 dollar subscription monitoring service, but they'll certainly give caregivers peace of mind as the GPS transmitters will work anywhere a cell phone receives a signal.  While there are some products, like wristbands, on the market to track people with dementia and Alzheimer's, there's no guaranteeing people will keep these devices on, says Carle on PhysOrg.com.

With the Alzheimer's Association reporting that the disease could affect 11 to 16 million people by 2050, the GPS shoe could signify a supply and demand for products that cater to the world's growing aging population, particularly those with memory loss." - From cnn.com

*WHEN YOU COMMENT, BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME SO YOU GET CREDIT:)

Day 1

Welcome to my demo blog!  

In Global Studies this year, you will be creating and updating your own personal current event blogs.  Periodically, I will ask that you find an article online and "blog" about it - i.e. respond to the article with your thoughts and opinions!  Each day things happen around the world that related to Global Studies....so blog about it!

A blog is defined as: "A Web site on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis."