Culture PhotoVoice Project

As we grow older and learn more and more about our society and life we come to the conclusion that sometimes what we know as "right" is wrong for others.My family goes Snowmobiling every winter in Canada (or upstate New York as alternatives) so we LOVE the winter season. My grandmother actually comes out with us and rides the sleds herself. Under "norms" a female, back in 1970s would have never been seen driving a snow motorcycle as my grandmother does, and even nowadays STILL we deem it not normal to see an elderly operate heavy machinery! 

During our trip to Canada I found myself in a Culture Shock. Canada is a lot like the United States but a bit different, a difference you can feel. Many restrictions that exist in the U.S. are nonexistent in Canada (almost) but one thing I found extraordinary is the language. A bilingual country yet what seemed to be monolingual in the province of Québec where they speak French.

Continuing with Culture Shock, Quebecois, along with the cuisine was something astonishing. In my family our cuisine is mainly Italian and American. One day it'll be burger night and we'd eat cheese burgers but the other nights for dinner my mother would cook an Italian meal, even though she's not Italian. My parents taught me to try everything I've never tried before so I'd eat just about anything! While in Canada I fell in love with Escargot, it's snails with mozzarella cheese, garlic, and olive oil--delicious! 

Language in Canada is such an amazing thing that affects culture. Canada is divided into provinces and every province except that of Québec speak English—Québec speaking French. I wasn't completely lost while there but everyone looked at me as if I was. With this language you can be greeted in many different ways of which in English it'd only be, "hello" and "good morning!" In my household we mainly speak English and only greet each other by a simple, "hello" or "hey!"

Here at home we're all familiar with credit and debit cards, so too are Canadians and a cultural lag I had was recognizing the use of "chip and pin." While back at home we just swipe our cards they insert them in a slot. I use this example because nowadays these cards have become such an important factor in our lives that it truly is culture!

Society. I feel that this is the same everywhere that we go. Here at home or away in Canada. Quebecois share the same society as I do home. They speak the same language and religion. Society is what keeps us together. When we're in a place where every body else around us shares the same concept as happens in our own family it keeps us afloat. My family speaks two languages: mainly English and occasionally Spanish, with French very rarely. We share the same religion and you may say, "why wouldn't you?" and the answer is because I could have chosen to go a "different" way. That's society here, anywhere.
Behaviors affect the way society is viewed. I usually tie behaviors with language, the way you carry yourself by the way you speak. Language can be classified as "slang" and "proper." Usually those who speak a language properly would behave in a different way than those who do not. My parents speak our language properly, though my mother may have an accent she does not use slang terms, therefore whenever I hear some one speaking with those terms I view them not as professional as they could be. Slang-speakers would clothe differently too. Of course, not only language can be a determining factor of behaviors. Each family has morals. In my family my grandfather taught me and my siblings to always say please and thank you when asking for something--even if it's asking you to call me.

Symbols are everywhere and even what isn't a symbol for you may be a symbol for someone else. I'm very patriotic, so patriotic that I actually have a HUGE flag hanging on my wall displaying the love that I have for my country. Flags are very big symbols that can also affect people's behaviors. Cellphones I view as a symbol of freedom--we can explore the Internet and research things we had no clues about.

Beliefs could also be tied with symbols and religion or morals and norms. A belief I can say we all share is the right to liberty and pursuit of happiness. Our society has grown to have the belief that we are all created equal--it's on the constitution and it's what democracy is based upon.

Culture War. In our cultures we all have something that has a major disagreement with the way you do things. My family is Catholic and a culture war that we have at hand is same sex marriage and abortion. Catholics are open to everything--at least I am. You have the right to love who you love. My priest reminds us that God is LOVE. This is also a national matter (gov't), providing equality to all.

Knowledge is key. In my household we know that knowledge gets us far. While many on a computer may be on facebook, I like to look up things, finding terminologies I'm unaware of--looking it up, gaining insights. Knowledge affects our culture because it affects our beliefs, behaviors, society, and norms. As knowledge is gained, change is proclaimed. For example, the news constantly gives us knowledge of what's going on out in the world.


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