Whitney Mumm Blog 6

 

I chose the Statue of Liberty because it represents an important part of my culture. The Statue of Liberty is a national symbol of freedom. For me, this monument stands for my freedom.  I can become whatever I want to be and live however I want to live. The State of Liberty represents my right to be my own person and live somewhere where everybody has the same opportunities. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have in the United States. I get to get a good education, have the right to speak my mind, and get to meet people of different backgrounds. People from all over the world saw this statue as they arrived on a boat knowing that they were on their way to a better life. To many people it was a sign of hope.  A long time ago my family also made the trip to the United States from Germany. I am so grateful that they had that opportunity.

The picture below is of me standing in front of the Statue of Liberty.

Adam Piper: Key representation of culture

I am big into music and could listen to music all day if I could so I would have the Star Spangled Banner represents a big part of our culture.  This song was written by Francis Scott Key as he saw the american flag in the war of 1812.  I believe this song is important because it represents our country as a free country unlike a lot of other different cultures in the world where they don't have the same rights as we do.  The flag represents freedom which is part of our cultural identity as an american.  Choosing this song is important because it is a part of everyday life and is sung before every sports event in our country.

The Star Spangled Banner

Evan Hummel Blog 6

If I could choose one object that would define my identity it would be "The Promised Land"by Bruce Springsteen.  It encompasses my spiritual background and also my taste in music.  Bruce Springsteen is probably my favorite musical artists.  I connect with his music because most of his songs talk about the working class, and everyday life for poorer Americans.  I believe his music defines a lot of American culture good and bad.  My parents have working class roots, my dad traveled across the country and worked his way from the bottom to own his own business.  My mother came from a family of five and was poor most of her life.  I live in a middle class neighborhood and haven't endured the same struggles as them, but I still feel proud of where my parents came from.  Their struggle makes me want to work harder and strive for something better.  I don't think money defines a person, but how hard they work does and I think in many ways Bruce Springsteen's music epitomizes that.  Below I have provided a link to Bruce Springsteen's "Promised Land."

What Represents My Culture

When people ask me about my culture (usually stemming from a long conversation about the proper way to pronounce my last name), I proudly tell them I'm from Latvia. This then leads to a several questions, beginning with "Where's that?" and usually ending with "So...are you pretty much just Russian, then?" It's kind of hard to describe the Latvian culture to someone who has never experienced it or who has never been to the country.
However, if I was going to choose one object to completely encompass our culture, I would probably choose some Latvian food item, such as pīrāgi (Latvian bacon rolls) or Nāc Rītā Atkal (ground beef with spices wrapped in dough). Growing up in a Latvian household, I hold many fond memories of my dad making all sorts of Latvian dishes. For Easter, my dad always made Paska. On snow days, my dad would get up early to make my me and my brothers Latvian pancakes. When my friends would come over, my mom would cook things like Beef Stroganoff and Karbonade (breaded pork chops).
My dad explained to me that when he was growing up, cooking was a way of life. All of the Latvian families in his neighborhood constantly got together to share stories and tales over a meal. I fondly recalled afternoons at my grandma's house, all of the smells and tastes of traditional Latvian cuisine. When we would stop eating, she would beg us to eat more, telling it was an insult to her cooking otherwise. Latvians express their love for family and for culture in the food they cook and share with one another. 
When I moved out of the house and got my own apartment, my parent's gift to me was my very own Latvian cookbook. The very first line in the cookbook is "Latvian cuisine is very much a reflection of the country's historic roots and geographic location." I love my Latvian cookbook, because much like my father and grandmother before me, I love to cook (and eat) traditional Latvian courses. The only thing I love more than cooking is sharing the food with friends and family.
For me, and Latvians everywhere, there is truly no greater expression of national identity and cultural pride than in the food we eat and share with one another.
--Carissa Vinovskis

I feel the best way to represent my cultural identity would be the American flag. It incorporates many traits and symbols. One of the symbols of the American flag is its colors red, white, and blue. The white stands for purity, red for valor, and blue for justice. Together these colors represent freedom which is a huge part of the American culture. There are also 13 stripes on the flag representing each of the 13 colonies that started the country. This shows that Americans know their roots, where they came from, and they hard work that got us where we are today. Seeing the American flag evokes a sense of pride for its citizens. The flag also contains 50 stars, one for each state symbolizing that we are “united”. I feel all these symbols and hidden meanings make up what it is to be an American today. It encompasses tradition, beliefs, and traits which are all a part of cultural identity.

Kyle Reikowsky

Ulli Heinicke, Alcohol in Russian Culture

This week's call with Russia brought up many interesting topics and differences. We talked about women’s situation in the workforce. The students told us that for successful women it is hard to find a man, because the men want to be the breadwinner of the families. Another argument was also that there are simply more women in Russia which makes it harder for women to find a partner. I knew that the alcohol problem is still an issue in Russia, but I am always surprised that this does not change much. However, it is so deeply rooted in its history and culture that every try to reduce alcoholism does not change much. I looked at the changes in demographics in Russia and it was interesting to see how many more women there are in the age of 50 and above. The average life expectancy of Russian men is about 60 years and it has been addressed as a national disaster.

There is a fine line between it being part of the culture and alcoholism becoming a national problem. This is a difficult problem to solve: Reduce alcoholism in a country in which drinking is a big part of the culture!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCN5RQlUqXA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjIAlFaRs_k

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/opinion/17Schrad.html?_r=0

Kelsey Robinson BLOG 5

I thought our discussion this week with Russia was extremely interesting and very controversial. In America, we pride ourselves on being the land of the free. We have equal rights for men and women. This has allowed for women to obtain better and better jobs. They eventually can receive high up positions where in most cases men would be placed. This has allowed for women in those positions to be stereotyped as feminists and strong women. They are typically seen as opposing men and never getting married. I think in our society though, it is normal for women to graduate college and get a job. Many women these days enter the workforce and many receive higher income than males. What was interesting in our discussion with Russia, was that they did not think it was for the best that women receive jobs in higher up positions. The believe that many women should be in the secretary occupation or jobs similar to that in order to be in the home and tending to the family. It is strange to hear that because in our society we do believe women should be able to take care of their families, but also have the ability to work. I think more and more in America we see stay at home dads these days and a role reversal. I like that Russia is more traditional in the way they view the roles of males and females but still think it shouldn't limit a person's opportunity regardless of gender.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57454755/as-gender-roles-change-are-men-out-of-step/