Homework 11: Part 2

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill;

When the funds are low, and the debts are high;

And you want to smile but you have to sigh;

When care is pressing you down a bit -

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver line of the clouds of doubt;

And you can never tell how close you are;

It may be near when it seems afar.

So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit -

It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.

–Unknown

This poem describes my individuality in a nutshell because I see myself as extraordinarily devoted. As a child, I’ve always been taught to never give up because if you put your mind to it, you can do most anything. I have lived by this motto ever since and I really do believe that hard work and diligence will lead you on a path to success. I worked really hard in high school to get into my dream college and when I was denied admission, my heart sunk. I was so set on attending college in the west and I honestly couldn’t see myself anywhere else at the time so I wrote the admissions a letter to reconsider my application and why I should be a part of their school. In a few weeks, I received an email that finally accepted me to the college. It meant a lot more to me that I was admitted because of myself and not only for my academics. In the end I decided to go to college in Pennsylvania instead because it was financially smarter, but one day I’ll be in the west. From that point on, I have put a lot of effort into my schoolwork and I will maintain my academic achievements. This poem always relates to me because it I don’t think life is based on chances, but it’s in your own control. There are exclusions and some things are out of your control but (like natural disasters), you need to first realize when something is in your control and then act accordingly. Life is truly what you make it, and that is the reason I take advantage of all the time I have because you never know when it is going to run out. I don’t think that anyone should stop trying to reach their personal goals. Even if you don’t accomplish a goal, another opportunity may arise in the process. You never really know what you’re capable of until you put yourself to the test.

Homework 11: Part 1

This picture of a Coca-Cola ad represents American culture in a few ways. The United States has the highest GDP, which measures a society’s overall economic well-being. People learn about the goods and services available by advertisement. This picture shows an advertisement of the soft drink, Coca-Cola. Advertising is partially responsible for our high GDP because marketing and advertising have many techniques to get you to want to purchase their product or service. Marketing is so important to our country, it is almost impossible to go anywhere in public and not see an advertisement. Another reason why I think this picture represents our country is because it is not only advertising the drink, it also advertises the brand. Coca-Cola makes several other soft drinks, merchandise, and even its own baseball stadiums. This advertisement is speaking for all Coca-Cola products as you see it on the side of the building. Brands are another thing valued in the United States. Many people, for whatever reason, choose to buy only certain brands of a good and when you associate that brand with several different goods in several different places, the company’s revenue will go up because more products are being sold.

The picture of the Easter decorations represents the American’s love for holidays. No matter what holiday it is, you will see decorated lawns and houses. We love getting in the holiday spirit by preparing and decorating for occasion. Holidays aren’t only to celebrate the occasion though; it is also a time for family to get together. I know in my family, get-togethers do not happen very often and seldom do they occur on any other day but a holiday. Holidays are always a fun time where you get to see loved ones and spend quality time, celebrating, eating, and catching up on life.

Cultural Assignment- Homework 10

Individualism and American culture go hand in hand because individualism is a part of American culture. Everyone in my family has grown to be an independent person. Although it used to be typical for a woman’s role to be to stay at home with the children, make dinner, and clean the house, there are a lot more women in the business world today. My grandmother’s only job was to be a mother, while my grandfather worked during the week and made all of the income. After my grandfather passed away, my grandmother had to learn to be dependent on herself. Although she knew how to take care of the kids and the house, she really had no experience of employment. Nonetheless, she went back to school, earned a degree, and has now recently retired. My mother has followed in her mother’s footsteps, as I will follow in hers.  Individualism is a key component of American culture.

I have been exhibiting individualism over the past month. My mom is turning forty years old this Friday and although I am sure she would not like to be reminded, I wanted to throw her a surprise birthday party. By myself I arranged the entire thing, from invitations to decoys. All week I have been preparing the party from 300 miles away. I invited all of her friends, co-workers, and family to make my mom’s night a special one. Although individualism is a huge part of American culture, it is not the only part.

Business Day at Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a prime example of interaction that exemplifies American culture. Throughout this day students get to practice being a real businessman/businesswoman. They start by wearing the appropriate entire, which can be purchased at the Eberly School of Business at a cheap price. After students have the correct appearance they can then network with several successful businessmen who are mostly IUP alumni. Networking is especially important to American culture because they help to establish business relations. In the business world, the more people you know, the better off you will be. This is true to say about any business. Every person is unique and could possibly help you in an area that they excel in and you do not.

The members of my high school track and field team were undeniably close to one another. Not only were we a team, but we were also a family. When one person was competing, the rest of the team would gather around and cheer on their fellow teammate. In this group, there was so much support from everyone. The support meant a lot to the athletes, they always enjoyed to hear their names being screamed as they prepared for their event. We were true friends who made every athlete on our team feel like a champion. Track was not only about beating the other competitors and your personal best, it was also about everyone on the team working together and performing to the best of their ability.

Individualism: Homework 9

1. Three topics I think Americans try to avoid discussing are religion, politics, and personal income. I think Americans find it rude to talk about religion because everyone has their own beliefs that they hold to be true, while another person has different beliefs that they strongly believe. Religion seems to be a topic that is not often looked at with an open mind. A lot of people seem sensitive to the topic and do not like people to tell them that what they believe in is false. It is the same matter for politics. Politics is a topic that is argued among politics and the everyday American. The amount of money you earn in your lifetime is something that I have experienced is not something you share with others. How much you make is no one else’s business but your own. Since money is so longed for in America, it is not something people should discuss.
2. Thai people put more emphasis on the value of family than Americans do. The text said that families in Thailand care for the elderly instead of Americans who put their elderly family members in an assisted living home. Buddhists live a life of moderation, opposed to Americans who want as much as they can and the finer things in live. Thai families focus more on good morals, while American families strive to have the best child athletes or artists.
3. Something that comes to mind when I think of things that other cultures might find strange in America are the TV shows. Television shows such as 16 and Pregnant show teenagers having children at a young age without being married. Many cultures do not believe it is morally right to bear children before marriage. Another thing that comes to mind is body image and how girls strive to become thin because in the past, it was considered beautiful to be curvy and big-boned.

Individualism: Homework 9

1. Three topics I think Americans try to avoid discussing are religion, politics, and personal income. I think Americans find it rude to talk about religion because everyone has their own beliefs that they hold to be true, while another person has different beliefs that they strongly believe. Religion seems to be a topic that is not often looked at with an open mind. A lot of people seem sensitive to the topic and do not like people to tell them that what they believe in is false. It is the same matter for politics. Politics is a topic that is argued among politics and the everyday American. The amount of money you earn in your lifetime is something that I have experienced is not something you share with others. How much you make is no one else’s business but your own. Since money is so longed for in America, it is not something people should discuss.
2. Thai people put more emphasis on the value of family than Americans do. The text said that families in Thailand care for the elderly instead of Americans who put their elderly family members in an assisted living home. Buddhists live a life of moderation, opposed to Americans who want as much as they can and the finer things in live. Thai families focus more on good morals, while American families strive to have the best child athletes or artists.
3. Something that comes to mind when I think of things that other cultures might find strange in America are the TV shows. Television shows such as 16 and Pregnant show teenagers having children at a young age without being married. Many cultures do not believe it is morally right to bear children before marriage. Another thing that comes to mind is body image and how girls strive to become thin because in the past, it was considered beautiful to be curvy and big-boned.

American Life-Homework 8

1) If an international student visited IUP and went to a party he may be a bit disappointed. Movies, such as American Pie, portray college parties to be crazier than they actually are. Parties in movies show hundreds of students in a huge house, with a pool, a band, and an unlimited supply of drinks. As much as I’d like them to be, parties at IUP are nothing like the ones on TV. Another thing an international student would notice as different would be the existence of cliques. Cliques are something that is over exaggerated on television. It’s true that birds of a feather flock together but for the most part everyone at college is accepting of one another. I believe movies enhance reality to make it more appealing to the viewer. I mean, who wants to watch a movie about a plain, average life?

2. The pamphlet says that Americans view time as precious. I think Americans view time as so because there is only so much time in your life. Time is so scarce and those who appreciate life don’t want to waste any of it. When I’m shopping, I go to check out and there is a long line, I usually just put my things that I was going to purchase back and leave because as I’m waiting in line I realize that the things I’m about to buy are not worth the time spent waiting in line.  Life is so special because it could be taken away at any second, and that’s why I believe Americans want to make the most out of the time they have left.

3. Americans do not like interruptions because they communicate in turns, relaying their thoughts to others and then expecting them to do the same when they are finished.  When I’m in an argument with someone and they interrupt me, I take it as an act of disrespect and rudeness because it was my turn to say what I had to say. If I accidently chime in when someone else is trying to speak I automatically apologize because I feel like I’m not being respectful of what the other person has to say. Being a good listener is one of the best things you can be because you can learn something from everyone, and everyone likes to be focused on and heard.

4. I found the sentence, “Punishments can include…deportation from the United states, depended on the severity of the crime.” interesting because I did not know that convicts could be exiled from America. I thought that they could only be fined, put in jail, or have the death sentence. I’m curious to where they are sent if they are deported from the United States.

Homework 7: Learning from Ladakh and The Global Village Finally Arrives

Evaluating 1:            

The introduction of a market based economy affected the people’s relationships because once money came into the picture the seller wanted the product to be at a higher price and the buyer wanted it at a lower price (these feelings are natural). The same thing happened when employees wanted to be paid more than their employers wanted to give.  This disagreement started tearing the people apart. It made them dependent on things they didn’t even know existed because the people were now divided into rich and poor.

Extending 2:

In my opinion the Ladakhis were better off without money because it seemed like their community got along better and were content with being equal. Once money got involved in their life their relationships became weak. Even some of the natives were moving to the city to get better jobs and make more money. One farmer even wanted to move his family away and have them learn the English language, seeming to become more westernized.

Question 1:

I chose the sentence, “The world will not become America,” because what the text is saying Is that a lot of westernized things are making its way across the world. The world will never just be America but parts of America’s culture, language, morals, and values are making it into the everyday lives of countries all over the world. This is true about every culture actually. Cultures are being accepted and practiced by everyone. For example, there are sushi bars in Florida, and McDonalds in China.) People’s cultures seem to be colliding together.

Question 2:

One positive of a multi-cultured world is that people will be more willing to accept people, and also understand their actions. Another positive is that people have the opportunity to experience any culture and learn from those that aren’t their own. I think it is bringing the world so much closer. A negative about this could be that people will forget the culture they were raised in, or the morals they were raised by. The world may even lose all cultures into one, universal culture that exists throughout the world. Another negative could be the distortion of cultures. For example, is a Chinese restaurant in Indiana, Pennsylvania the same as a Chinese restaurant in Beijing, China?