Culture influences families and families influence culture, but what is culture?
Culture is an adopted set of rules or norms
that influence the way we act. It can be traditions, principles, and ideas
that contribute to a group of people. Different behaviors are acceptable in different cultures. Cheek kisses are a common greeting around the world, but I did not grow up with that so the first time someone gave me a big hug and a kiss for each cheek, it caught me off guard! After a couple months, I couldn't imagine greeting someone any other way.
I have had the opportunity to learn about different cultures from around the world and within my own country. One of my biggest learning experiences has been getting married. When two families merge, sometimes a new culture is formed or compromises are made.
I'm not trying to rag on my husband, but he rarely helps make or clean up dinner. In my family we all pitch in, it is expected, but somehow when he lived with us he found all the excuses to get out of it. I never understood this until we stayed with his family and no one helped his parent with dinner, at all! I was taken a back. But now it makes sense, this is how he grew up, it is part of his culture.
I have learned from traveling and meeting other people, this is where I get to brag.
We have had exchange students from Brazil, France, Spain, China, Austria, Denmark, and Russia. Having them live with us has allowed friendships to form and they have shared stories of how their lives at home are. I have been able to learn so much from these amazing girls!
I have also traveled to other countries myself. I went with a small group to do community service in Nicaragua for just a couple of weeks. I also lived in Cape Verde for about a year on a mission for my church. I saw how other people lived, I even got to help some of them in small ways!
In Nicaragua we taught an English class. It was so fun! They have a community center there where one of the girls in our group taught some people how to cut hair so they could turn around and do that to earn money for their families. We brought donations with us, played soccer, and got to know new people! It was such a special experience for me.
I learned even more being able to spend more time and actually live in Cape Verde. Although they used to be part Portugal, the culture is much more African. It was completely different from how I grew up! Everyone is so friendly, they all say hello or Bom dia to everyone walking down the street! This is where I learned to give big hugs and give kisses on the cheeks. Before this experience I was not a touchy feely oerson so this was a big change for me. I also tried fish head and go to go to the beach all the time!
Something that I see a lot in the American culture is valuing money so much that it actually takes away from quality of life. People spend all their life working a tiring job and taking time from their family so they can have money. Obviously this is necessary to provide for a family, but once you take it so far that you have what you need but you are just trying to get "rich", you lose what is most important. I can't help but think of the Ed Sheeran song, I don't want your money:
There ain't no diamonds,
silver or gold
That can replace a man's love in a home
She say "I don't want your money baby, oh
You know I just want your time"
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