My FaMily cULtuRe

Caught in a fix of needing to take three items that depict my family culture along with me to a place I had never been and have no clue how they live, I think I will take first a book which is my bible and will have each family member take theirs. Our pictures or video that features our family events and lastly, a familiar food. These choices are in assumption that concepts like attitudes, communications style and such abstract valuables are already with us since they are in our makeup.

                     The reason we would take our bibles is because while growing up, we have faced adverse    situations and bounced back with resilience and survival instincts that were inspired by our understanding of the words of encouragement and promises that we found in the bible. While in the University, four, out of the entire seven of us (six biological children with my niece who had become family) were in the university schooling and my dad lost his job. In this adversity, he found hope in the word of God that made him say confidently that “all things work together for good to them that love the Lord…”.  With courage inspired by the words from the bible, a chief accountant of a household company, took up a task of book sales and began to realize the bible verse that said “… whatsoever he does, prospers”. As an individual member of the family, I have had my own personal encounters with drawing strength from the same book. From my academics to my social living, that same book has guided my living and I had learn to practice spirituality with it. 

Our family bond and memory will be our identity to as many as would encounter us and as many as we would encounter. It will also serve as good flash back memory for us as a reminder of how we were if we had to look back. I think it will serve as a symbol of bond for us.

 

The third item is a familiar food. Perhaps in a processed form so that it can last the time intended. This will be considered so that we create an intermediary period of adjusting to the food options we will encounter in the new environment. There will be need to explore food types and we are not sure of how and when we may adapt both to our taste and even to our biological system. This food item will be needed while we explore these opportunities, especially when children are part of the family.

My feelings if I am told to give up any 2 of these items upon arrival at my new environment: I will seek to understand why and if satisfied with explanations given, I will let go whatever 2 of the items I can easily replace in the new environment, even if not immediately, soonest

This exercise has given me an opportunity to think about what really matter to me. It has given me the opportunity to evaluate among the items I treasure, which ones I think are the most valuable. 

I am able now to see exactly what Nadiyah (Laureate Education, 2011) meant when she said referred to culture as "very personal". Never would I have realized that these are the things I would pick.

                                                               Reference

Laureate Education Inc, 2011 (DVD) Perspective on diversity and equity.          
                                                       Family cultures: Dynamic interactions

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