My work is fun and you come across many different people through out the day. I don't know why I haven't thought about writing about this family that works with me earlier in the semester but now I will.
They are two sisters and a brother and they are from Britain. They have an amazing British accent and are the nicest people (but only to people they get along with). The oldest sister's name is Nikki, the other sister is Freya and the brother is Jay.
We all love to tease them about the how they say certain American words or phrases, yet they tease us right back with our phrases.
Nikki, another person I work with Max, and I had a conversation about the word "garage". Nikki and her family pronounce it as "garriage" at first I thought they were say carriage but no they were trying to pronounce garage. We got into a "heated" discussion about the correct way to pronounce. Nikki said it is pronounced "carriage" because there is only one 'a' in the word and if there were two 'a's then it would be pronounced garage. Max replied to that by asking how she pronounced large. Her response "large". Max and I laughed and she just looked at us in a confused manner. Max said that if she pronounces large and large and there is only one 'a' then why is garage pronounced different even though it only has one 'a'. She looked at us in an evil glare and then smirked and walked away. We had made her really think about it because in reality they are similar words and are pronounced differently to her culture than they are to ours. It just really interesting to me on how their slang is different from ours.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Different parts of the state
It's interesting to drive around to different sections of the state and see the differences between the different towns and cities. For example you take the Twin Cities you have an "upper class" society who dress very business like and walk to work or take the bus or train. Then you go way up north and see a completely different society. Ones who are probably farmers or are in construction.
I remember an experience I had when I had gone to my cabin up north. The area is surrounded by different Indian Tribes. And you can just sense the differences because of how the town is decorated and how the people act. It is interesting too because there is a casino up there and they pride themselves on this casino and it's a huge thing in the area.
When I think of Native Americans I don't think about casinos I think of tribes and pow wows and things like that. It is interesting to see though what the casinos do for these tribes and how it affects the tribe. It brings money to the community and brings people to the area and in return they learn about the tribe. It also makes you think differently about the Native American people, they don't live in Tepees, they live like most people, but just have different beliefs.
I remember an experience I had when I had gone to my cabin up north. The area is surrounded by different Indian Tribes. And you can just sense the differences because of how the town is decorated and how the people act. It is interesting too because there is a casino up there and they pride themselves on this casino and it's a huge thing in the area.
When I think of Native Americans I don't think about casinos I think of tribes and pow wows and things like that. It is interesting to see though what the casinos do for these tribes and how it affects the tribe. It brings money to the community and brings people to the area and in return they learn about the tribe. It also makes you think differently about the Native American people, they don't live in Tepees, they live like most people, but just have different beliefs.
Language Barriers and Medicine
I was recently watching a television show which I love to watch: Untold Stories of the E.R. an Asian girl about ten was brought into the emergency room because she was having seizures. The family had been giving her cough medicine because the little girl was sick with a cold and had a cough.
When the parent came into the emergency room they were freaking out because they were afraid of what their daughter was experiencing and only spoke their language. They couldn't understand what the doctors were asking and the paramedic only spoke little of their language so all he understood was that the child had fell and possibly hit her head on the table. Luckily, their was a doctor on duty that night that spoke their language.
The E.R. doctor told the other doctor to ask them if she is on any medicine and what had actually happened. The family explained what had happened and after explaining what medicine she was taking for her cough the doctor decided that it was a good idea for the family to go back home and get all the medication that is in their medicine chest. After the family arrived back at the hops ital with a bag full of medicine the doctor asked them to take out the medicine that they have been giving their daughter. They pulled out a bottle that looked like a cough medicine bottle but it was actually a medicine to help prevent seizures.
While watching this it reminded me so much of the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. If the family was able to speak English or if there was a doctor on duty when the medicine was prescribed it would have possibly been prevented. Things like this can easily be prevented if the hospitals see how important it is to have interpreters on duty at all time.
When the parent came into the emergency room they were freaking out because they were afraid of what their daughter was experiencing and only spoke their language. They couldn't understand what the doctors were asking and the paramedic only spoke little of their language so all he understood was that the child had fell and possibly hit her head on the table. Luckily, their was a doctor on duty that night that spoke their language.
The E.R. doctor told the other doctor to ask them if she is on any medicine and what had actually happened. The family explained what had happened and after explaining what medicine she was taking for her cough the doctor decided that it was a good idea for the family to go back home and get all the medication that is in their medicine chest. After the family arrived back at the hops ital with a bag full of medicine the doctor asked them to take out the medicine that they have been giving their daughter. They pulled out a bottle that looked like a cough medicine bottle but it was actually a medicine to help prevent seizures.
While watching this it reminded me so much of the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. If the family was able to speak English or if there was a doctor on duty when the medicine was prescribed it would have possibly been prevented. Things like this can easily be prevented if the hospitals see how important it is to have interpreters on duty at all time.
Ukraine Culture
As my group researches the many different parts of the Ukraine culture, I come across so much interesting information on a culture I had no interest in before. It is interesting that when you are forced to learn about different culture, how you become wanting to learn more and more about them.
I was able to watch a video on a Ukrainian wedding and it isn't considered to but just a ceremony, it is considered a party. They have many different traditions and rituals that goes on for a long time before and after the wedding. It is so interesting to see how different it is compared to an American wedding.
Also, reading about the different foods they eat and how they make sure that they feed their guests and make sure their guests are full before they leave. The Ukrainian culture seems to be so caring to their guests. I always thought of Russians and Ukrainians to be very similar because I never really saw the difference between the cultures.
I grew up in Eden Prairie and had a lot of Russians and Ukrainians living around me. I would always notice that they wouldn't smile around people they didn't know. But when they are around one another they are always happy and smiling. I always thought it was because they were just a crabby culture and I was hesitant to be around them. I also found it interesting that they love their Vodka. Some people go as far as drinking a bottle a day. Now in our society we would consider that to be an alcoholic, but to the people of Ukraine, that is just a normal thing. One thing that I did learn that I found interesting was that they believe it to be bad luck if you shake hands with someone while standing in the doorway.
I feel that it is really important for people to research a random culture, even if they are not interested in it. If more people were forced to learn about different cultures, think how different the world would be today.
I was able to watch a video on a Ukrainian wedding and it isn't considered to but just a ceremony, it is considered a party. They have many different traditions and rituals that goes on for a long time before and after the wedding. It is so interesting to see how different it is compared to an American wedding.
Also, reading about the different foods they eat and how they make sure that they feed their guests and make sure their guests are full before they leave. The Ukrainian culture seems to be so caring to their guests. I always thought of Russians and Ukrainians to be very similar because I never really saw the difference between the cultures.
I grew up in Eden Prairie and had a lot of Russians and Ukrainians living around me. I would always notice that they wouldn't smile around people they didn't know. But when they are around one another they are always happy and smiling. I always thought it was because they were just a crabby culture and I was hesitant to be around them. I also found it interesting that they love their Vodka. Some people go as far as drinking a bottle a day. Now in our society we would consider that to be an alcoholic, but to the people of Ukraine, that is just a normal thing. One thing that I did learn that I found interesting was that they believe it to be bad luck if you shake hands with someone while standing in the doorway.
I feel that it is really important for people to research a random culture, even if they are not interested in it. If more people were forced to learn about different cultures, think how different the world would be today.
Age Differences
As I sit and look around I see many different age groups, ranging from small infants to the very elderly. I think about all the differences these people experience.
The infant has yet to be able to care for itself and the elderly have taken care of themselves for decades. There are so many differences between the age groups. The different styles of music they listen to, how they dress, what they eat, what kind of activities they participate in, their religion, their job (if they have one), among many other things.
You see the younger generation driving down the street with their windows open and their music blaring loudly making everything rumble as they drive by. Can you imagine how that generation is going to be when they are old? Are they still going to be driving down the street with their loud music? Are they still going to walk down the street with the boxers showing? Or their navel showing?
Then you look at the differences between the ages AND the different cultures. Americans have a huge impact on the younger people from different cultures. When a culture moves to the United States they may have younger kids and when those kids grow up in the U.S. they learn and are in a way pressured to fit in with their age group. I remember feeling left out when I was younger because I couldn't afford to wear these expensive brands of clothes. Just think of the pressure on a person who is already "different" because of where they came from and now they are in this place that expects people to dress "cool".
It's just interesting to see how the different cultures and their different ages interact with one another. And to think about how these generations of cultures will be in the future, will they still act the same way? Or will things that they do stop because it is deemed as "inappropriate" for that age group?
The infant has yet to be able to care for itself and the elderly have taken care of themselves for decades. There are so many differences between the age groups. The different styles of music they listen to, how they dress, what they eat, what kind of activities they participate in, their religion, their job (if they have one), among many other things.
You see the younger generation driving down the street with their windows open and their music blaring loudly making everything rumble as they drive by. Can you imagine how that generation is going to be when they are old? Are they still going to be driving down the street with their loud music? Are they still going to walk down the street with the boxers showing? Or their navel showing?
Then you look at the differences between the ages AND the different cultures. Americans have a huge impact on the younger people from different cultures. When a culture moves to the United States they may have younger kids and when those kids grow up in the U.S. they learn and are in a way pressured to fit in with their age group. I remember feeling left out when I was younger because I couldn't afford to wear these expensive brands of clothes. Just think of the pressure on a person who is already "different" because of where they came from and now they are in this place that expects people to dress "cool".
It's just interesting to see how the different cultures and their different ages interact with one another. And to think about how these generations of cultures will be in the future, will they still act the same way? Or will things that they do stop because it is deemed as "inappropriate" for that age group?
Signs
Recently I dropped my sister off at the airport and noticed a lot of different cultures around us as we were walking through to her gate. As I was looking around I was looking at the signs that were hanging in the ceiling telling people where the elevators would take you. If you look at the them they are in English but to the left of the English it is Chinese. I am curious why Chinese? Why not Spanish or German or even French? Do we get a lot of travelers from Asia? If we do, why in the world would they want to come to Minnesota? HaHa.
I just feel that if they are going to have another language used on their directional signs, then they should have many more on that sign to help others who don't speak English. Yes we are not always going to be able to get every single language on that sign, but why not put the most common languages on it? I personally feel that airports are very confusing and you can easily get turned around, but can you imagine if you were from another country, spoke none of the language in this new country and were trying to figure out where your gate is? Or where to go to get your baggage? I know I would be getting nervous if I couldn't find my way around. Airports and other international public places need to make it more easy for travelers to find their way around.
I just feel that if they are going to have another language used on their directional signs, then they should have many more on that sign to help others who don't speak English. Yes we are not always going to be able to get every single language on that sign, but why not put the most common languages on it? I personally feel that airports are very confusing and you can easily get turned around, but can you imagine if you were from another country, spoke none of the language in this new country and were trying to figure out where your gate is? Or where to go to get your baggage? I know I would be getting nervous if I couldn't find my way around. Airports and other international public places need to make it more easy for travelers to find their way around.
Language Barriers
I have touched on this subject once but I feel as though I should bring it up once again. Language barriers are a very common thing in the United States and I feel that the more cultures we allow in the United States the more we are going to experience the different types of languages.
At my work we have cleaners that come in during the morning before we open and we have cleaners that come in after we close. The main guy that cleans is very friend and always smiling but when he comes up to tell me something I have a hard time understanding him because he speaks no English and speaks only Spanish.
It is so important for people to learn another language. If I had more time I would probably try to learn Spanish being it seems it is a very common language in the United States. These language barriers cause issues for businesses because when something needs to be communicated quickly, it doesn't happen. It is very important for businesses to have an interpreter or even to make their employees learn the dominant language.
I think we see more of an issue with people who are from Mexico. They are very hard working individuals and they are just trying to make a living to support their family, but it is so important for people to be able to communicate with them.
**"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't being said." --Anonymous
At my work we have cleaners that come in during the morning before we open and we have cleaners that come in after we close. The main guy that cleans is very friend and always smiling but when he comes up to tell me something I have a hard time understanding him because he speaks no English and speaks only Spanish.
It is so important for people to learn another language. If I had more time I would probably try to learn Spanish being it seems it is a very common language in the United States. These language barriers cause issues for businesses because when something needs to be communicated quickly, it doesn't happen. It is very important for businesses to have an interpreter or even to make their employees learn the dominant language.
I think we see more of an issue with people who are from Mexico. They are very hard working individuals and they are just trying to make a living to support their family, but it is so important for people to be able to communicate with them.
**"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't being said." --Anonymous
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