When you were growing up, do you remember the first time that you came across someone of a different culture? How was this culture different from yours? Did you easily accept this culture?
I honestly don't remember the first time I came across someone of a different culture. I'm sure I did easily accept the culture though because I have always been open towards people that were not the same ethnicity as me. I have never been the type to judge.
Wow, it's hard to remember way back then...but I do remember that I was raised to be accepting to everyone no matter what their skin color, hair color, or eye color. Knowing about diversity was an important lesson that I have always been taught and it has worked to my advantage as an adult.
When I was in high school we had a girl transfer to our school, my class actually, and she was from Venezuela. Now, I went to a very small high school, my graduating class was one of the biggest - 29 students and having someone from a different culture was very foreign to me (no pun intended). She had a very hard time speaking english - I thought that was strange because everyone that I knew spoke english and I really couldn't understand why she was having so much trouble. She seemed homesick and had quite a time finding somewhere to fit in because - let's face it - high school is very cliquish....anyway, that was my first cultural experience...I actually got to become friends with her and learned alot about her family.
I'm like most of you I can't remember yesterday let alone my adolescence. I do know that I was taught that everyone was the special and that I should treat them how I wanted to be treated.
I do remember the first time that I came across someone of a different culture. I grew up in a pretty diverse neighborhood, and when I was about four, I ran into my neighbors who were Pakistani. They had children who were my age and we quickly became friends. I remember how “different” their life was from ours, but yet how we as kids didn’t necessarily acknowledge these differences and we just did stereotypical kid “things.” From the food they ate and how they ate it, to the music that was played in their house, and to the praying regimen that they adhered to everyday—their lives were vastly different from what I was accustomed to. However, I did easily accept their culture, and my other siblings and I were constantly at their house (and vice versa). We were best friends, and we were so close that my parents were seriously considering allowing me to go to Pakistan with them for a summer. They were honestly like a second family to me and I think we each learned from each others’ similarities and differences, and we respected and accepted each other for who we were individually.
I was brought up in a christian home and was taught at an early age to respect everyone and treat everybody the same. At a young age I found things funny that now I am ashamed of but it was a part of growing up.
yaa i agree with wetzel and dona, it never stops even with age. I spent a few weeks in Haiti last year and got to see the most impoverished people in the world. I learned so much from them that I cant explain without you going yourselves....
I remember when i was around 8 or maybe younger and my aunt had an exchange student come stay with her family. I don't remember the exact country he was from but it was in the middle east somewhere and I thought he was so intereting because he was from a different place and he looked different, but i was very shy around him because he was different and I didn't know hoe to talk to him because he spoke very little english. But he was very accepted into our family and enjoyed his visit. I also went to China a couple eyars ago and had a major culture shock. we went in China close to tibet and it was sad to see how some people lived. They didn't see many white people with blonde hair and blue eyes so they were fasinated with me and I though it was hilarious. they thought my eyes were fake ecause they were so blue. But they accepted us the first day. They treid to speak out language and they tried to make us feel at home as much as possible. I don't think I ever meet more nicer and polite people.
Jarrod, That is so wonderful. It is so important to start young with children when teaching about resepect and treating everyone the same and not different because of their culture.
I went to elementary school with several kids of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, but it was never discussed. There was boy that was a pretty good friend of mine that was Jewish. I never really knew there was anything different until the holidays came around. That was when he told me about Hanukkah and the teacher taught us more about it and other holidays that different people celebrate. I found it very interesting to learn about these holidays. It is now common practice in most schools to embrace holidays from all different cultures. I feel this exposure and encouragement to embrace is a very positive thing for children.
Ashley, I enjoyed hearing your experience in China. When I visited Mexico I experienced similar fascination with blue eyes and blonde hair. Going to Mexico definitely made me want to travel more. Furthermore, I also felt thankful for the life I have in America after seeing some of the struggles they face there.
I can't remember the first time I came across someone of a different culture. My mom and dad taught me that everyone was equal, regardless of what they looked like, and I should be polite and respectful to everyone. I accept people for who they are no matter where they came from or what they look like.
Nellie, I remember in high school, we studied how other countries celebrate "Christmas". It was really fun for us because we got to partake in the different customs of the holiday. Learning about how others celebrate holidays is a fun and interesting way to get kids accustomed to other cultures.
I agree with Amiee on teaching children about how other cultures celebrate holidays. I think that it is important to do because it will help the kids learn that everyone is different, which would also possibly help reduce stereotypes.
As a child growing up you learn about different cultures, but as an adult you continue to learn about other cultures. Last year, I hosted a student from Spain and her life sytle is very different such as drinking at an early age, smoking and having sexual relationships. Most girls who have sex in her country are not on birth control like the girls here in the USA. She had never been seen by a female doctor until coming here to the USA.
The first time, I came across someone of a different culture, was when I was in grade school. My parents got a call that one of our relatives was needing our help, and we had to go and pick them up at the airport. Boy was I surprised to see my cousins getting of the plane, they were different from me, and my other relatives, they were jamacian. I had a hard at that age trying to figure out, why they were a different color, and why they talked so funny. But I soon learned about them, and their culture, and it changed me, I learned that family didnt see color. That I have learned to be very accepting to everyone.
I agree, parents need to talk to their children about different cultures, because living in an area with different cultures is becoming more and more common. It is a great idea,to teach children about how different cultures celebrates, hat can help children to learn how to be more acceptant of others.
I can not exactly recall the first time I came across someone that was from a different culture, but I really don't think it had a huge effect on me. Where I grew up, I went to school with children from different cultures, all my life, so I was more use to the differences.
Growing up, most of us were taught to respect people of different cultures. I am an older student and have lived in many differnt places during childhood and adult years. I work with a diversity of people and learn more about them and their cultures all the time. I think everyone can appreciate and respect once they get to know them.
During grade school, I never had much of an expericence with different cultures. Everyone was white and non-hispanic at our school. It was in middle school when I first had someone in my class that was African American. They talked with alot of slang that I first didn't understand. It wasn't easy to accept this culture, but over time, I became friends with him.
Pam, I agree that when you are introduced to different culutres as a child, it is easier to accept others as they are. I see this so differently now. I respect all races and cultures.
I do remember my neighbor was Asian. I thought her house stunk and she talked funny (with an accent). But I was open to her. I am very open to to other cultures and love to learn about them.
I live in a very small rural community and I was in 18 years old and a freshman in college the first time I ever came in contact with someone of a different culture,it was really a big shock to me but I quickly adjusted and enjoyed the experiences that going away to college brought me.
To be honest I can't remember the first time. But I do know when going to college it wasn't a real shocker, but I come from an extremely small town so seeing the diversity in my classes was interesting. But was glad to experience that, because I think it's important for everyone to be exposed to different cultures as much as possible. Especilly at younger ages, so when they get older it won't be such a shock to them.
I don't remember my first time coming across someone from a different culture. Most of my family works at WV Wesleyan College and they have tons of people from different cultures there. I guess I've always been around it and have never thought about it.
I think Nellie made a good point. Teachers are trying to incorporate more holidays and ideas from different cultures into their curriculum. I think that it's very important to have that in the schools.
I was raised in a community where we were the minority population, there were more African Americans present than Caucasion. My fatherand mother were friends with everyone, so being exposed to another culture has never really phased me.
My grandfather, who is now deceased, was Mexican. Whenever I was little I remember him teaching me words in Spanish like madre and padre. I felt so smart knowing some words in Spanish whenever I was 5. Whenever my family would go to visit there was almost always some kind of celebration going on with my grandparent's friends. I attended numerous Quinceañeras growing up. Anyway, the point of this long reply is that I've been around different cultures all my life.
Growing up my sister was biracial and it was hard for children in our neighborhood and the families that we grew up with to accept this. To me and my brother she her color and cultrue was no different to ours, but I can see how children who are never exposed to another cultrue or race can be a different experience for them.
I guess one of the first times I experienced a different culture was when I was about 6 or 8 years old. We raised chickens when I was younger and then took them to the Amish to be butchered. People often think different cultures are just from different countries but there are many different cultures just here in America too. Most people know that traditional Amish people follow the very basics of life and do not have all the elaborate things that we do. I can't remember my first thoughts about the Amish but I remember going year after year and soon it became normal to go and visit. I remember one time dressing in their clothes and wanting to learn Pennsylvania Dutch. It was just something that became normal. We still visit often.
I do not really remember the first time I came across a person of a different culture. I can not really imagine that it was really any different than now. The only difference is that I think as a child we are more accepting to these types of things and do not really notice that much difference.
Alicia I would have to agree with you that I don't remember the first time I came across someone of a different culture. I am also not one to be judgmental.
I don't remember the first time I came across someone that was of a different background as myself. I'm sure I was very little and I'm sure I noticed a difference, but hopefully didn't say anything! I don't judge other culture but little children are often curious of anything that is different or they don't know. I've seen many times in childcare where a child will just stand there and stare at another kid who looks or talks differently. I agree with Cassie that children are much more accepting than adults. After they get to know each other, they couldn't care less what they look like.
I don't remember when I actually ran into a person of a different culture. The different cultures have never really made me turn my eye. I don't look at the outside...I never have.
I have no idea how long it has been since I first ran in too someone of a different culture, but being from a military household, I saw all kinds and diversity was something that I knew about and understood!!
I honestly don't remember the first time I came across someone of a different culture. I'm sure I did easily accept the culture though because I have always been open towards people that were not the same ethnicity as me. I have never been the type to judge.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's hard to remember way back then...but I do remember that I was raised to be accepting to everyone no matter what their skin color, hair color, or eye color. Knowing about diversity was an important lesson that I have always been taught and it has worked to my advantage as an adult.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alicia...it is something that comes pretty natural to me being able to accept someone even if they are different from us.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school we had a girl transfer to our school, my class actually, and she was from Venezuela. Now, I went to a very small high school, my graduating class was one of the biggest - 29 students and having someone from a different culture was very foreign to me (no pun intended). She had a very hard time speaking english - I thought that was strange because everyone that I knew spoke english and I really couldn't understand why she was having so much trouble. She seemed homesick and had quite a time finding somewhere to fit in because - let's face it - high school is very cliquish....anyway, that was my first cultural experience...I actually got to become friends with her and learned alot about her family.
ReplyDeleteI'm like most of you I can't remember yesterday let alone my adolescence. I do know that I was taught that everyone was the special and that I should treat them how I wanted to be treated.
ReplyDeleteWetzel You are right you can learn alot from meeting new people.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the first time that I came across someone of a different culture. I grew up in a pretty diverse neighborhood, and when I was about four, I ran into my neighbors who were Pakistani. They had children who were my age and we quickly became friends. I remember how “different” their life was from ours, but yet how we as kids didn’t necessarily acknowledge these differences and we just did stereotypical kid “things.” From the food they ate and how they ate it, to the music that was played in their house, and to the praying regimen that they adhered to everyday—their lives were vastly different from what I was accustomed to. However, I did easily accept their culture, and my other siblings and I were constantly at their house (and vice versa). We were best friends, and we were so close that my parents were seriously considering allowing me to go to Pakistan with them for a summer. They were honestly like a second family to me and I think we each learned from each others’ similarities and differences, and we respected and accepted each other for who we were individually.
ReplyDeleteI was brought up in a christian home and was taught at an early age to respect everyone and treat everybody the same. At a young age I found things funny that now I am ashamed of but it was a part of growing up.
ReplyDeleteyaa i agree with wetzel and dona, it never stops even with age. I spent a few weeks in Haiti last year and got to see the most impoverished people in the world. I learned so much from them that I cant explain without you going yourselves....
ReplyDeleteI remember when i was around 8 or maybe younger and my aunt had an exchange student come stay with her family. I don't remember the exact country he was from but it was in the middle east somewhere and I thought he was so intereting because he was from a different place and he looked different, but i was very shy around him because he was different and I didn't know hoe to talk to him because he spoke very little english. But he was very accepted into our family and enjoyed his visit.
ReplyDeleteI also went to China a couple eyars ago and had a major culture shock. we went in China close to tibet and it was sad to see how some people lived. They didn't see many white people with blonde hair and blue eyes so they were fasinated with me and I though it was hilarious. they thought my eyes were fake ecause they were so blue. But they accepted us the first day. They treid to speak out language and they tried to make us feel at home as much as possible. I don't think I ever meet more nicer and polite people.
Jarrod, That is so wonderful. It is so important to start young with children when teaching about resepect and treating everyone the same and not different because of their culture.
ReplyDeleteI went to elementary school with several kids of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, but it was never discussed. There was boy that was a pretty good friend of mine that was Jewish. I never really knew there was anything different until the holidays came around. That was when he told me about Hanukkah and the teacher taught us more about it and other holidays that different people celebrate. I found it very interesting to learn about these holidays. It is now common practice in most schools to embrace holidays from all different cultures. I feel this exposure and encouragement to embrace is a very positive thing for children.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed hearing your experience in China. When I visited Mexico I experienced similar fascination with blue eyes and blonde hair. Going to Mexico definitely made me want to travel more. Furthermore, I also felt thankful for the life I have in America after seeing some of the struggles they face there.
I can't remember the first time I came across someone of a different culture. My mom and dad taught me that everyone was equal, regardless of what they looked like, and I should be polite and respectful to everyone. I accept people for who they are no matter where they came from or what they look like.
ReplyDeleteNellie, I remember in high school, we studied how other countries celebrate "Christmas". It was really fun for us because we got to partake in the different customs of the holiday. Learning about how others celebrate holidays is a fun and interesting way to get kids accustomed to other cultures.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amiee on teaching children about how other cultures celebrate holidays. I think that it is important to do because it will help the kids learn that everyone is different, which would also possibly help reduce stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with Jarrod's comments.
ReplyDeleteAs a child growing up you learn about different cultures, but as an adult you continue to learn about other cultures. Last year, I hosted a student from Spain and her life sytle is very different such as drinking at an early age, smoking and having sexual relationships. Most girls who have sex in her country are not on birth control like the girls here in the USA. She had never been seen by a female doctor until coming here to the USA.
ReplyDeleteThe first time, I came across someone of a different culture, was when I was in grade school. My parents got a call that one of our relatives was needing our help, and we had to go and pick them up at the airport. Boy was I surprised to see my cousins getting of the plane, they were different from me, and my other relatives, they were jamacian. I had a hard at that age trying to figure out, why they were a different color, and why they talked so funny. But I soon learned about them, and their culture, and it changed me, I learned that family didnt see color. That I have learned to be very accepting to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree, parents need to talk to their children about different cultures, because living in an area with different cultures is becoming more and more common. It is a great idea,to teach children about how different cultures celebrates, hat can help children to learn how to be more acceptant of others.
ReplyDeleteI can not exactly recall the first time I came across someone that was from a different culture, but I really don't think it had a huge effect on me. Where I grew up, I went to school with children from different cultures, all my life, so I was more use to the differences.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, most of us were taught to respect people of different cultures. I am an older student and have lived in many differnt places during childhood and adult years. I work with a diversity of people and learn more about them and their cultures all the time. I think everyone can appreciate and respect once they get to know them.
ReplyDeleteJarrod I also was raised in a christian home and my sister and I were taught the same way. Treat people like you want to be treated.
ReplyDeleteDuring grade school, I never had much of an expericence with different cultures. Everyone was white and non-hispanic at our school. It was in middle school when I first had someone in my class that was African American. They talked with alot of slang that I first didn't understand. It wasn't easy to accept this culture, but over time, I became friends with him.
ReplyDeletePam,
ReplyDeleteI agree that when you are introduced to different culutres as a child, it is easier to accept others as they are. I see this so differently now. I respect all races and cultures.
I do remember my neighbor was Asian. I thought her house stunk and she talked funny (with an accent). But I was open to her. I am very open to to other cultures and love to learn about them.
ReplyDeleteI live in a very small rural community and I was in 18 years old and a freshman in college the first time I ever came in contact with someone of a different culture,it was really a big shock to me but I quickly adjusted and enjoyed the experiences that going away to college brought me.
ReplyDeleteThe more we know, the wiser we become!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I can't remember the first time. But I do know when going to college it wasn't a real shocker, but I come from an extremely small town so seeing the diversity in my classes was interesting. But was glad to experience that, because I think it's important for everyone to be exposed to different cultures as much as possible. Especilly at younger ages, so when they get older it won't be such a shock to them.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember my first time coming across someone from a different culture. Most of my family works at WV Wesleyan College and they have tons of people from different cultures there. I guess I've always been around it and have never thought about it.
ReplyDeleteI think Nellie made a good point. Teachers are trying to incorporate more holidays and ideas from different cultures into their curriculum. I think that it's very important to have that in the schools.
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a community where we were the minority population, there were more African Americans present than Caucasion. My fatherand mother were friends with everyone, so being exposed to another culture has never really phased me.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather, who is now deceased, was Mexican. Whenever I was little I remember him teaching me words in Spanish like madre and padre. I felt so smart knowing some words in Spanish whenever I was 5. Whenever my family would go to visit there was almost always some kind of celebration going on with my grandparent's friends. I attended numerous Quinceañeras growing up. Anyway, the point of this long reply is that I've been around different cultures all my life.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up my sister was biracial and it was hard for children in our neighborhood and the families that we grew up with to accept this. To me and my brother she her color and cultrue was no different to ours, but I can see how children who are never exposed to another cultrue or race can be a different experience for them.
ReplyDeleteI guess one of the first times I experienced a different culture was when I was about 6 or 8 years old. We raised chickens when I was younger and then took them to the Amish to be butchered. People often think different cultures are just from different countries but there are many different cultures just here in America too. Most people know that traditional Amish people follow the very basics of life and do not have all the elaborate things that we do. I can't remember my first thoughts about the Amish but I remember going year after year and soon it became normal to go and visit. I remember one time dressing in their clothes and wanting to learn Pennsylvania Dutch. It was just something that became normal. We still visit often.
ReplyDeleteAlicia U,
ReplyDeleteI am the same way. I have always been open to new people also.
I do not really remember the first time I came across a person of a different culture. I can not really imagine that it was really any different than now. The only difference is that I think as a child we are more accepting to these types of things and do not really notice that much difference.
ReplyDeleteAudrey,
ReplyDeleteI agree, very appropriate.
Alicia I would have to agree with you that I don't remember the first time I came across someone of a different culture. I am also not one to be judgmental.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like we are all in agreement that we are mostly all not judgmental when it comes to different cultures.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the first time I came across someone that was of a different background as myself. I'm sure I was very little and I'm sure I noticed a difference, but hopefully didn't say anything! I don't judge other culture but little children are often curious of anything that is different or they don't know. I've seen many times in childcare where a child will just stand there and stare at another kid who looks or talks differently. I agree with Cassie that children are much more accepting than adults. After they get to know each other, they couldn't care less what they look like.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember when I actually ran into a person of a different culture. The different cultures have never really made me turn my eye. I don't look at the outside...I never have.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how long it has been since I first ran in too someone of a different culture, but being from a military household, I saw all kinds and diversity was something that I knew about and understood!!
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how most of us can not remember this event, it to me says that this country has come a long way!
ReplyDelete