Comparing Cultures

So sorry this post is a little bit later than everyone else's!

But this has overall been a pretty good week! In com 320 it was interesting to have to "rate" my group members- it was cool to see what we honestly think about each other! On Friday, I really enjoyed the discussion on culture and how different cultures affect how people interact with each other. I feel like it is important to know and understand other people's cultures to know where they are coming from and how to communicate with them better. That's why I am so excited about our proposed event with ISS. I have contact and am friends with international students and it is really interesting to learn about their perceptions of American culture.

I guess an interesting cultural fact about me is that my dad is from Ghana, which is in West Africa. He's pretty American-ized (if that makes sense), he has lived here in America longer than he has in Ghana. One difference that I've learned about my dad's culture and the contrast from the American culture I've been brought up in is that he has somewhat of a collectivistic perspective on family than the typical American family does. He has always wanted my sisters and I to get along and help each other out, which always wasn't the case, let me tell you!! We were pretty selfish, and still are to some extent. But I'll admit it, in my mind it was always "all about me" as a teenager. I often considered the needs of my sisters, the ones that I was either best friends with or shouting with, less. Now as the three of us girls are older and wiser (hopefully) we get along pretty well. It was so nice to hear from both of them today, just talking to them and growing up with them was pretty awesome, and an unique experience.

I am glad for my dad's persistence in keeping us close together. It's nice to see that we all still have each other's back with out selfish, individualistic motives. And we as Americans are pretty individualistic. It's just cool to see how my dad's upbringing with his brothers and sisters, just how they were really close and depended strongly upon each other is still so different with how I acted with my sisters. WIth my sisters, I am used to not depending on them as much and am used to having my own stuff and space.

It's cool to see the connections I can make from learning about culture and being able to compare and contrast the two cultures in which I was raised in. :D And I am thankful for that contrast!!


~Dayna Appiah