Family and Structure

Family and Social Structure

Describe a day in the life of a university student from your host country.  Choose someone of your gender. Compare your daily life and that of a university student in your host country.  Describe the surroundings, the schedule of the day and night, the regular activities of the week, the most mundane actions, the most exciting and those in between.  Consider the use and access to technology (personal and at the university/home), the expectations of society, family and friends and the academic and professional goals of this student.  Be creative with this exercise but also as accurate as possible.  Research is needed and lots of questions should come to mind as you identify the cultural differences between you and your counterpart in your host country.

My life at home: I have class 3 days of the week with access to the internet, television, and various types of technology at all times. I enjoy spending time with my friends and eating dinner together. I try to find time to exercise, bike ride, or rock climb. During the day I am usually outside, in my apartment, or in class. At night I could be out in the town, in an academic building studying, or in the apartment vicinity. It seems as if i have so much time, but it is usually filled with school work or friends–both demand so much of it! i get the most pleasure out of the times i go bike riding or climbing, yet these do not happen as often. I do get the chance to ride my bike to class a lot so that is pretty exciting. I would like to increase the amount of activity i do in New Zealand. I want to make the most of my time. I would like to spend less time in the class room and more outside in the live laboratory.

In new zealand, communication is through texts rather than calling because of economic efficiency. Everyone has basic phones, iPhones are very rare. I will be getting a cheap go phone myself that i will use to keep in touch with the people around me. internet is pretty expensive i hear. my flat joins together to pay for a certain amount of gigabits per month – so Skype and music downloading will be limited. i will also be responsible for paying bills, i think. which is not the case here in birmingham. my flat mates will become my family, potentially.  In regards to eating we will plan out meals we would prepare ourselves and where we should like to go out to eat. So red card. red card is a game that the students play in Dunedin that is a form of flat bonding. each roommate can pull their ‘red card’ and make up any rules to a game they created. it can be a scavenger hunt, a card game, a drinking game, the possibilities are endless-and it always ends in fun 🙂 People go out a lot. wendesday nights are $3 pint nights. the weekends are always big. basically people are going out every night. school-wise classes are at all different times, labs potentially can be all day events-which would be totally cool! school work – 1 or 3 assignments like papers and projects and no homework but these assignments are worth a lot so it is very important to stay on task and not let the no homework get to my head. my exam will be worth 40-50% of my grade – so different than here! lectures occur in halls, teachers use power points, tutorials are smaller classes where i have a tutor that will help me out with my assignments and they occur twice a week.

Once i am down with school at the end of the semester i will have a month to study for my exams. then once exams are done – FREEDOM!!!!!!

immigration

A poem for family

A human being is apart of something much larger, infinitely so.

thus my name will change as the distance between these connections grow

yet, to the closest I am called Mary Kate, Mk for short

If it were up to me it would be MERRY CATHERINE or some sort

Of combination that taps into my inner soul

That originates with my family and makes me whole

Whole hearted, that is, how I would describe my family

We trace back across seas to Ireland and Germany

We speak to each other with love and grace

English is how these feelings translate into our American family race

It is strongest when we celebrate good times

Birthdays, Christmas, Easter weave us together, love intertwines

My mother shares her day with Jesus

This day is bizarre and the memories will never leave us

We end it with cake and pounding on tables

Sharing old family stories and Christmas fables

It is this side of the family that reels me in

To bring back the love I shared with whom it begins

Cake, candy, all the above

Sweets and sweet family are what I truly love

Of them I will never be ashamed

I try my utmost to live with love and give truth to our family name

 

Immigration in New Zealand

Immigration to New Zealand began with Polynesian settlement in New Zealand, then uninhabited, about 1250 to 1280. Moriori settled is in the Chatham Islands about 200 years after this. Moriori are a sub-group of Māori. European migration provided a major influx following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Subsequent immigration has been chiefly from the British Isles, but also from continental Europe, the Pacific, the Americas, & Asia.

Voyagers in the South Pacific discovered the landmass of New Zealand. Eastern Polynesian explorers had settled in New Zealand by approximately the thirteenth century CE. Their arrival gave rise to the Māori culture and the Māori language, both unique to New Zealand, although very closely related to analogues in other parts of Eastern Polynesia. Especially strong resemblances link Māori to the languages and cultures of the Cook and Society Islands, which are regarded as the most likely places of origin. Moriori were Māori who settled on the Chatham Islands in the 16th century. Moriori are the indigenous people of the Chatham Islands (Rekohu in Moriori, Wharekauri in Māori), east of the New Zealand archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, and that these people lived by a code of non-violence and passive resistance, which led to their near-extinction at the hands of Taranaki Māori invaders in the 1830s.

New Zealand has one of the highest populations of foreign born citizens. In 2005, almost 20% of New Zealanders were born overseas, one of the highest percentages of any country in the world.

European settlement:

Cook claimed New Zealand for Britain on his arrival in 1779. The establishment of British colonies in Australia from 1788 and the boom in whaling and sealing in the Southern Ocean brought many Europeans to the vicinity of New Zealand, with some deciding to settle. Whalers and sealers were often itinerant and the first real settlers were missionaries and traders in the Bay of Islands area from 1809. By 1830 there was a population of about 2,000 non Maori which included about 200 runaway convicts and seamen who often married into the Maori community. Regular outbreaks of extreme violence amongst Maori, known as the Musket Wars, as well as violence against European shipping and the lack of established law and order made settling in New Zealand a risky prospect. By the late 1830s many Maori were nominally Christian and had freed many of the Maori slaves that had been captured during the Musket Wars. By this time, many Maori, especially in the north, could read and write Maori and to a lesser extent English.

Current immigration legislation:

The new Immigration Act, which passed into law in 2009 replacing the 1987 Act, is aimed to enhance border security and improve the efficiency of the immigration services. Key aspects of the new Act include the ability to use biometrics, a new refugee and protection system, a single independent appeals tribunal and a universal visa system. the immigration law of 1987 in NZ adopted a radical direction of economic practice, Parliament passed a new Immigration Act into law in 1987. This would end the preference for migrants from Britain, Europe or Northern America based on their race, and instead classify migrants on their skills, personal qualities, and potential contribution to New Zealand economy and society.

So push factors for going to NZ would be a place where you have an advantage if you are skilled at a certain trade because they are trying to increase their skilled labor

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_in_New_Zealand

 

Space and Time

SPACE

A local buys vegetables at the Matakana Famers Market near Auckland, New Zealand

The streets of wellington are opened and inviting.

Masterchef winner Chelsea Winter was doing a cooking demonstration at the newly named Nosh foodmarket today. People are gathered round closely to get a good view.

A host Kiwi family and indonesian students take a picture together, space is definitely respected in this picture.

Time: New Zealanders work hard during the week to play on the weekends. (more to come)

Sources:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/future-of-nzs-small-food-producers-in-question-174408.html

http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/34026-masterchef-launches-new-store.html

http://www.eni.co.nz/why_study/the_people.html

TIME

tea breaks are a must, many students invite friends over to chill and enjoy a nice cup of tea.

The concept of ‘island-time’ definitely applies in New Zealand. No one is in a rush and everyone is enjoying themselves. Life is good in New Zealand.

People work hard during the weeks to play hard on the weekends

Mince and Cheese are a specialty in NZ and they come in the form of PIE! when all is lost – there is always pie 🙂

I have been told to go to ‘Ferg Burger’ in Queenstown – best burgers around!

Meals and sleep schedules are fairly similar, just a little more relaxed

There are many differences in the structure of society that could potentially effect time. Houses are not insulated so when it gets cold i will have to adjust by maybe going to bed earlier, wearing more layers, being active at certain points.

 

Assignment:

Space

We have discussed personal space differences generally.  I want you now to find pictures that represent how space is treated in your host country and to describe what you see in these photographs.  Find pictures of living spaces, cars on the street, people in a line or gathering, people in markets and stores, people in work environments and space.

Consider not only distance between people and objects but also how the space people live and work in is treated.

Time

Consider how time is treated in your host country.

Timeframes: the units that define the time limits of a function

Examples: “Just a minute”, a commercial break, a coffee break, being on time, mealtime, a good night’s sleep, workweek, vacation, holiday seasons, the school year, the fiscal year, decades, etc.  These examples are of U.S. culture.  What about your host country?

Rhythms: Consider the sources of daily rhythms by considering moods, energy levels, clothing styles and expectations, activities? Day and night? Work week and weekend? School year and vacation?  Cold months and hot months?

Time manipulations:  Natural Time and artificial time

Natural time involves using the sun, showing one’s age, going at a comfortable pace, living in the present, being unaware of clocks, accommodating circumstances.

Artificial time involves using the clock, concealing one’s age, going fast or slow, living for the future, watching the clock, manipulating circumstances.

Political culture

Political Culture Questions

• What political system exists in your host country? Politics take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy
• Which philosophy – that of judicial restraint or judicial activism – is represented in your host country? Judicial activism
• How many parties are represented in the government? 8 parties
• Who is the head of state?  How is he/she perceived by countries in the region? Internationally? Queen Elizabeth II is the current Queen of New Zealand and the Realm of New Zealands head of state.[2][3] The New Zealand monarchy has been distinct from the British monarchy since the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947, and all Elizabeth II’s official business in New Zealand is conducted in the name of the Queen of New Zealand, not the Queen of the United Kingdom. While Royal Assent and the royal sign-manual are required to enact laws, letters patent, and Orders in Council, the authority for these acts stems from the New Zealand populace.[4] In practice, the functions of the monarchy are conducted by the Governor-General, appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. As of 2011, the Governor-General is Sir Jerry Mateparae.
• Which are the most powerful parties (majority)? National, Labour, Green
• Which political office is considered the most powerful?  Prime Minister
• Are there political upheavals in the country and if so, why? Below I list a link to the top 10 in the country, they include spending scandals, claims of racism and an identity theft.
• Describe the electoral system. New Zealand has one House of Representatives, usually with 120 members, although this can vary slightly depending on the outcome of the electoral process. Whichever party (or combination of parties) wins the most seats at the general election becomes the Government. Theoretically, New Zealand has universal suffrage meaning all adults 18 years of age and older are allowed to vote. However, as from 2010, sentenced prisoners have been denied that right.
• When are the next elections taking place in your host country? New Zealand general elections generally occur every three years. The most recent general election was held on Saturday 26 November 2011. The next will be November 2014
• What ideologies are represented by the government or political parties (ex. capitalism, communism, fascism)? Socialism – The extent to which socialism plays a part in modern New Zealand politics depends on which definitions of socialist are used, but few mainstream politicians would describe themselves using the word “socialist”. The term “social democrat” is more common, but the more general “left-wing” or “centre-left” are used far more frequently. The Labour Party, the Progressive Party, and the Alliance all have some links to socialism in their history, but under a New Zealand definition, they would generally not be considered socialist today
• How many votes do the citizens of your host country have at the national level? one vote for a candidate and one vote for a party
• How powerful are interest groups in the government? What policies are affected by these groups today? The conservative National Party and the left-leaning Labour Party have dominated New Zealand political life since a Labour government came to power in 1935. During fourteen years in office (1935–1949), the Labour Party implemented a broad array of social and economic legislation, including comprehensive social security, a large scale public works programme, a forty-hour working week, a minimum basic wage, and compulsory unionism. The National Party won control of the government in 1949 and adopted many welfare measures instituted by the Labour Party. Except for two brief periods of Labour governments in 1957-1960 and 1972–1975, National held power until 1984.
• How is public opinion expressed? Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19)
• How do citizens of your host country express their political views and opinions? Mass media, like news articles or television.  
• Are polls or something similar used by the government to reflect, or to mold, public opinion? I am sure polls are used to express public opinion, the majority rules
• What is the level of press freedom? The press is free to express their opinion. There is cussing and name calling of many individuals.
• Which are the most powerful interest groups or organizations influencing policy? The national party and the labour union
• How involved are individual people in civil society? It appears that individuals are very involved due to the strength of the labour movement
• How is volunteerism expressed within your host country? There are a lot of volunteer opportunities in all areas of work that can be facilitated through online websites
• Find your host country mentioned in the news.  What is the topic? The court of public opinion

Resources:

http://www.worldpress.org/

http://en.rsf.org/

http://www.economist.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

Remember to:

• cite your sources
• use pictures and videos to explore these questions further
• use the D.I.E. model to explore these questions/pictures further

Sources:

Top ten political stories of 2010: http://nz.news.yahoo.com/news-gallery/photo/-/8557208/top-10-political-stories-of-2010/8561008/

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10813201

http://www.volunteernow.org.nz/jobs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_New_Zealand#Local_government_and_administrative_divisions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism_in_New_Zealand

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_New_Zealand

 

Faces and Fascination

Faces:

Describe a male and a female from your host country.  Find pictures to help you build a picture of a person from the city where you will study abroad. Avoid stereotypes of people in your host country/city.  It might help to describe the stereotypes and then through visuals and descriptions of characteristics, physical features, clothing, height and weight, age and social class, describe two people.  Finally, explain what makes this man and woman uniquely from the host country and city where you will be studying abroad.

Fascination:

What do you know about the value of the arts in your host country?  Who are the most famous and currently popular authors, musicians, composers, dancers, actors/actresses, playwrights, singers, bands, painters, sculptors, etc.  Make sure you have chosen those people and works of art that are most valued by the people of your host country and not those whom foreigners view as the famous artists from that country.

Faces: Maori

The Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. They came to New Zealand by canoe, a traditionally important mode of transportation for them. As they grew to become apart of New Zealand the Maori culture originated rich with mythology, art, and language. A horticulture developed and later so did a warrior culture.

“Haka” is a Maori tradition that was orally passed down by generations. It is a war dance. The Haka was performed before the start of war by the Maori last century. New Zealand’s Rugby Team the All Blacks perform this dance before every game.

The traditional Maori welcome is called a powhiri, this involves a hongi which is a greeting that involves pressing noses as opposed to a kiss.

Full faced tattoos or “moko” were mostly a male activity. Female forms of “moko” were restricted to the chin area, the upper lip, and the nostrils.

Fascination:

Kapa haka is a traditional form of art practiced by the Maori. This performance encompasses dances, songs, and chants known as: haka, poi,waiata-a-ringa, and waiata koroual. It can be seen during biannual competitions, schooling, workplaces or tourist events. Their culture includes traditional arts such as: carving, weaving, kappa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo), which are practiced throughout the country. Today, Māori culture includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.

Notable Māori novelists include Alan Duff Patricia Grace and Witi Ihimaera. Alan Duff wrote a novel that was later adapted into a film that became the highest-grossing film in NZ for years, received international acclaim, and won international film prizes. It was called Once Were Warriors and it is about the plight of urban Maori.  I will most likely watch this movie and blog about it later 🙂

They are in films like Whale Rider, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, The Matrix, King Kong, The River Queen, The Lord of The Rings, Rapa Nui, and others, and famous television series like Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The Lost World and Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Famous Māori actors and actresses include Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Lawrence Makoare, Manu Benet and Keisha Castle-Hughes. Directly cited from Wiki.

The men’s rugby team are celebrities in New Zealand culture.

The rugby team has many Maori natives. Ki-o-rahi and tapawai are two sports of Māori origi 

The rugby team has many Maori natives. Above the teammates are performing the Haka. Ki-o-rahi and tapawai are 2 spots of Maori origin.

Geography Assignment

Assignment:

From each map, what can you tell us about the land and country’s place/position on the continent? If it is an island, what continent do the people affiliate with culturally and economically?  Why?

New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, and is separated by the Cook Strait and also of many other smaller islands. The area of the two islands is comparable to Colorado. The North Island is about 515 mi long and has volcanic action in its south-central part. The South Island has the Southern Alps along its west coast, with Mount Cook being 12,316 ft making it the highest point.  Its capital is Wellington and it has a population of about 342,500 recorded in 2003. New Zealand’s largest cities are Auckland which has about 369,300 and Christchurch which has about 334,100.

1. Topographical Map

http://www.map-of-newzealand.co.uk/maps/physical-map.gif

New Zealand is a country of mountains and rolling hills.NZ lies between the Australian and Pacific tectonic places, the Australian plate on the west and the Pacific plate on the east. Interestingly, how these two plates converge is in a scissor-like pattern, providing explanation of the differing geographic features of each island: the volcanoes in the North Island and the Mountain ranges of the South Island. The elevation in the picture is color-coded. The green shows the lower elevations and as it rises it changes from yellow to tan to white at the highest elevation. On the North Island, the white specks indicate the volcanoes: on the west coast is Mount Egmont and just below the islands center are Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Mount Ruapehu resides in the white bumpy looking part northeast of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Besides the 4 large volcanoes, there are also dozens of smaller ones. The North Island has many volcanic activity due to the area it resides in converging of 2 plates. The convergence creates a subduction zone absent from the South Island. In the subduction zone immense heat and pressure melt deeper rock creating magma that rises to the surface and erupts through volcanoes. The South Island features a fault system. On the south island are the Southern Alps and Mount Cook. The Southern Alps are named after the European Alps by their Austrian explorer. Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand- at 3,764 meters at its peak.

Rocky mountains and large coastal plains are the main geographical features of the country. New Zealand is between the pacific and Australian plate, therefore earthquakes are very prevalent here. About 14,000 earthquakes happen in and around the country every year but only about 150 to 200 are big enough to be felt.

2. Political Map

This political map highlights the capital and the major cities. Wellington is the capital, and some of the major cities include: Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch.

3. Dunedin is the city where I am studying at the University of Otago

4. Other sites

4a. Above is a picture of the University of Otago, the oldest university in NZ. It was founded in 1869 by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council. In the year 2011 over 21,000 students were enrolled. Compared to my school that has less than 2,000 students enrolled, this will be a huge change!

4b. Below is a picture of the Milford Sound. The Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s natural wonders. It is located in NZ’s Fiordland National Park on South Island. It stretches 9 miles inland from the Tasman Sea. It has astounding rock faces surrounding the sound on either side rising up to 3,900 feet! Rich wildlife thrives in these waters including seals, penguins, and dolphins

4c. Egmont National Park, located on the North Island founded in 1900. Below is a picture of the park. It is beautiful! It receives abundant amounts of rainfall and thus is rich in vegetation! I love moss, and this place is covered in wonderful amounts of moss 🙂

4d. Franz Josef Glacier, Westland, South Island NZ. This natural wonder attracts mountaineers from all over the world. It is the world’s steepest and fastest flowing commercially guided glacier. Below is a picture of the glacier from afar, it looks like a frozen waterfall! I have seen similar sights on my adventure in Alaska in the Prince William Sound. Also posted is an awesome picture of a hiker in a part of the glacier!

4e. Sailing in Auckland NZ

http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/img/article/nz-southern-comfort/NZ-Southern-Alps_lrg.jpg

There are beautiful lakes on both the south and north islands. The largest New Zealand lake is Lake Taupo which is 234 sq miles of a volcanic crater.

CLIMATE

There is a distinct variation in the climates of the north and south island. On the north part of the south island, there are some parts that never experience frosts. On the other hand, the Alpine regions can get as cold as 10 degrees in the winter. The average temperature in northern part of New Zealand is 59 degrees while in the south it is about 48 degrees.

Because New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. It is coldest in July and the hottest months are January and February. Since New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, the further you travel south, the colder it gets. For the most part, the weather in New Zealand is very unpredictable.

The sunniest places in New Zealand are Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Nelson/Marlborough. They receive over 2350 hours of sunlight. New Zealand experiences little air pollution compared to other countries, which makes UV rays in sunlight stronger. Sunscreen and other forms of sun protection are strongly encouraged here.

Rainfall is also very high in New Zealand. It is between 640mm and 1500 mm and is spread evenly throughout the year, which makes this country ideal for farming. The southwest of the South Island experiences some of the heaviest rainfall in the world.

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/library/305_3.gif

Summerà December to February. Good time for outdoor activities. There are many gorgeous beaches ideal for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, boating, and water sports.

Autumn à March to May. Temperatures are a little cooler than summer and it is possible to swim in some places until April. Colourful leave changes especially in Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay.

Winter à June to August. Brings more rain to the North Island. Mountains on both islands become covered in snow. There is excellent skiing during this time and a good time to visit glaciers on the South Island.

Spring à September to November. Alexandra in Central Otago and Hastings in Hawke’s Bay celebrate spring with a blossom festival. This is a good time for rafting.

Sources:

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/earthquakes/1

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/nature/nature-climate-and-weather.cfm

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/parks/domain.asp

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/HstBldgs/Buildings/Beehive/5/c/a/5ca7931f15ad4180880ca18d0068e19c.htm

http://www.auckland.nz.com/sights.aspx

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-maori-culture.cfm

http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/culture/maori/

“it is good to be the King” A despot society

Oriental despotism is about as stable as an earthquake. The phrase, “it is good to be the king” is appropriately applied to this topic because the king determines what is good, who gets the goods, as well as the when, where, and why’s of the goods. As the Queen of Hearts so accurately states, “A word means whatever I want it to mean.”  Just like an earthquake, the will of the rulers is unpredictable and can have catastrophic impacts. Whatever they say goes, no matter how hard it shakes the pillars of society.

The central reason that Oriental despotism is an unstable political system is because all of the power resides in one man, the king, and there are no effective institutions in place to check his power. The king as 100% power – he owns everything, thus the people have no rights – for any right is a threat to the kings power.  For example there are no property rights, these rights are very visual and physical, therefore they would greatly threaten the totalitarian power of the king. “No title-deed or rights of possession will stand up before the capriciousness of the authorities” This kind of policy is not good for society because it keeps people from having a sustained living which leads to bankruptcy and ultimately a failed state.  Because society does not have the ability to create wealth and the people are subject to unpredictable rulings, the society can commence to ruins.

Usbek makes these observations of the oriental society in Letter 19 while he is traveling through Isaphan. He is not impressed by the eastern countries, he travels through them fast, noting there are no rich or powerful cities to observe anything moderately successful. Except for Smyrna, and yet even here he gives the credit to the Europeans. He sees all of the east as a failed state because of the governments total control over the progression of society:

“I was amazed to see the weakness of the Ottoman Empire. It is a diseased body, preserved not by gentle and moderate treatment, but by violent remedies which ceaselessly fatigue and undermine it”

Every aspect of society is described as a failure, “towns are deserted, countryside laid to waste, and agriculture and trade are completely abandoned” there is no development, no generation of wealth, no sign of a growing life.

In Montesquieu’s Persian Letters: France, the land of the “enlightened” and the authority two Persian travelers have to observe it

In the preface it is outlined that the two Persian travelers’ words are true from their point of view and they are upfront with everything they had to say. So as a reader, this tells us we are getting the full story from the perspective of an outsider looking in. The translator of the letters comments on the Persian travelers saying, “they considered me as a man from another world, and hid nothing from me.” Thus we can expect we are getting the full story. Also, Montesquieu is generalizing that most travelers are honest because they are far from home and therefore anything that they share has no chance of making it back to their home. From personal experience, I would say there is a certain openness I have with people I come into contact with. In attempts to cross cultural boundaries I speak freely of what i know because I want to understand the connections between cultures as well as the uniqueness of each. 

Not only are the travelers honest, but they are intelligent – making their observations respectable. They have stayed in France for 9 years, 1711-1720, and through the years they have been able to observe and interact with the French culture. This experience has allowed the Persian travelers an understanding of the French culture similar to that of a native as well as allowed them able to make keen observations about the culture that even someone who has grown up surrounded by it would not be able to make. They have an advantage of growing up in a different land because they are able to see the differences between the two cultures, they can pick up on small ways of life that may just be accepted by the locals without question because ‘it is what it is’ 

In letter 1 Usbek makes it known he is on a quest for knowledge outside of the eastern boundaries, he describes his eagerness to learn in letter 48 saying “those who enjoy learning are never idle…I spend my life in inquiry…Everything excites me, everything surprises me: I am like a child, whose organs are still delicate, so that even the most trivial things make an impression on them” Later in this passage Usbek questions the role of every character surrounding him at a social event: a tax collector, a priest, a poet, etc. He wants to understand his environment of which he is apart of. A good traveler knows how to ask questions, and Usbek qualifies his entitlement as an ‘authoritative traveler’ by inquiring about the people he is interacting with. 

Usbek observes many parts of the French culture and it leads him questioning aspects globally: Religion, the role of women, food and drink, social structure, conservations, fashion… 

In letter 30 Obsek observes how his native clothes, of a fashion sense foreign to that of France, gives him great attention and authority. Yet, in attempt to blend in he “fell into a terrible state of non-existance”

This makes me wonder about how it will be when I go abroad. I think of how my clothes already make me stick out here in Alabama, god knows how much more they will in New Zealand. Yet, I have quite the plethora of outdoorsy gear and I think that will be quite common in the Land of Adventures. Will my attempt to blend in with society make me feel as though I lose a sense of myself along the way? In my few excursions I have had thus far I still had certain items that characterized who I am yet I always loved emerging myself into the culture and letting myself go and finding myself in the moment, apart of the society, one with the environment of which I was presently alive. 

IQ Intercultural Questions

IQ Intercultural Questions

Blog Assignment

Answer the questions below on your blog using words and visuals.  Answer honestly but allow yourself to have fun with the questions.

What in your upbringing has most shaped you?

My experience with NOLS backpacking and sea kayaking in Alaska has influenced me the most in recent years. It was life changing and brought needed clarity into my reality.

Which characteristic do you most dislike in other people?

Close-mindedness. Negativity actually.

What food do you think you will most miss abroad?

CANDY. Specifically, skittles. It will be a good change for my dental health though.

Which aspects of YOUR national character will people of the host country be most suspicious ofin you?

American girls gone wild.

What do you see as your unique selling point or quality?

I am outgoing and really love meeting new people so I think that it will definitely be most of my best qualities in a foreign place where I do not know anyone

What do others most misunderstand about your personality?

Because I might not conform to certain ways of doing things I think people think I do not care. I may not present myself in the way they see fit so it may seem as an intentional display of disrespect, but really I just have different priorities. I think saying hello and acknowledging someone, giving someone the time of day is more important than what we are wearing.

Name four characteristics you associate with your homeland.Which characteristic do you value most?

Rolling hills, time moves slower, very green environment – nature, not the people, “y’all” and southern hospitality. Time is something that I value a lot, I don’t like rushing through life. I think I will live longer and more fuller if I move slow, I have more time to take everything in.

Which characteristics of the host country’s people (name the country) do you think you’ll most appreciate?

I think I will really appreciate New Zealanders easy going attitudes. I feel as if they share the same Hakuna Matata  philosophy as I do.

If you were a drink, which drink would you be?

Sweet Mint Tea

 

What do you find most difficult about working in a group?

Finding the time to work together

Of the clothes you wear, what best expresses who you are?

My chacos, I am always ready to go in my chacos – I can hike, dance, study, eat, I can do it all. Although kicking a soccer ball does hurt a little.

Which aspect of your personality will make it hardest for you to fit in when abroad?

I move slow and can easily have the go with the flow mentality and I think I will need to be more decisive and focused while traveling.

Which personality trait do you think foreigners most associate with the people of your country?

New Zealanders – outdoor enthusiasts

What most worries you about the period of residence abroad?

Falling into a routine, I want to do this my way and explore the possibilities.

Name a food that you cannot bear to eat.

Black Olives, I really do not enjoy them.

Which aspect of your personality will most help you fit in when abroad?

I am pretty easy going and open minded so I can relate to others and get along with most people

Which national characteristic in yourself would you be most happy to lose?

Overconsumption

What most excites you about the period of residence abroad?

Adventuring new Zealand!!!!! I want to climb mountains, dive under the sea, and live in a community with good environmental ethics and outdoor enthusiasts. I want that part of their culture to rub off on me!

(Created by Jessica Abrahams, Robert Crawshaw and David Steel of Lancaster University for The Interculture Project)

Lets go to Europe Response

In preparation for the class discussion of “Let’s Go Europe” on Monday, answer the questions below on your blog:

1. Summarize the reading.

The reading Lets Go to Europe focuses on the educational impact of studying abroad, especially the impact that the act of traveling and learning how to live in a new culture (usually for the first time and without a parent teaching you how for years and years…). The author explores these ideas by studying the experiences of his students. He sees the tendencies of students to travel in ‘herds’ initially, simply to be comfortable, until they learn they get more out of the experience if they travel in smaller groups. At the beginning students wanted to see as much as they could rather then take the time to understand one place better then the rest. In many cases he read that the destination and ability to say you went there were initially more important than the journey. For many it is all about getting the picture than actually understanding and appreciating the beauty of where one is. He also studied how these students changed during their travel experience. Overcoming the challenges students faced while traveling attributed to self realization, increased self confidence, and learning how to adapt, which made the experience life changing. They learned to live a different way, to survive each day by tackling the same problems repeatedly and thus understanding what it takes to be successful in a different culture.

1. Why did the author choose the ethnographic study described in the reading?

The idea that traveling is educational intrigued him so he performed a study in Europe where students have the opportunity to can encounter various cultures in a small time frame and continually learning about how life works in different areas.

1. What approach did the anthropologist use for gathering the data?

He asked his students to record their travel experiences by journaling, thinking it would encourage them to reflect and learn more of the culture, its people, the places, and their customs. He also asked them to record travel logs of their activities to see how where and why the students traveled. The students also recorded the number of companions they traveled with

1. Who were his subjects?

Traveling American students studying abroad

1. What questions was he trying to answer?

He wondered about the educational value of travel. He asked what really happened when students went on the road as tourists.

1. What did he learn?

He learned  how students spend their time abroad, how they go about traveling, and how they interact with the culture. He learned there is more personal development than cognitive development. He saw how it is a life changing experience for students to travel and understand other ways of life.

1. What did his subjects learn?

They learned self confidence, adaptability, tolerance for adversity, and ultimately learned by personal development. They learned how to solve problems and make good decisions and in order to do so they first had to learn by understand how the system works. They did so by asking questions, the right questions.

1. What questions do you have following this reading?

I wondered how educational traveling experiences differ. How traveling in Europe, where you are exposed to many cultures relates to traveling in NZ where there isn’t as much diversity.  Would I learn more if I had to keep adjusting to new ways of life, overcome multiple language barriers, and adapt to so much change.  With such repetition and practice I feel as if one would become a better traveler and have a greater understanding of how to learn a culture.

1. How does this study relate to your semester abroad?

It relates a great deal to my semester abroad. While New Zealand does not have the plethora of cultures that Europe possesses, the learning experience of immersing oneself into a different culture and adapting to a new way of life is extremely prevalent in NZ. I have traveled much in the past couple years of my life and was able to relate to many of the responses he received in the journals of his students. I have been blessed with being able to travel repeatedly because each time I become better at it.