Blog 9 - The Convocation by Marjane Satrapi

Yulieth Hassan

English 101

Professor Draegan

Blog #9

The Convocation by Marjane Satrapi

Although the cultural contrasts are obvious, in what respects are the relationships between male and female students like those in the United States?

The cultural contrasts in the United States and in the Middle East are very clear. The relationship between students, male and female, in colleges in the United States is significantly different from that in Marjane’s part of the world. In the United States, students are free to dress any way they want, as long as they follow college rules and regulations. Males and females openly socialize in cafeterias and in sports activities. They wear clothes that are purely based on their own taste and choice and not based on any college rules or regulations.  Moreover, male and female students can walk together without being separated just because of their gender. In Marjane’s case I can see some things that are similar to what is in the United States. Though not quite as obvious, girls do have their favorites of the other gender. They also notice how the other sex dresses. Marjane also had the courage to express what was on her mind – something that all students do in the US by virtue of the freedom of speech they each have and cherish.

Other similarities I see between students in the US and those in Marjane’s country is that, in general, males are attracted to females and vice versa. No matter how much rules a college puts on their students about mixing with the other sex, it usually does not seem to work. It is human nature to be attracted to the opposite sex. Flirting to attract the other sex seems to also be consistent, whether in the US or in Marjane’s country.  More importantly, it seems that male and female friendships in college will always exist despite any rules that are put in place.  In the US there are no such rules.  However in Marjane’s case, the rules are dictated by cultural background and more so by customs and traditions. I am aware of this fact in the US but I also saw this in Marjane’s talking to her male friend despite knowing of the consequences.

I am very consciousness of the cultural background in Marjane’s country. These students had to consent to unrealistic rules in order to get an education. They all know that abiding by them gives them a better path for their future. I feel that Marjane is a very strong courageous girl who is not afraid about voicing her opinion. She is a leader and not a follower, and as such, this is very important in my opinion in order to survive in any culture especially one in the Middle East. Women, in general, should not be afraid, or feel intimidated, about speaking what they feel or believe. In a way, I can understand how she and her female friends were uneasy when they first went to college since it represented a different atmosphere than that they were used to.  I can imagine how happy Marjane and her female friends would be if they came to attend college in US where no rules are placed on how they dress, who they talk to or what they do. What they will find in the US is based on equality and no gender separation, freedom of speech and choice – what a difference this will make!

Blog 8: Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan

Yulieth Hassan

Professor: Draegan

Blog 8 

Fish Cheeks, by Amy Tan

What does Tan’s mother try to show her by cooking an authentic Chinese dinner, including Amy’s favorite dishes, for the non-Chinese minister and his family? To what does the title refer? 

I believe Tan’s mother is trying to show her how important it is to be proud of your roots, where you came from, no matter how they appear to others.  I also believe that she is trying to tell her daughter that food is an important part of her culture, and she should always remember that. Tan’s mother, by preparing a big Chinese meal, is showing the minister and his family her great cooking skills. I believe Tan’s mother is very considerate of her daughter’s likes and dislikes, by cooking her favorite dish, fish cheeks. This clearly shows me that the mother took her time and was considerate of what exactly to prepare for her family and not just for the minister and his family.

The title of this essay is “Fish Cheeks”. I understood the author was referring to this particular time of her life where her secret about liking “fish cheeks” – a part constituting the head of the fish, came out in the open during Christmas dinner.

What are some of your favorite holiday’s foods and how would they appear to someone from a different culture?

My favorite holiday meals are from my native home country, Colombia. During Christmas time, we Colombians have our biggest celebration, just like Tan’s mom. I personally cook many of dishes for special occasions such as my children’s birthdays, when a guest is visiting from another culture, or just for pot luck. In Colombia I prepare different dishes like: sancocho, a chicken soup prepared with vegetables with green plantains being the main ingredient. Enpanadas, are also one of my favorite dishes.  They are a deep fried pastry that is stuffed with either shredded chicken or beef and a little bit of yellow potatoes and herbs. I also love to prepare the typical Colombian tamales which are prepared with all three meats chicken, beef, and pork and wrapped in fresh green plantain leaves. A very traditional dish that is served during Christmas time is made with figs stuffed with sweet milk cream.

I am sure if I prepared these dishes for someone from another culture, he may not understand why this much food is served. I will explain to him how important is cooking, from scratch, every meal is to us. That is an important cultural thing that we grow up knowing and is being taught to one generation after the other. I feel that it would be easier to explain my culture and our foods to someone who have heard, or have been to Colombia, as compared to someone who has not. For anyone not with my cultural background, I would expect them to be a bit hesitant and be asking more questions about the different foods and the ingredients.  In general, people from a different cultural background would also be open to experiencing different foods – this is human nature.

Blog 7 "Follow the Money" by Vivienne Walt and Amanda Walt

Blog 7

“Follow the Money” by Vivienne Walt and Amanda Bower

What relationship do the authors discover about the workers level of poverty and how much they send back to their families?

I was surprised to find out the amount of money that is sent to poor countries by their citizens in support of their families back home.  I was even more surprised to find out that with the increase in the poverty levels, more money is being sent home - as much as 60% of their income per the authors findings.  I have to admire their survival skills and their lack of selfishness and commitment to their families and loved ones.  Obviously, there is a tremendous amount of sacrifice where priority is given to family and loved ones who may live thousands of miles away.  Not only is sacrifice being shown by sending the money, but also by the accepted poor living conditions that they are willing to endure in order to achieve dreams that they can clearly see through the eyes of their family members.  For example, when money is being used to build a home that is considered luxurious by any standard in a poor country – this is the dream home that the family has been waiting for.

If you were forced to relocate to another country, would you send money back to your family and relatives in your home country?  Why or why not?

I definitely would send money to my family if I am forced to relocate to a country, such as the United States, where better pay and numerous opportunities exist for a person to succeed.  What I would be doing is identical to what was reported in the article by Walt and Bower.  I personally come from a cultural background where children are expected to provide support and help to our families – no matter how much sacrifice this will demand.  Obviously, I can only do this if opportunities are presented to me to relocate to another country where I can make all their dreams come true.

Others who come from different cultural backgrounds may not be this receptive to the personal sacrifices that need to be done in support of their families and loved ones back home.  For example, a person who relocates from Switzerland to the United States would be less inclined to send any money home.  This is primarily because Switzerland has one of the highest costs of living in the world as compared to the United States.  In simple words a person who is wealthy in his own native country would not be inclined to send money back to his equally wealthy or well-to-do parents.  The inclination of that person would be one where saving for purchasing a personal home upon his return would be his first priority.

Overall, the article by Walt and Bower is very enlightening.  It is well written with numerous examples that demonstrate that this “Flow of Money” is a global phenomenon that takes place only among third world poor countries.  For citizens in wealthy countries, it falls upon all of us that we must demonstrate respect and appreciation for those individuals who have left everything back home and were willing to sacrifice even their own comfort in order to make those at home more happy.

Blog-6: Of Ice and Men

Yulieth Hassan

Blog 6

Of Ice and Men

Of Ice and Men by Cameron m. Smith

What assumptions underlying the Hearld Sun (Melbourne) report (see “Bears Feel Heat; Polar Icon Faces Wipeout”) do the Inupiat challenge?

Global warming is affecting the natural habitat in the Alaskan Arctic for the polar bear.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife in the US have come to the conclusion that polar bears are endangered of disappearing.  Scientists believe that global warming is going to raise the temperature of the frozen sea habitat where the polar bears live - making this a sad ending for these beautiful creatures.  Below is a list of the assumptions used to make such claims:

• The first assumption was that because of the decrease in the size of the polar ice cap, then the population of polar bears must also be decreasing and, as such, they should be classified as endangered species.

• The second assumption I find was that the officials from US Fish and Wildlife assumed that the polar bears could be endangered within 45 years.

•  The third assumption I find interesting was the fact that an official from the Interior Department thought that the polar bear would be threatened with extinction.

What reasons cited by Cameron M Smith in “Of Ice and Men” go against the assumptions in this announcement reported in the Herald Sun?

The reasons cited by Mr. Smith in his article are based on facts (rather than empirical data, hypotheses, or long-term projections) provided the natural inhabitants of this region of the Alaskan Arctic, the Inupiat.  Below I am listing some of these:

• Contrary to what officials from the US Fish and Wildlife have claimed, Polar bear numbers were not declining.  Supporting the Inupiat’s statement was the observation made by the native Canadians who lived on the Hudson Bay 4000 miles away from where the polar bears are presumably declining in numbers.

• The second fact supports the first by providing an approximate number of the polar bears being annually hunted – a mere 20 bears, as compared to 200 bears being illegally hunted in Russia.  This small number is kept under control because of stringent protection laws in the US and Canada.

• The third fact, had to do with the Inupiat identification of the main problem which led officials of the US Fish and Wildlife to the perception that the polar bear should be classified as an endangered species – namely, the shrinking size of the Northern Arctic Ice Cap.  As Mr. Smith correctly wrote “Listing a species as threatened or endangered is meant to force federally backed action to preserve that species’ critical habitat.  If that habitat isn’t delineated, however, the listing has little value.” – This is exactly the point raised by the Inupiat.

There is no doubt that there is a lot of uncertainty about what the future holds for the polar bears.  The best we could do to preserve this magnificent animal is to educate ourselves and others about global warming and its detrimental effects, not only on polar bears, but also on all animal species on our planet.