Assignment #1 - Define Your Culture

I'm not sure why I prolonged writing this assignment. I mean I have Internet access, its no Rogers Hi-Speed but it works, and the work that I'm doing at my placement required me to be on the computer. Nonetheless, Ive found myself uploading pictures rather than posting blogs. Sure the pics are great but I guess me prolonging this assignment has something to do with how difficult it really is. I mean you are your worst critic, how can you fully define yourself in terms of culture? Anyways I'll wing it and try it now.

In my defence, waiting to write this assignment did have its benefits. I've met a completely awesome person (Yverick who is the other intern on this trip), who actually didn't arrive until a week after Ive been in this crazy city, Johannesburg - South Africa that is. Indirectly, I think I can define my culture from what he has helped me realise. But to start I think I have a few thoughts of my own.

Yes I am Canadian! which has granted me so many privileges that I now can fully recognize. But I am also second generation Italian (both parents born in Italy), so I have definitely have been impacted on that aspect of culture. I'm talking 7 course weddings, traditional September sauce making day, and the stereotypical stubbornness which unfortunately I posses to some degree. But after meeting with a friend of a family friend here in the city, she has actually made me realise how difficult anyone's life can be who born from a second generation. For example, I was born in Canada but raised Italian. So I have the cultural and Italian upbringing of my family but also the very important everyday social interactions of Canadians. So you are being influenced by what your parents think is right or what they tell you is right, and the many influences from your very important social life. So how do you choose, or how do blend the two into making some sense of what your culture really is? After I had that conversation with that friend of a family friend, I realised that you don't really have to chose or even make sense of it, you just kinda need to accept, embrace, and adapt to the many influences coming your way.

Even if that makes sense, things get thrown back into the culture blender when you realize that people can have completely different culture as you do. Sure that makes sense; different background, experiences, influences, etc. etc. But when you try to establish a common ground with someone like this, you definitely run into a few obstacles. For example, as an Canadian-Italian, (yes Canada comes first), I have definitely been privileged with so much and realise that not everyone lives like this. In fact, many people have struggled and worked very hard to achieve even half of what I take for granted. As a acknowledge this, I want to travel and see the struggles of people and take a step to understanding them. There are many people who don't embrace this kind of idea because they have already struggled and worked up to a 'good life'. They most certainly don't want to go back.

So through my rambling, I hope I've answered the question, or maybe not. I guess that's kinda of the point; the attempt since there is no right or wrong answer. All I know is that I am an Canadian-Italian, privileged not in the sense of education, economic, or social status, but the fact that my culture can change at any time based on the infinite influences by the many interactions of people of completely different cultures.