Cultural Experience

In the first article “The Cultural Experience of Space and Body: A Reading of Latin American and Anglo-American Comportment in Public,” author Elizabeth Lozano writes about the idea of culture and how different cultures have their own idea of personal space and how it differs between Latin-Americans and Anglo-Saxons. This peaked my interest because it explains the constant battle and survival of being exposed to different cultural settings requires from people. I tend to find myself observing people more often than I should because I am intrigued with body language and how people react when to their environment and things going on around them. It is very important to me to respect peoples boundaries and although I may not always watch what I say or do I have learned through reading this article it is vital to pay close attention to these things. I grew up learning and practicing Judaism which tend to be very

open and we tend to be more physical in our greetings and the way we converse such as hugs,kisses and talking with our hands and most if not sometimes even myself are very uncomfortable with this.

The second article "Home as Respite for the Working-Class Academics" written by Katherine G.

Hendrix discuses her own experiences with relative poverty while trying to raise to middle class. Hendrix focuses on the idea of class and not so much race being an issue of her time. I have learned a lot growing up and being privileged in not only the social class I live in but also interacting with other cultures and experiencing the world through their eyes. One thing I’d say I related to the most was when Hendrix explains her idea of what home means and how comfortable it can be. Throughout my teenage years I took the idea of home for granted and being older and for the most part I hope wiser I have learned to really appreciate that the place I call home has been my home since I was born. Many of my friends and other close family friends don't know what its like to grow up in one household and maintaining that social class while growing up and this is something I have learned that many people perceive and treat me different after learning this about

myself.

In the last article “Twentieth-Century European Immigrants Dialectic of Class and Race" written by Annamarie Horrod talks about “white privilege” and the different levels of racism. I believe that just using those words white privilege is racism in itself. I have never found my white skin to privilege me in any way so far. People feel the need to judge people based on the color of their skin is sad, it brings out a lot of negative emotions in me. I believe we are all equal it doesn't matter what skin color, social class, religion or culture you come from we are all humans in search for a good rewarding life and I hope one day this will stop becoming an issue of discussion.