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In the book Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette, the authors define what it means to be Italian and key in on details that can transform you into a pro of the Italian culture. Similar to past readings, the Italian family really defines the true nature of its people. As the author says, “The Italian family was (and to some extent still is) very close-knit, spending the weekends together and often eating its meals collectively” (39). Italian-Americans continued this trend here in the states and it has been instilled in people like me to always prioritize your family.
I found it very interesting how paganism and astrology are deeply rooted and hidden in the Italian language. Months and even days of the week embrace and prove
the usual folder. It determines the way we frame everything . . . the attitude
My research is in response to the essay “Culture Baggage” by Barbara Ehrenreich on page 298. In her writing, Ehrenreich discuses on language, race, and ethnicity and how it applies to cultural baggage. Ehrenreich points out that there were many of other people who already knew of their beliefs and culture and they stood proud for their roots and in heritage, as she slouched back into her seat as if she knew nothing about her culture or where she really were from. Culture refers to the learned and shared behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values and material objects that characterize a particular group or society. Which is a group of people who share a culture and a defined territory, however society and culture go hand in hand neither
Life in Italy is much different than life in the United States. Italians live at a much slower pace, than American’s and they have a desire to enjoy life instead of rushing through it as many American lifestyles exhibit (Zimmermann, K. (2015). The extended family is very important in Italy, whereas in the United States, the focus tends to be on the nuclear family, which includes mom, dad, and children (Zimmermann, 2015). The differences in Italian culture and American culture are vast and varied, but with a few comparable components to demonstrate similarities.
Unless you are a wealthy Italian, you live a much humbler lifestyle. A lot of Italians homes are meager, and the material goods Americans want and vie for, aren’t as important to them. I realized how fortunate I was for all the belongings I took for granted. Some Italians would view the home I grew up in as a mansion compared to their own. They seemed so much happier and it was humbling to see them content by having a lot
When you think about family, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you only thought about your parents or close relatives, then you may have been caught in an “individual vs. family” paradox. Nearly every culture considers family important, but “many Americans have never even met all of their cousins” (Holmes & Holmes, 2002, p. 19). We say we are family oriented, but not caring to meet all of our extended family seems to contradict that. Individual freedoms, accomplishments, and goals are all American ideals that push the idea of individualism.
In The Godfather not even God is more important than family, which the Corleone’s value as the most sacred institution of them all. “From the beginning of human life, people have grouped themselves into families to find emotional, physical, and communal support. Although social commentators often have predicted the demise of both marriage and the family, families not only survive but continue to change and evolve. Family structures my vary around the world, and yet, the value of our family endures.” (DeFrain)
In the short story Second Culture Kids, a family is encouraged to leave the country due to the dangerous situations that had been occurring. Throughout the years that Oil crisis have been a problem in Venezuela, people have been forced out of their country through the use of violence and no financial income. Many individuals had to learn how to have a steady lifestyle while coping with the culture differences that had aroused. The readers learn about the unimaginable horror of being forced out of their home country through the use of violence and the instability of financial income including the many difficulties of adjusting to a new cultural.
There’s a lot more to being Italian than the typical stereotypes that we have come to know from movies, television and books. From the Catholic mobsters who kill during the week but always make it to mass on Sunday, to the “how you doin” views of Joey from the television show “Friends”, people often forget the more important parts of being Italian. It is a culture like no other, full of history, art, and most importantly, their passion for food. Italian food, in my opinion, is the best in the world. Italians put so much into everything they make that the time and effort is tasted with every single bite. One of my favorite dishes would have to be fettuccini alfredo and it just happens to be a fairly easy, but extremely delicious, dish to make. Trust me, if I can make it, you can make it.
What are family values? One hundred years ago I feel this would have been an easier question to answer than it is today. Changing family structures and social norms have created a more fluid form of what we envision as a family. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a family as both “a group of persons with common ancestry” and as “a group of individuals living under one roof.” As we have discussed in class, a family is not simply nuclear anymore. In the stories we have read we have examined nuclear, single-parent, extended, and community-based families. All of which held the same feeling of importance and love for the people in it. With every family being unique, each holds their own set of beliefs or values which poses the question, what
What exactly is a family? Some would say it is a father, mother, and possibly children, but is this an outdated definition? With the world adapting and changing at such a high rate, it proves difficult to create definite boundaries for what constitutes a family. As events that are either detrimental or beneficial to society occur, family lives adapt to better suit the current state. The differences in culture, religion and traditions can offer possible explanations for why families are not the same, locally and globally. Sociological relationships change to fit the people involved in them, so it only makes sense that family groups would differ by location. This paper will discuss the ways that families in America have evolved over time. Also, I will explain what occurrences caused the need for such changes.
Have you ever given someone the evil eye, or run amok? Have you or someone you know ever fell out? Some of these phrases are common with children or people throughout the country, but to other cultures these are serious issues that require attention. Culture Bound Syndrome is an illness, or behavior within a particular culture. However, in research of CBS I found that it is possible for these illnesses to spread among other cultures. Why do medical anthropologist have an interest in CBS? More importantly, what are these illnesses that plague these cultures?
When Italian immigrants came to America, many were not welcomed in the communities of the Germans and Irish. The neighborhoods that the Itali...
Living in Italy provided me with so much to be grateful for. I was able to live for the moment, more than I feel I ever had before. Italian culture is a much less fast paced and so it almost forces you to appreciate more of what each day offers. While I lived there, I worked as an Au Pair which is essentially a live-in nanny/teacher for the family’s children. Though my work there was demanding at times, it provided me the chance to view another culture’s day to day lifestyle. Most families come home in the afternoon for a few hours to have lunch together and almost every dinner is had all together as well. Their focus during those meals is about talking and sharing everyone’s day and enjoying the food that was prepared. Here in our American culture, it
There are a lot of different cultures in the world we live in today. Finding the place you belong and discovering your own culture can be a challenge. This is especially true when you look at culture as an individual versus culture in your family, or even within your community. I’ve always been very family oriented, so that plays a big part in who I am and how my family’s dynamic works. I believe that my family has had a huge impact on the development of my culture, and I hope that I have had the same impact on theirs.
My background is Italian but I was born in America so I am pretty Americanized. But that doesn’t mean my Italian roots don’t show from time to time. My daily life is actually influenced a lot more then I originally thought by being Italian. For example, my mom is constantly cooking these gigantic meals that would make all my friends want to live at my house. Even when I was younger I my mom would make all these great meals ranging from chicken to different types of pasta. I would always bring these foods to lunch in school and not a day went by that I wasn’t asked to trade lunches. Of course I never did though because I loved my moms home cooked meals. Since I have always had these meals as a child you could say I’ve been a little fascinated by how they are prepared. So naturally I asked my mom to teach me and I have incorporated it in my life style ever since.