My American Culture

I am surrounded with strangers. Soft music drifts through the dimly lit lodge. I sit at a long, wooden table inside of the hostel; folks are eating food, playing cards, and discussing family traditions. A large, bearded fellow asks me to share my family and culture with the group. I tell them I am from the United States and then begin to dig around inside of my backpack, searching for items to visually explain my background. I pull out three items, my smartphone, my Bible, and a container of pepperkaker cookies, and dive into a conversation with the other travelers.
Why I pull out my smartphone I am not exactly sure. I assume many of the travels from developed countries have phones themselves, but I see a few folks who I guess may never have seen such a gadget. I tell the group that in the United States, phones are almost a necessity. Though there are numerous citizens who can survive without phones, technology has undeniably become a part of our culture. Plus, it can also be a handy tool; depending on the phone type one can use it as a flashlight, a GPS, a compass, the Internet, a way to chat with friends, a book, or a way to stay in-the-know with current events. Thus, phones are representative of my American culture.

My Bible travels with me to serve as a reminder of my ultimate purpose. I do not intend to force my religion upon these people; I merely desire to show them the tremendous impact my faith has on my life. After a brief rundown of my beliefs, I proceed to read a few of my favorite verses to the group--verses about courage, vanity, conformity, and love. I carry my Bible with me to serve as a reminder of my purpose. The Christian faith has been present in my family for generations and I believe it is a perfect exemplification of my