A True Barf Blog

The first thing that caught my attention about Barfblog was, of course, its’ name.  Although it put unpleasant pictures in my mind, I actually appreciated the theme once I arrived at the site.  The color scheme goes along with the whole theme, which is pretty creative, in a weird way.  Navigating through the site is quite painless; the layout is very simple and organized.  A straightforward web design is on the top of my list of criteria for a good blog site.  Furthermore, the site is not cluttered with advertisements which is refreshing for a modern day website.  I’ll give the site an A in design. 

Next on that list would be the blogs connections to my life and how I can relate to the opinions being shared.  The first blog I read was about a soccer match that I was actually watching live, so I was originally very impressed with the site.  When I read a few more, I had the realization that most of the blogs were actually uninteresting and even tiresome.  Foe example, I read one about Anzac day, a grim holiday that commemorates the battle of Gallipoli, which apparently was a colossal failure.  This blog would be interesting to a 70-year-old Australian man; however, I do not fall under that category.  The blog’s main purpose is supposedly “to offer evidence-based opinions on current safety issues.”  However, reading these blogs, I didn’t notice a lot of evidence to back up their positions.  While these issues might be very important to a large group, I do not have particular interest in them.  I don’t really want to read blogs about Hepatitis A or how to wash your hands properly.  Minus points in my book. 

My list of criteria continues; blogs must not be too long or they will lose my attention.  While some of the blogs on Barfblog are relatively long, I noticed that the majority of them are pretty short.  I like to see this in blogs because I appreciate writers getting straight to the point, instead of rambling on while beating around the bush. 

As for my final analysis of Barfblog, it appears that the site’s format is exactly what I’m looking for in blogs. The easy-to-navigate design, the color scheme, the lack of ads, and the lengths of the blogs all contribute to my affection for this site.  However, the topics being unrelated to my personal interests makes it hard for me to spend time reading these blogs.  In conclusion, the my lack of interest in the subjects surpass my liking for its design.  I acknowledge that to some, this blog may be perfect as it covers all the issues they care most about.  But this is simply my personal evaluation.

Rhetorical Analysis: Supreme Court

Mr. Clement: Just to clarify, Justice Sotomayor, I'm not suggesting that the Federal Government has any special authority to recognize traditional marriage. So if -- the assumption is that nobody can do it. If the States can't do it either, then the Federal Government can't do it. So the Federal Government –“
MS. KAPLAN: To flip the language of the House Report, Mr. Chief Justice, I think it comes from a moral understanding today that gay people are no
different, and that gay married couples' relationships are not significantly different from the relationships of straight married people. I don't think -­
CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: I understand that…”

Standing up before the Supreme Court to argue a controversial issue like same sex marriage could be daunting to any average man.  It takes courage for Mr. Clement to make a case against the chief justice, and eight associate justices of the United States.  However, Mr. Clement hangs in there, while being interrupted by the chief justice.  Although Mr. Clement is particularly polite, his tone does not affect his negative treatment from the opposition and the Supreme Court. 

In this short excerpt, Clement’s claim is that the Federal Government does not have the authority to define traditional marriage if the states don’t have the authority either.  It is hard to determine his tone in his words, but it seems that his tone is calm and polite.  In his situation, it is crucial to be polite while in the company of the Supreme Court.  This is a useful tool in appealing to the audience.  Not only is his audience the Supreme Court members, but he is also speaking to the court viewers, and all the people that are watching the broadcast of the case.  Furthermore, since this issue is so relevant in contemporary politics, this particular Supreme Court will have a significant audience.  Since the issue of same sex marriage is so controversial, Clement must maintain a neutral tone, or else he will face the consequences of angry petitioners. 

While Clement is making his point, Ms. Kaplan abruptly interrupts him.  This behavior is demeaning towards Clement, perhaps undeserved.  However, Ms. Kaplan interprets Clements claim, offering her explanation.  She brings in “moral understanding” to the equation.  With this, Kaplan is using pathos to appeal to the audience.  Her claim is that gay married couples are no different than straight married couples.   Before she could finish her sentence and offer evidence to back up her statement, Chief Justice Roberts interrupted her.  This is an example of how they received impolite treatment from the Supreme Court, regardless of their manners. 

The use of diction also plays an important role in the effective language used by Clement and Kaplan.  For example, the use of the word “special” referring to the government authority makes the audience realize the unequal powers that the government has.  The use of “traditional” in context is a useful word to make marriage seem like a regular aspect of our culture, and that all people should be able to have the same right to tradition.  Kaplan’s use of “moral understanding” is a powerful form of diction as well.  Every person wants to be ethical and proper, so the use of this word makes the audience want to accomplish “moral understanding.” 

Reading the dialect of the Supreme Court cases are filled with rhetorical devices and appeals, and for a good reason.  They intend to use their language effectively, with the goal of convincing and persuading the audience.  Tools like diction and tone are useful in shaping your argument in a way that can directly make the audience feel your words.  It’s impressive to me that these professionals are able to use language in such an effective way. 

The Adventure of Food

            If anyone told me that food does not represent one’s cultural identity, I would surely disagree.  In fact, I might take it personally because of the effects food has affected my life individually.  Growing up, I had a religious upbringing.  My family followed the rules of Judaism very strictly when it came to food.  We were restricted from eating many foods if they did not follow certain regulations, and this became an enormous factor of my childhood.

            According to the rules, mixing dairy and meat was forbidden.  Even if the food was completely dairy, it couldn’t even be cooked in the same kitchen as something with meat.  This limited the amount of restaurants my family could eat at. Ultimately, we would have to pay much more money for groceries, which was a challenge.  And the food that we could eat, there was a specific blessing we had to make on it, before and after eating it.  I remember going out to dinner with my unreligious relatives and watching my cousin devour a cheeseburger, something I could never enjoy.  Furthermore, many foods like bacon and shrimp, I couldn’t eat under any circumstances.  Imagine watching all the food advertisements on TV knowing you can’t eat any of it.  (Which is part of the reason why I never watched television.)  Or, imagine attending your Little League pizza parties and bringing your own pizza in tin foil.  That was my life, and I despised it. 

            The older I got, the worse it became.  I was becoming more aware of the real world of food, and knowing that I couldn’t be a part of it killed me.  I remember very vividly the first time I broke the rules.  Me and three (unreligious) friends went to a resort for a weekend, and there was an amazing dining hall.  I gave into the peer pressure and consumed every possible food that was against the rules that was available. I took pleasure in every bite.  Once my parents got divorced, my father, being less religious, gave me the option to eat whatever I want, while my more religious mother maintained her convention.  Because I never had a choice before, this resulted in me eating everything and anything.  It was like being on a wheelchair until high school, and then suddenly one day you can walk.  Well, I ran for miles.  I had gone from one extreme of food, to the other.  My religious past completely explains my admiration for every food that I have today.   I am now open to trying all sorts of new foods, weather it’s octopus in a small village in Spain, or a one-dollar burger from a local fast-food place. 

            Looking back on my childhood, I can’t completely resent the rules I once followed, for they have taught me so much today.  Because I once had such few options, I have learned to value every food that I am able to eat today very greatly. Most importantly, I now live a life where eating food is an ongoing adventure, where I explore all different cultures within each meal. And although I don’t make the same blessings on my food as I used to, they taught me to realize my fortune of having a meal to eat every day, and that is a blessing itself.

Does Free Trade Affect Culture?

There are many positives and negatives of having a free trade market.  But first, let me define some terms. Free trade is a government policy of reducing or completely abolishing all tariffs (taxes) on foreign goods and services, allowing globalization to successfully take place. On the contrary, protectionism is a policy of increasing tariffs on imported goods and services. Proponents of free trade argue that it increases cultural exchange between nations. Opponents argue that it undermines cultural stability. 

The topic of a free trade market is often disputed regarding its affect on culture.  One theory is that cultures tend to become very uniform because of the exportation of cultural models.  Due to differences in economical and political power, certain countries have a bigger impact on the global market. The culture of these countries consequently spreads and become a common thing. Local cultures disappear in favor of this new global way of life. In some ways, globalization only leaves room for a culture based on consumerism.

Globalization can affect culture in a few basic ways. One interpretation suggests that globalization disperses any and every culture throughout the world, making the planet more heterogeneous, forging deeper connections between different groups. For example, teens in the United States gain an understanding of Japanese culture through animation, comic books and video games, while teens throughout European countries learn about the American way of life by watching U.S. TV shows and movies.

Others argue that globalization makes culture more homogenous, leading to a unified world culture that consists of watered-down versions of regional cultural trends. Japanese sushi can be consumed in virtually any country in the world, and favorites from French pastries to "American" fried chicken can be found from Florida to Hong Kong. Proponents argue that this only affects things like consumer goods and the media, while critics worry that it weakens traditional culture

Globalization is most likely to damage local culture in regions like Scandinavia that are lightly populated, not very hierarchical and looking for new global cultural symbols. But the rest of the world’s population is in countries — China and India, of course, but also Brazil, Mexico, Egypt and Indonesia — that do not fit that description. “ The Indian music market is 96% domestic in origin, in part because India is such a large and multifaceted society.” (Tyler Cowen, NY Times) In India, Hollywood movies and American music are not favored like they are in other, smaller, countries.  These smaller countries are more vulnerable to being affected by globalization. 

One of the most common arguments against globalization is that it forces American culture onto the world, Westernizing other nations. Will everyone one day wear blue jeans and eat at McDonald's? We don't know. Globalization can work both ways: Even American blue jeans were forged from different cultures. They were developed by a German immigrant; their denim comes from the name of the French town where it originated, De Nimes.  (History of Denim)  My theory is that free trade markets are positively affecting culture throughout the world.  The American market has become more multicultural, and more multilateral as well because free trade markets enhance the U.S economy, while also maintaining it’s important role in a global society. 

Works Cited

CHANG-TAI HSIEH. "The Impact of Outsourcing to China on Hong Kong’s Labor Market." Faculty.chicagobooth.edu/. N.p., n.d. Web. .

Wolf, Martin. "Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf." Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. .

"History of Denim." Garmento.org. Garmento, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. .

Outsourcing; China's Race to the Top

                                                  Outsourcing; China's Race to the Top

             The discussion of outsourcing has become a topic of significant dispute over the last few years.  Many argue that outsourcing is negatively affecting the U.S economy by giving their jobs to other countries for lower labor rates.  In 2011 alone, the United States outsourced 2,273,392 jobs overseas (Statistics Brain).   However, “plummeting technology costs and globalization of trade has made offshore outsourcing ubiquitous” (Tom Reilly, Outsourcing Opportunity).  Whether it’s a call with a customer service representative in the Philippines, the use of software developed in India, or the purchase of an iPhone manufactured in China, it’s all around us. It has become so common in corporate life we hardly notice it.  Nowadays, it’s not unusual to own numerous goods that read “Made in China.”  Furthermore, China has become one of the most dominant players in the economic realm.  Due to its large population, cheap labor costs, and experience, China is rising to the top of the outsourcing industry. 

            China, with the largest population in the world, once was home to the most advanced society, economy and sciences.  It declined however during the 19th and 20th century due to famines, foreign invasion, civil discord, and military failures. China's economy was revived during Deng Xiaoping's reign in China; he focused on a free, market-oriented economic development that dramatically changed the living standards of its citizens. This also led to its rapid industrialization, which made China one of the most important economies in the world. 

            With an enormous population of 1.3 billion people (Google Public Data), China has more inhabitants than any other country.  With such an astounding number of consumers, China has the potential to impact the biggest manufacturers and retailers in the world. In addition, the country’s market is growing rapidly; “China's current outsourcing market is growing an estimated 30 percent annually” (Sourcing Line).  On this rate, China will surpass India, the current dominant offshoring country, competing as the destination of choice for companies looking to outsource all parts of their operations. 

            In today’s global economy, attaining a competitive edge is vital.  According to Bryan Huang, president of BearingPoint Great China, an engineer costing $4,000 a month in the U.S would cost only $500 in China. And that’s for an engineer in Shanghai.  According to ChinaHr.com, the salary level of an engineer in places like Xian or Dalian is closer to $250 a month. In short, the cost can be said to be between a sixth to an eighth of what it would be in the U.S. This is the simple reason why U.S companies seek to outsource to China.   As businessmen, it is essential to take advantage of low rates, “ensuring that you are getting the best price possible for inventory” (All China Sourcing).  Due to these cheap labor rates, on top of a colossal population, it appears that China is becoming unstoppable in the race to the top of the outsourcing industry. 

           

  

                                                            Works Cited

"Advantages to Outsourcing in China." Web log post. Advantages to Outsourcing in China. All China Sourcing LTD, 3 Mar. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Eltschinger, Cyrill. "China Rising." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 29 Nov. 2007. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Zhang, Jacqueline. "Outsourcing to China, Part 1." Sourcing Mag. CTQ Media, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

"Outsourcing in China." Sourcing Line. Sourcing Line, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Reilly, Tom. "China Outsourcing." 'China Outsourcing' Next Horizon, 12 Apr. 2007. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Offsourcing

I must admit, I was not surprised one bit to learn that a majority of my every-day products were made abroad;  My soap, produced in Canada.  My toothbrush, China.  My Sony speakers were produced in Japan.  Although I found that China manufactures the most, there is a large variety of countries that produce my every-day goods.  With each product, a new country. While many argue that outsourcing leads to a loss of American jobs and a declining standard of living, I argue that outsourcing is an effective way of making the world a smaller and friendlier place, allowing us to share our products beyond our borders.  

I like to call myself an international boy.  I am a student in The Center for Global Studies, I am a frequent traveler, and I have learned five languages throughout my lifetime. Thus, I am an owner of mostly imported goods.  I sleep on a bed from Indonesia, while the sheets are from the U.S.  Now, as a globalist, I like to think about outsourcing differently.  I see outsourcing as a way of taking the best products of the world to Connecticut, while paying the lowest rates.  For example, I drive a BMW made in Germany.  I could choose to buy an American made car, however I prefer German engineering and service.  Furthermore, I play a Fender guitar manufactured here in the States, as I prefer their products over other foreign options.  This guitar is shared all over the world; millions of musicians play a Fender outside of America, and it is because they prefer the quality.  

 While I know that hyperlocal is the trend, global is still what defines me.  I watch Spanish soccer because they have the best competition, I eat sushi because their food is different, and I have friends all over the world because they teach me that the world is much bigger than Norwalk, CT.  I feel the same about outsourcing. These foreign products bring together our world.  As an American citizen, I agree that outsourcing may effect our own economy and jobs.  But I am a citizen of the world beyond America, where countries should be able to share their useful goods with their neighbors.

Word games

Lenguaje is a game.  A word game.  This game es purely a competición to get your point across.  Each persona has their own game; some are better than otros.  Meaning, some people are better at communicating a common meaning than others, and can convert their thoughts to words more efficiently.  Every language has a different word game; different languages contain words that express more thoughts than others. Diferentes lenguajes contienen palabras que expresan pensamientos más que otros.  So, in this battle of terminology, why can’t we manipulate numerous languages at once in order to accomplish the most efficient use of conveying our thoughts? Bien, podemos, pero no muchas personas entendería una mezcla de lenguajes.

Do we have to think in a specific language? I spent 6 months abroad en España listening to only español for all 24 hours of the day. Now, interestingly enough, my subconscious occasionally switches lenguajes while I am dreaming, without me knowing.  I try to think about why this occurs.  It could be because some words in Spanish mean much more than their counterparts in English.  My subconscious analyzes my thoughts and converts them to whichever word game expresses my thoughts more accurately. Thus, a person who knows a million languages would have the most efficient word game, meaning he could express his thoughts more accurately and efficiently, but, like I said, nadie lo entendería.

So how do we aquire lenguaje?  Is language inherited or learned?  Pues, some would argue that kids are born with a language and others would say they must learn it from their parents or a school.  However, I am hesitant to believe any claims so fast.  In order to find the answer of this mystery, I have thought of a simple test.  What would happen if you locked a baby in a room and for their whole life only communicated to them through musica?  What would their language develop to be?  It is certain that they would have thoughts, but how would they express them?  Would they use tones and vibrations to convey their thoughts?  No podemos saber esto. 

La Reflexion

I think I was able to communicate meaningfully in my Spanish dialect.  Someone who knows Spanish would be able to understand my thought process in this blog much more than someone who didn’t know Spanish.  For example, when I said “lo entendería.” This form of conjugation is intended to express a hypothetical feeling of the verb.  Translated to English it would mean, “ Would be able to understand hypothetically.”  I think that this phrase in Spanish is more accurate to my thought than in English.  This process was liberating because I felt that I had more, and in certain situations, better choices of language to convey my thoughts more appropriately.  I think that Anzaldua accomplished the same task in her experience with code switching.  She was able to express her thoughts more accurately by essentially doubling her vocabulary.  In conclusion, people that know more than one language are able to convey their thoughts more efficiently by having access to more words that correspond to their thoughts more accurately.   

Federici Advertisement Analysis

Okay, I know what you are all thinking when you first see this Federici gelato advertisement... How could you eat ice cream without a shirt?  To take on such a cold task requires audacity, which clearly, this desperately hungry man does not lack.  However, he does not differ from all the other Federici customers, as they are all courageous.  After all, the ad clearly says "submit to temptation," daring us to  eat that spoonful of gelato.  The entire ad is rather dark and serious.  In fact, the brightest colors in the whole picture are the pale skin of the two characters and the colors on the ice cream box itself.  This is a useful tool in order to focus the viewers attention on certain aspects of advertisements.  Our eyes naturally see the skin first and the ice cream box because they grab our attention the most.

As you can see, there is another character in this advertisement.  A beautiful, black haired women is besides this man, wearing sunglasses indoors (yet another bold act.)  Both of them are in very good physical shape.  This is a classic example of the media portraying what their average customers should look like, making them seem flawless, bold, and in perfect physical shape. This is a strategy that  ultimately causes the real customer to crave their product, while really craving the look.  

In this ad, the man is eating the ice cream and the women appears to be asking for some, with her hand on his shoulder.  The man aggressively blocks her away using his elbow and gives her a fierce look in the eyes.  "NO" he says.  What?!  So the women isn't allowed to have any ice cream but the man can eat it in bed?  It was also pointed out to me that the mans spoon is purposely or non-purposely made to look like a knife.  Now, if that spoon is really a knife, then there are MANY more possibilites as to what is really going on in this ad.  Well, weather its a spoon or a knife, it is evident in this advertisement that this man has to choose between two of mens greatest temptations; Food and sex.  It appears that he has made his decision to eat the ice cream.   This advertisement is playing on the gender roles our society has formed.  In the media, the men are allowed to grub on whatever they want, while women are prohibited from snacking.  And if they are caught , it is considered to be "cheating" or a "secret." And why is the women wearing glasses in doors?  Is she not allowed to stare back into the man's eyes directly?  I believe that this ad is condescending to women and is quite controversial... However, it fits right in to contemporary media.  

Culture Analysis

Blog #5

Over the course of this project, I found it very interesting to analyze my own culture while existing in it.  I would like to say that now I am more aware, and less vulnerable to media and cartoons now, yet I can’t say that anything will change.  The fact of the matter is that us humans can’t help but give in to these advertisements and cartoons.  We will always want that perfect complexion from a face-wash commercial, or those perfectly cooked, mouthwatering, 98-cent burgers from McDonalds.   Whether we accept it or not, Cartoons have successfully shaped our outlook on the majority of social groups.  However, as a child you don’t realize what is happening, before it is too late.  The media purposely has beautiful actresses and muscular men to make us associate that look of perfection with their product. The human mind is naturally designed to attract to perfection, which is why advertisements are so successful in taking advantage of the human’s wallet.  These same advertisements tell us what we should wear, and how we should appear.  The media creates these gender roles that we must go along with, and if you rebel, you will be penalized by humiliation. 

I found that stores form their own atmospheres by attracting specific demographics.  By singling out a specific group, they are empowering them.  Naturally, this causes the group to want to shop there because their attraction to power.  Also, people are attracted to other people that are exactly like themselves. People change their behavior depending on who they are with. The dynamics can change quickly depending on the place at hand.  This is the connection between cultural spaces and physical places. 

Why do we have to give in to the social norm?  Why must we fit into the world, and play into gender roles that the media encourages us to?  So that we are not humiliated and so we look like everyone around us? “I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine." ( Henry David Thoreau, "Civil Disobedience”)

Cultural Spaces and Physical Places

Blog #4

After a lot of observation I noticed that there is a big connection between a physical place and a cultural space it creates. In general, it seems that clothing stores like Hollister and Aeropostale and game stores like Gamestop attract and cater to a teenage crowd. On the other hand, places like peoples bank, stop and shop and Macy’s attract a crowd of people in their mid-twenties and older and at home, adults rule to the rest. Due to the differences in the age groups each place attracts, each has its own atmosphere. For example, in the teenage atmosphere it creates a feeling of freedom, invincibility and power. This was proved to me the other day when I was in a teenage clothing store and I saw these middle-school-punks skateboarding IN THE STORE, as if they owned the place.  On the other hand, when in an adult controlled environment, everything completely flips.  If you saw that same middle-school-punk in Stop & Shop with his mom, he wouldn’t say a word.  People change their behavior depending on who they are with.  It just goes to show that the dynamics can change quickly depending on the place at hand and also, how big the connection is between cultural spaces and physical places.

A Deeper Look at Aladdin

Blog #3

During the vacation, I had the opportunity to watch the Disney movie Aladdin, and analyze some of its subliminal messages. The first and major point of racism that I caught was to do with representation of the Arab people.  I thought that Disneys representation of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine was very different than the other characters and background actors, they are quite noticeably Americanised. Aladdin and Jasmine both have paler skin, American accents and facial features. The citizens of Agrabah, however, all have big noses, darker skin than the lead characters and speak with thick accents. I also noticed how Aladdin’s skin tone changes throughout the movie.  He starts off as a poor arab man, with dark skin, and by the end of the movie he is rich and whiter.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Not only were the main characters Americanised, but the minor one-bit roles appeared to be villainous, greedy and deceitful merchants.

I also discovered a hidden message in the dialogue.  In the scene where Aladdin and Jasmine are to take a magic carpet ride, Aladdin calls on Jasmine to come with him, and continues to speak under his breath “teenagers take off your clothes. ” However this piece of dialogue is strangely muffled, slightly distorted and seems to be joined by another voice in the background.  This is a prime example of a verbal hidden message.

Disney is creating a stereotype of the Arap people with negative connotations based on their representations.  They are trying to send messages to the innocent minds of our country’s children, and exploit their vulnerability.  At a young age, cartoons easily influence the mind, and they are utterly controlling.  Disney could make an entire generation believe any stereotype.  Throughout the entire movie, they reinforce heterosexuality and grab the attention of the viewers by including a love story.  Aladdin builds these gender roles by having a male protagonist who has to “win over the girl.”  However, the Princess does not accept Aladdin until he has money!  So Disney reinforces the idea that money comes before love, and you cannot have love until you are successful.  So maybe the reason behind Americans strong desire for money originated from Disney.  

Gender Roles: Fashion

Blog #2

A big part of the American culture is fashion.  Unfortunately, we all care about our appearance and how others view us, more than anything else.  Over Christmas vacation, I examined the fashion of both men and women to find an interesting comparison. 

   While walking around the mall, I noticed some of the values held highly in our society. There were countless dress shops, each displaying a multitude of options. The array of bright colors and sparkling sequins was nauseating. And of course these stores did not only offer dresses, there were whole walls dedicated to displaying necklaces, bracelets, etc. Any accessory a girl could ever ask for was available.

However, if one were searching for proper male attire for a formal dance, (like I was) they would find quite a stark display in comparison. Within the same mall, there are probably two, at most, stores selling suits and tuxedos. These stores are noticeably smaller, and offer much less. After all, there isn’t much to offer in the first place, simply pick a color for the overcoat and tie… maybe even a handkerchief if you’re feeling audacious.

This is because of our gender roles.  In our society, females are EXPECTED to express their femininity by their choice of clothing.  They are “allowed” to wear such a wider range of colors and patterns.  Modern clothing is in no way unisex; there are many colors and patterns that men couldn’t wear without getting attacked by their peers.  There is a lot of pressure on men to display their masculinity in their clothing.  This issue even extends beyond clothing; the pressures on genders can be seen through behaviors, language used, relationships, things you buy, and hobbies.  And the worst part of it all is, if you rebel against the status quo, you will become an outcast, and possibly looked down upon.  This experience led me to believe that there is some sort of unspoken social taboo against defying your gender role.

East vs. West

Blog #1

Sometimes, the best way to analyze your own culture is from an outside perspective.  Over thanksgiving break I traveled past the CT borders and found my self in Phoenix Arizona.  Ahh, the West… the perfect place to be while a blizzard approaches your hometown back east.  I stayed with my relatives in a gorgeous clay-style home. (Typical Arizonian) The entire house was one floor, which is common in Arizona.  This comparison allowed me to see the difference in architecture between the East and West.  Us Connecticutans are used to two, maybe three floors in our houses.

 My uncle and his family are very big into outdoor activities. Each child in the family play a sport every season of the year, and participate in recreational outdoor activities on a daily basis.  They go rock climbing, hike mountains, and even drive their dune buggies through the desert.  After observing this, I noticed how different it was back home.  Compared to Norwalk, they are much more physically active in the West (or at least in Arizona.) 

Another noticeable difference in Arizona was the mood of the people.  Everyone that I talked to there, stranger or not, seemed very cheerful and positive.  Now, I did some research and concluded that there is a scientific reason for this mood difference.  Because they basically skip winter, they are exposed to sunlight all year round, which delivers essential vitamins to humans that affect their moods.  That being said, I strongly recommend you don’t take a vacation to the Connecticut area during winter because I can assure you, no one will be in a good mood. 

I didn’t realize these major differences until I returned back home.  Instantly, I realized how the attitudes of the Easterns are different.  The west is all about going with the flow; just let your hair get messed up in the wind from your convertible, why not? Dude, my uncle even goes to work in shorts and a t-shirt!  Well, in the East, we are much more strict.  We need to be on time to everything, with a straight tie, and a proper hair cut.  Why?  It’s just our culture.