I have been given the assignment to choose three things that I could take with me to a new culture if my current culture was destroyed. These three things need to be representative of the culture that I am leaving behind.
The
first thing that I would take is my photographs. Photos capture moments in time
in my family story. These pictures and the stories that go along with them will
preserve our family culture. The next thing that I would take is a rocking
chair that my great great great grandmother brought with her across the plains
as a pioneer to settle in the west. That rocking chair has rocked many
children, and children have always been an important part of my family culture.
The third thing would be family recipes that I loved as a child, and my
children loved when they were small. Most of our family gatherings involve food
in some way, and having those recipes would help carry on the tradition of
large family meals, as well as the tastes that we have grown to love.
If I had
to give up two things it would be the rocking chair and the recipes, and
although I would be sad about it, it would not be devastating. The photos are
the thing that best tell the story of my culture, and they would be most
valuable in helping to preserve it if everything was left behind. I would like
to say that love is the greatest part of my culture, and if we had nothing tangible but still had each
other our culture would be still be in tact!
The
insight that I had as part of this experience is that the most important part
of culture can’t be touched, it must be felt. I will remember this exercise as
I continue to support cultural competence with those that I work with and with
myself.
OK that is very serendipitous! Clearly our connection goes beyond having been at the same regional table.
ReplyDeleteAre you still involved in UAEYC? I am interviewing to run for the NAEYC National Governing Board the end of the month. Can you believe it?
I am so glad to hear you are happily married and life is good!
Betsy
Hello Carolyn: like yo I also picked photographs as on of my items I would keep. I really enjoyed reading about your other items especially the rocking chair. For me it was very interesting to do this exercise was it for you?
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn! I enjoyed reading your post. Like you, I have also chosen pictures. Pictures are the one thing you can not replace and they also have so much meaning.
ReplyDeleteErika
I loved the three items that you would choose to bring with you. I also said that I would bring pictures, well a picture album. Pictures may not seem like much, but I believe that they most definitely show what a families culture is like. I have so many memories from looking at my pictures, I am very glad that I have these documented. I also thought that the idea of bringing a rocking chair that was passed down to you was great! I don't have anything like that that was passed down to me through a family member. Great post!
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