A New Perspective on Communication

I took the time to watch ABC's TV show "Once Upon A Time".  I do not typically watch a lot of fantasy shows, but decided to give this one a chance.  In this episode, the characters appeared to be in a close relationship with each other.  They appeared to be lost or stranded together.  This episode proved to have a lot of emotion, there was (perceived) anger, sadness, hopelessness, relief, and confusion.  At first, I was distracted by the lack of sound.  I was playing on my iPad and occasionally speaking to my husband.  But after a few minutes, I treated the show like I was people watching (a guilty pleasure of mine).  I was able to read lips and make my own assumed dialogue which was quite entertaining and comical.  Even though the situations the characters were involved in were clearly meant to be dramatic and appeal to a "darker" view, the only way that I could stay focused was to make things up as I watched. 
When I finally got to watching the show with the sound on, I realized that my perceptions and the assumed dialogue I had created were completely off. Where I thought the characters were a close group of people, with dialogue I saw they were a divided group with smaller individual problems.  This assignment helped to reinforce not to assume or place my own personal perceptions on others without the proper dialogue to go along with it.  I do enjoy silent movies, which are meant to be seen not heard; they tell their story through more traumatic and increased body language. But I did not enjoy watching a TV show that is meant to be heard and seen with minimal body language that I could use as cues.  Now I am hooked on the TV show!

Competent Communicators

I feel like I write a lot about my parents, particularly my father.  My father is a competent communicator so it works for this assignment. 

My father is extremely articulate, often well versed in the topics he is discussing, and is quite persuasive in his points.  He gestures as needed throughout his conversation which allows for less distraction for the listener and often times backs up what he is saying with pinpoint evidence from credible sources (which is quite impressive).  Now that technology allows us to have information at our fingertips, this has allowed for even more validation in his conversation.  It doesn't help that he is always, I mean always, right.  My father is straight to the point when communicating, using real world examples, almost like a well written essay.  I also think that the reason my father is such an effective communicator is because everyone respects him and values what he has to say.  He worked hard throughout my life to prepare my brother and I to also be competent and effective communicators. 

Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is for everyone to respect each other, take the time to learn before judging, and to embrace differences.  I hope that in the early childhood field that education and curriculum become more well rounded; introduce and explain different cultures and diversities and give children real world experience.  

Thank you to my colleagues for having the courage to share their stories and experiences, challenge each other and myself, and take the initiative to make our world a more tolerant place.  Good luck in the next leg of your educational journey!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

 This assignment gave me the opportunity to explore the country of Seychelles, located east of Africa in the Indian Ocean.  Seychelles consists of 115 granite and coral islands, that "... represents an archipelago of timeless beauty, tranquility and harmony that is famous for its world-beating beaches and for its great diversity which rolls from lush forests down to the warm azure ocean", (Seychelles Tourism Board, 2013).  Seychelles is a multi-ethnic country with its roots originating from African, European, and Asian ancestry.  According to the Seychelles Tourism Board, despite the multicultural background of their people, there is a harmonious relationship within the island, which has melded together to create a unique cultural atmosphere.  Ancestry of the Seychelles people included, but are not limited to "... freed slaves, European settlers, political exiles, adventurers, traders of Arab and Persian origin as well as Chinese and Indians" (Seychelles Tourism Board, 2013).  The primary language in Seychelles is Creole, with many people speaking English and French; a large portion of the population is also known to be fluent in German and Italian also.  Religion is no different from ethnic background in its representation in the Seychelles islands, Roman Catholicism is the most practiced, but there are multiple religions practiced and worshiped harmoniously. 

If I had a family enroll at my center from Seychelles, I would prepare myself in the following ways to be culturally responsive to the family:

•  Folklore still has a place in the Seychelles' culture, especially its influence on the way to live particularly on the island, it would be important to learn as much as I can about daily life, traditions, proper interactions, way of life, before meeting the new family.
• Food is prepared differently in Seychelles as far as the location of the kitchen (typically outside) and the ingredients (lots of colorful spices and coconut milk for example).  I would re-look at the menu we offer and see if there are any familiar dishes that I could add or enhance. 
• There is a vibrant fine arts culture in Seychelles and I would gather popular paintings and music from the islands to enhance our classrooms.  
• I would gather as many resources and materials as I could to provide the family with and also reach out to other families at the center to see if anyone would like to help introduce our new family into our culture. 
• I would learn basic Creole phrases and greetings found on the Seychelles Tourism Board's website; 

English	Creole
Hello	Bonzour
Goodbye	Orevwar
How are you?	Ki dir?
Thank you	Mersi
Where?	Kote?
Please	Silvouple
No	Non
Yes	Wi
I don’t understand	Mon pa konpran
I like it	Mon kontan
How are you?	Konman sava?
What is this?	Kisisa?

In preparing for our new family, I would be demonstrating respect and acceptance.  The family would feel empowered knowing that our center wanted to get to know their family’s culture and traditions more and may feel more inclined to share those things that represent their home with us. 

After this assignment, I think I know where I want to plan my next vacation to!

References

Seychelles Tourism Board (STB).  (2013).  Retrieved on December 15, 2013 from

            http://www.seychelles.travel

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

My husband and I moved to a pretty rural area about five years ago from New Jersey.  Growing up, I hadn't experienced much prejudice or racism and knew after researching where we were moving to that that could change.  Several weeks after moving here and meeting my neighbors, the gentleman from across the road came over to my husband.  He was in his late eighties at the time and had lived in the area his whole life.  While making small talk with my husband, he made the comment, "Beaver Falls is as dirty as the N****** that live there."  My husband, who is white, takes offense much more to racist comments than I do and proceeded to remind the gentleman that I was black and to get off of his property.  A few hours later, our neighbor left a peace offering on our door step, fresh green tomatoes from his garden.  After this experience, I became extremely uncomfortable living in our town.  I wondered and still do how people perceive me, whether or not they feel as though I am capable of working and owning a home in our area, and just all around discouraged.  This being such a small town, I could see the lack of social progress that has been made.  In order for the opportunity of greater equity to increase, personal views and biases would have to be changed, whether from positive experiences with me or change from within the person.  Also, the surrounding towns and cities, governors and mayors, must work together to bring better awareness of the plight of the residents.  General attitudes and beliefs need to be changed and that will only come when greater cultural awareness is brought to the area.  

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Before I started taking my current class, I was unaware of the term "microaggression".  I was aware of the implications of a microaggression, the unconscious insult that is meant as a possible compliment which does not phase the "talker", but leaves a psychological damage to the "listener".  I hear microaggressions everyday since I moved out to Western PA.  I grew up in South Jersey and was probably victim to microaggressions there and was not aware of or remember them.  My husband to this day is more aware of microaggressions than I am, he getting more upset when someone says something that should offend me.  I tend to brush it off, leaving it to karma or some higher being to take care of later on.  We all have our biases, our stereotypes, our prejudices.  I have them, as much as I do not like to admit it, but I try to aim mine towards people's character, their actions, and whether or not they are trying to better themselves.  I could care less about their race, ethnicity, nationality. 
Several weeks ago, I was working and  a person who will be left unnamed made a comment that "the foreigners at our center all bring their kids in for half days".  I was left utterly shocked and annoyed.  Right now typing that makes my blood pressure rise.  The person I was speaking to had no idea what they just said or the implications of their comment.  I could not even respond to the person for fear of not being professional, since that day I have held my own bias and prejudice against her. As far as microaggressions that have been aimed at me, one that happens every time I straighten my naturally kinky curly hair, "Oh my gosh, your hair is so soft/straight/flowy, it does not feel coarse/stiff at all!  Your hair is more white than black."  What?  Even my grandmother has fallen prey to the comment.  As a kid, I took it as a compliment because I always wanted soft flowy "white" hair, but now as an adult I find it annoying and ignorant. 

I now find myself looking for the hidden messages in everything that people say.  Especially at work, where I hope to have a staff meeting focusing on culture and diversity within the education field. 

I took a really interesting test, I invite you to take it too, it is an eye-opening experience. 
Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). Test yourself for hidden bias. Retrieved May 25, 2011, from http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

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• I reached out to social media (Facebook) and my own family to seek out personal definitions of culture and diversity.  These are the answers I received:
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  • My mother (Claims Adjuster for a large insurance corporation) Culture – Is where your grew up, our beliefs and values of our family.  There are varying levels of culture.  Diversity – Understanding and open to everyone’s interests, values, traditions, nationalities, etc. 
  
  
  • My husband’s aunt (Studied French Literature at the University of Delaware) Culture - a group of people who live in an area determined by geography.  They share certain norms and limitations. Diversity - When several cultures have the good fortune to meet there is diversity.  No longer are there limitations and minds are open to more ideas and wider possibilities.
  
  
  • One of my sorority sisters, Sam (Patient Care Coordinator) Culture – The family and ethnic traditions (i.e.) how people celebrate holidays, how people prepare food, how people raise their children, etc.  Diversity – is the melding of these traditions and mixing cultures into a culture unique to the people. 
  • One of my sorority sisters, Jess (Inclusion Services K-8th teacher) Culture- they have certain morals, values, and traditions that represent their culture. Diversity - is when you have different cultures in one area.  In a teaching aspect you have to teach the different cultures to make students aware of the diversity that exists to they can respect each other.  
  
  
  I found it interesting that everyone had similar ideas and definitions of culture and diversity.  I was influenced to apply their definitions to the cultures I know they have come from and the experiences they have had in their lives.  We are each diverse in our own ways.  We do not share similar cultures solely based on our current living locations.  We each live in different states, with different jobs.  I really liked this assignment!