Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences…
“If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.” Margaret Mead
Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences... reach out and connect with others
Being exposed to different cultures is a great thing. It gives us the opportunity to learn about others and what makes them tick, and to develop a love and respect for difference; something our world could use more of lately… When I read the Plinky prompt on five things I love about my culture, I thought, “What a great idea!” Then I started thinking about the three major cultures I was exposed to growing up, and knew I couldn’t focus on one and ignore the others. I spent the bulk of my life living on three continents; Africa, Europe, and North America and learned to appreciate many things about all three.
Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences... Art in Nigeria - Edo Mask
Nigeria
♥Food
♥Music
♥Traditions
♥Art
♥Multiple Languages
For this post, I’ve picked five things I love about three countries in particular; Nigeria in West Africa, The UK in Western Europe, and The USA in North America. I have lived and attended schools in all three countries and still have friends and family there. So when I started thinking of what I love about each, the first thing that came to mind was – People. Yes, it does all begin with us and how we treat each other and visitors to our countries.
“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” Mohandas Gandhi
Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences...
No matter our ethnicity or cultural affiliations, we can find common traits and interests that bring us together. Regardless of our beliefs, we are human first and that is an important factor in any exchange…
Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences... Tea and scones; a British favorite
UK (the United Kingdom)
♥Tea
♥Weather
♥Humor
♥Fashion
♥The BBC
What I found in my years traveling and living in other parts of the world is that people are essentially the same. We want to be loved, heard and respected. We want people to respect our cultural beliefs and show some appreciation for the things that make us happy. So I appreciate the people from all of my listed countries. What I put for each country are other aspects of the cultures that I loved. Stop by later for a bit more on the things I picked. More Below. What do you love about your culture? 🙂
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus Garvey
Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences...
Whether we have lunch with a huli wigman in Papua New Guinea or an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania, the human experience is the same. We eat, we laugh, we share some good times…
Reflections: Things We Love About Our Cultural Influences... The USA and the movies
USA
♥Music
♥Movies
♥TV
♥Base Ball
♥Blue Jeans
All of my life, I have felt that every culture contributes something to the global experience we all enjoy. From the music we listen to, the foods we eat, the games we enjoy and the fashions we wear, we borrow something from each other and that amalgamation of cultural experiences make for a richer world. I would not have it any other way. What about you? What are your thoughts? What do you appreciate about your culture? How do you find commonalities with other cultures? Do share! Thank you. 😉
This post was inspired by a prompt from Plinky: List five things you love about your culture.
Positive Motivation Tip: We are creators of culture and we can share the positives by sharing what we know…
Related articles
- Vietnam (paulinenguyen.wordpress.com)
- How culture can re-design Nigeria… Prof Adefuye (vanguardngr.com)
- Five things I love about Australia (benclapton.id.au)
- influence (pitikblog.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Photos happy hands via NRM.org, Multicultural via Tim Cooley.wordpress.com Huli Wigman, Edo Mask – Nigeria, English Tea Time, Hollywood sign, via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Learning to respect other cultures gives us a greater understanding of each other – it all makes for a better world, and it’s probably the best education we can give ourselves and our children.
I went to school in the UK, Germany and Singapore, lived in the US for a while and now live in Australia; I realize that we are no different from anyone else on this earth – we all want to be loved and respected.
Love this post Elizabeth!
i love this post! Thank you for sharing this because I now plan to make a post of my own regarding this prompt. I love learning about different cultures and is always researching different cultures, I feel that it helps us to gain better understanding of others and to respect one another. it’s good to know other cultures so that when we travel, or come across a person of a particular culture, we will know how to act. I think it’s so cool that you have lived in those places.
“develop a love and respect for difference” – my extended family is a European(several countries)-Asian-African mix; I wouldn’t want it to be any different.
PS: I love the coloured hands! Thank you 🙂
The difference of culture inspires us and makes something new.
These photos inspired me and want to make something interesting.:)
One of the things I love most about blogging is being exposed to so many different cultures in my living room. There’s a lot wrong with the internet, but sharing our daily lives with people from around the world isn’t one of them.
I agree with Tilly. being able to communicate with people from different countries and cultures is a great bonus for blogging and one that needs further exploration.
If only we could get this idea across to all nations of the world maybe we would all be able to live in peace and content with what we have.
It was a great post and very thought provoking..thank you
you wrote: “All of my life, I have felt that every culture contributes something to the global experience we all enjoy. From the music we listen to, the foods we eat, the games we enjoy and the fashions we wear, we borrow something from each other and that amalgamation of cultural experiences make for a richer world.” …
yes, that’s a wonderful concept!
Wow Eliz..in so few words you have captured each country picture perfect…the word I think is savory!
You’re probably one of only a handful of people I know who love the weather in the UK, though it seems not to be getting as much rain as it used to.
I agree: the bottom line is people. If we start there and remember to treat everyone as we would want to be treated – with respect and dignity – the world would be a much better place for all of us. Instead of dividing us, our differences should bring us together. It’s what I love about travel, experiencing what I couldn’t at home.
I was born in Jamaica and have lived in and gone to school in Spain and Canada. I became a woman in Canada and more than anything else, it’s the friendships I made that I cherish above everything else. Ditto Spain. Oh, and the food, wine, fashion, culture. I get nostalgic when I think of Spain. Ditto the US on friendships. Add music and a level of creativity and innovation that I’ve not experienced anywhere else. I also love the way Americans love their country. I don’t remember anywhere else where people fly their flag on their porches, or pinned to their chests, etc., even when it’s not a holiday.
Jamaica has my heart. Without it, I wouldn’t have been here.
This is related to multiculturalism of music …
I have certainly not had as many multi-cultural experiences as you Elizabeth, but with my limited exposure to other cultures in the world I have to agree completely with this post.
I believe the problem with the extremists we’re dealing with in the U.S. right now is their lack of exposure to anything outside their own little world. The more you get out of your ‘comfort zone’ and explore the more you learn we truly are all one.
Thanks for a great post!
b
People. Yes, it does all begin with us and how we treat each other and visitors to our countries. I have not visited outside of the U.S., but only to Panama. I have met people from all walks of life. There are some who for their own lack of self-confidence, can be really rude and arrogant. But, generally speaking for most, they are good people. I love hearing stories about people and their different cultures. I find it very stimulating-listening to their views. We all can come together in peace, as we each seek the good in everyone.
It is great how described what you loved about each country. They are all so different. Your are right that people are the constant here. Thanks for a beautiful post. Miriam
The acceptance of multiculturalism in the U.S. (and Europe I hear) is taking longer, in my opinion. I would have thought we’d be at an era where it all boiled down to people as individuals. Not the case. Perhaps people need to have more exposure as you and I did having grown-up in different continents/countries.
Thanks for sharing this Patti. I now propose to right a similar post about the places in which I have lived. 🙂
I met some people in the deep Amazon (Bora people) who thought it was strange I would wear clothes at all when it was so hot. They thought I was foolish…..