Cultured

I am full blood Venezuelan raised in the United states from the time I was four years old. When I say raised in the US that includes states such as Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Utah, Washington and more.



All of these states are infused with so much culture. I am impressed that even though I was raised in the US, my parents raised me with the Venezuelan culture. Many of my friends did not understand my culture and sometimes worried my mom was upset when she was only asking if they wanted more food.



Sometimes I wonder how foreign many of the things we did as a family were strange to my friends like, what we ate and how we lived. I understood my friends well because, I was exposed to their culture from the time I was four years old, even though some of it was strange to me since that is not what we did in my home.



I find it crucial to be culturally aware so that we can learn patience and be more compassionate with those around us. In the oxford dictionary we read that culture is, the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group (Oxford dictionary). Often times we forget all that culture entails.



This photograph gives a fantastic overview and if you read the article attached you will learn more about each section, I highly recommend it! https://medium.com/@beautehealthy/what-is-culture-types-of-culture-elements-of-culture-characteristics-of-culture-7b4d65caddc7

Walden University shares on their page that, “No two students are the same, even if they share a lot in common. To foster cultural awareness, you need to consider all the different aspects of culture that can influence your students’ perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors-programs/bs-in-elementary-education/resource/why-cultural-diversity-and-awareness-in-the-classroom-is-important%3fv=amp

With that in mind, we can consider all of the aspects of a culture, learn more than just the food, language, and where they are from, and you will grow in compassion and understanding for those different than you in your community and neighborhood. This will change your attitude and behavior and will lead to a happier outlook on those around you.