~MY FAMILY CULTURE~

For this week's blog assignment I had to imagine that a catastrophic event took place, and as a means of survival my family and I will be placed into a country where everything is foreign to us.  We are allowed to take three small items with us.  Just imagining these circumstances is devastating to me, because I am a very habitual person and I love order.  I must admit that I am a tad materialistic as well. 
 

• A description of the three items you would choose

     The 1st item I would bring is my family bible.  Although my children and I have our individual bibles, we also have a family bible that has pages and pockets so that we can write notes, and insert things.  With the family bible we usually discuss scriptures and verses that have a special meaning to our daily existence (that we can relate to based on past and present experiences).  Our religious beliefs and practices guides us through our daily lives and we rely heavily on prayer and worship.

    The second item that I will bring is what my children and I call our grab and go binder.  A few years ago my neighbors experienced a horrific fire.  During that fire everything was lost. They had a difficult time obtaining identification documents and were emotionally devastated because of the lost of pictures and sentimental items.  At that time my children and I decided that we will create folders with items and pictures that are important to us, and we update them on new years eve. In my folder I have a copy of our birth certificates, social security cards, shot records, collages, a copy of my educational documents, identification cards, insurance papers, and bank documents.  My children have pictures and items that are meaningful to them.  With this item we will have reminders of who we are and where we come from at all times.  As well as precious memories and moments.

   The third item I will bring is a fleece comforter that my dad brought me.  The blanket has my favorite character on it (Mickey Mouse), and my children and I cuddle under the blanket when and watch movies, read books, and when we are afraid or sad ( due to storms, death, and illnesses).  this blanket will provide me and my family with comfort and togetherness. 

• Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

      I would be devastated if I could only bring one item to remind me and my family of what our lives once was. I would feel disrespected in a sense that our feelings were not taken into consideration.  At that point and time my children and would decide as a family which item is more important.

• Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise

     As a result of this exercise, began to empathize with immigrants and displaced families.  They are basically placed in an unfamiliar environment and expected to drop everything that forms their individuality so that they blend with society.  Those expectations are unfair and inhumane.