You are about to leave for another culture (you may specify the one you are going to or would like to go to) for a stay of at least 6 months.
What do you think that you’ll need to take and why?
What do you think will sustain you while you are there – here you may think of favorite books or other items as well as certain psychological capacities.
Do you think that the things that you like will be translatable or understandable in this new culture?
Feel free to post before the first class.
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3 comments:
I would travel to a far away forest preserve to live with an indian tribe. Some of the things I would need to take are peace mechanisms such as gifts for the indian tribe to show I want to make friends. I would bring them useful items from America that they could use. However, I would not want to stray far from their own culture with the items so they could have some relation with the gifts. I would bring them blankets, plates and bowls, spices, and knives. They would find these items useful and also it would show I am friendly. While I'm their I would need to bring things to sustian myself I would bring many books to study their culture as well as a language guide to attempt to interperet their language. However, I would not like to bring many items with me because I would love to take on the challege of adapting to a foreign culture. I think the things I would bring would be intended to be relatable and understandable to the tribe because I would want to seem easy adaptable to their environment, and I would not want to frighten them with unknown or foreign objects.
Our teacher Andre asks us what country with a different culture would you want to reside in for six months. It reminds me of a question in "The Book of Questions" that asks what country would you want to live in if you were exiled from your own. My answer to Andre's question is the same as my answer to the one in "The Book of Questions." Sweden.
Why Sweden? The short answer is that Sweden seems to take on philosophies that I've adopted in my everyday life: independence and neutrality. "You do your thing, and I'll do mine. I won't say anything about your shortcomings, as long as you return the favor, and not stick your nose in my business." Now, of course, those who actually live in Sweden might argue with me that the country is not nearly as independent or neutral as it presents itself. I accept that argument; after all, we in America have our imperfections as well, right?
I think that Sweden's paralleling level of technology would sustain me for the six months required in Andre's question. I understand that several hot button issuses such as women's rights, gay and lesbian issues, schooling---primary/secondary/college-level, and health care, Sweden's accomplishments rival and even surpass those of the United States. The internet is there; computers, books, television---all the comforts of home, so, I'm fine in that regard.
I value my solitude, as I am a writer. So, as long as I can have peace and quiet for a good portion of the day, I'll be good. I would probably need to take some of my seasonings with me; I don't know if they have the four types of "Mrs. Dash" there like I have in my cupboard. As long as they have meat, fish, vegetables and a gas stove, I can cook for myself. I'll also need a couple of my Fiction Writing anthologies, my book "The Elements of Style," my Ipod and plenty of blank journals.
I'm quite sure that the things I like would be easily translatable to Swedes; the things I like are simple, basic, and in a lot of cases, require no one's input but my own.
Hey everyone,
It's not a problem for these two posts, but could you please start a new post unless you're responding to someone's post?
Thanks!
-Big Brother
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