XTRA CREDIT COM 304 BLOG

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK (Jandt 291)

     There are four stages of culture shock when experiencing an unfamiliar place. Yet when a person returns to what once was familiar settings they experience what is referred to as, reverse culture shock. Reverse culture shock happens if the person acclimated to the host culture, and then in return experiences greater distress and confusion when trying to get back into their old routine. The person will start to compare their home culture to certain aspects they admired in the new culture. 

     This diagram shows how one might use the new cultures customs while back in their home culture.  One may experience both physical and psychological symptoms of distress while acclimating back into their home culture.  
     I experience reverse culture shock every time i return home from traveling. Yes, I love and feel comfortable in my own home but the consistent routine gets boring and unexciting that i find myself acting as though I was still abroad. I try to travel every year, I cant stand to have 'cabin fever' over familiarities. One example is when I returned to Hawaii after living in Mexico for a little while. I constantly found myself thinking and trying to converse in Spanish. I also experienced my body wanting to take a siesta everyday, where back home I returned to my two jobs and having a siesta was definitely not plausible.
     In all honesty I think that reverse culture shock is the hardest to overcome, comparisons between the two cultures leave more confusion and anxiety.



IDENTIFICATION MARKER (Fong, Chuang 188)
     Identification marker refers to how one labels themselves and what labels one feels comfortable with. In Communication Ethnic & Cultural Identity Susan Hafen describes identification marker while using lesbian women as examples. Yet identification markers aren't exclusive to lesbians alone, but everyone. Everyone describes themselves differently, and during class discussion on 3/3/11 made that apparent.
     I find myself never identifying myself as a girl, women, or gal, but instead with qualities and aspirations I feel I have. Mostly in adjectives such as determined, vivacious, and enthusiastic just to name a few. As well as a traveler and a college student.
     Others, like to show there identity in more visual ways such with tattoos like this picture below. Tattoos may illustrate rank, beliefs, and subgroups.

     Ultimately I don't think it matters how one expressed their identification maker, as long as they feel comfortable and are proud to be who they are.


SPEECH COMMUNITIES (Fong, Chuang  200)

      In the book, Communication Ethnic & Cultural Identity, Speech communities are defined as "are not constituted by geography alone, but by use of language: the rules, conduct, and interpretation of that language, which implicate both social norms and linguistic forms (Fong, Chuang 200)." Th book then describes CB talk among Interstate truckers, but since I have no personal experience to that subgroup I'll talk about one I do.

      I am always on the computer when I'm at home. I might not be actively using the device but it's always on just in case someone calls or instant messages me. Because I'm going to school in a different state and due to the time difference I always like to be available to friends and family via the Internet. Language via the Internet has evolved from normal face-to-face communication. Words and phrases are now abbreviated and grammar as been lost.

     In the video game world communication is different and may be hard for a newcomer to recognize and follow conversation without a little help. The video below is a fast lesson on some frequently used terms while gaming online.

     Although I'm not a gamer, I find myself using some of the same terminology while communicating online. 

Things I use daily are: LOL-laugh out loud

                                 SMH- shake my head

                                 FML- f**k my life

                                 LMAO- laugh my a** off

                                 BRB- be right back

                                 TTYL- talk to you later

THIRD-CULTURE KIDS (Jandt 292)
     Third culture kids are those who spend most of their time growing up in places outside of their home culture.  Global nomads, transnationals, and internationally mobile children are other terms that are used to describe the nature of third-culture kids. These kids "have a high level of interest in travel and learning languages and feel accepting of cultures and diversity (Jandt 292)."
     I think third-culture have greater benefits in both personal and professional gains. They are easily adaptable and have a broader image of life and global scope of communication. Although moving around isn't the most ideal situation, but I think the benefits are far greater then the faults.
     Personally, I categorize myself to  be a border line third-culture kid. This is because I have grown up in Hawaii, but every year my mother would take me traveling abroad. We wouldn't stay in a new place for more then a month due to school and work, but while growing up i had new culture experiences. These new culture experiences affected my growing up because of this exposer.

     Military kids are one easy example of third-culture kids as this video explains. I can't imagine what it would be like to not feel at home in a place you've called your home since as long as you could remember. I don't think I would stay, If I was those students I would go to another country abroad that had no relation to my identity. This way I wouldn't have expectations.


SPANGLISH (Jandt 363)
     Mixing both English and Spanish in a sentence is the definition of Spanglish. This code-switching can be by a single word, phrase of whole sentence. Recently moving to California I am confronted with a lot of Spanglish speaking people. Being that I'm not fluent in Spanish, Spanglish benefits me because I'm able to learn and understand the Spanish language better.  Although because it's not proper Spanish I might find myself in a predicament when proper Spanish is deemed necessary, such as in college classes and travels abroad.

     This video is a comedic example of how it sounds when one will speak Spanglish. I love George Lopez and I found this video to be funny and a very good example of what I hear on the streets. Although there is a fault of Spanglish, my friends that are teachers finds that kids that talk Spanglish have a harder time in writing properly. When this comes about I feel that it needs to be stressed when Spanglish is appropriate and when it's not.

-Katrina Ortiz-Chavez

Kinesics (Jandt 119)

     Communication doesn't just stop with oral language, there are many other ways to communicate with others using both verbal and nonverbal forms. One of these forms is called kinesics. Kinesics are things such as gestures, body movements, facial expressions, and eye contact. Some of these gestures are universal but some others aren't and sometimes pose misinterpretations. The example given in An Introduction to Intercultural Communication Identities in a Global Community talks about eye contact between American culture versus Asian culture. In America eye contact is deemed a sign of respect and attentiveness yet in Asian culture it is deemed as being disrespectful, this goes to show you that one must be conscious and wary when doing something. 

    While traveling, which I tend to do at least once a year, I have to be careful how I come across to strangers. Although sometimes modes of communication I'm so used to doing is portrayed subconsciously without my knowing. For example back home in Hawaii when you meet someone you greet them with a hug, and possibly a kiss on the check, not a firm handshake. So when i moved to Oregon for college I had the awkward movement of pushing my body back and sticking out my  hand in hello while meeting others. Of course I got used to it over time but the funny part is when I came back home to the islands. I was awkwardly surprised and comforted when I received a hug  and kiss that was once to normal to me. 

     This illustration shows some common kinesics, can you  notice what emotion each picture displays without looking? I even had a hard time which shows that from culture to culture there's bound to be some misinterpretation.

 

    

Passing (Fong and Chuang 55)

     While some people are comfortable with their culture others undergo drastic changes in order to fit accordingly to their wants and needs. Passing can be done for many different reasons such as to become more accepted, personal benefits and even to avoid personal persecution. This act is seen more frequently with biracial children who have a "muddled (Fong and Chuang 56)" sense of cultural identity.

     Passing comes in many forms. It could be a simple change of outer attire, or even an extreme of undergoing plastic surgery. I find it hard to imagine a life where I wanted to change, but maybe I'm just fortunate. Even though I wouldn't undergo change I have no hard feelings towards those who feel the need to. 

      Another example of passing is drag queens, who are men who dress up like women. I find it fascinating while acceptance is getting better there is still a huge group who still aren't comfortable with it. This fascination is with the consideration that not too long ago there were only male actors and therefore they had to play all roles including that of females, and they weren't regarded as hideous, degrading, or any other sort of prejudice.The cartoons below are examples of jokes that are used towards drags, and they may be funny to some people, I even caught myself silently giggling, but in actuality these people aren't dressing differently to be ridiculed. This act is for a higher purpose and we therefore should honor it and let them do there thing while we do ours, for its not harming anyone.

  

Cultural Pluralism ( Fong and Chuang 144)

     Today with globalization at its height, it is rare when you are not faced with the interaction of cultures different from your own. Although not all people are not keen with the mix of cultures some are and it's called cultural pluralism. Cultural Pluralism is when there's a mixture of ethnic, racial, religious, groups who have a peaceful connection when existing together, all the while recognizing their differences with  no negativity. An example from the textbook, Communicating Ethnic and Cultural Identity, was that of a wedding invitation card between an American and Asian couple. While designing the wedding invitations they decided to incorporate both cultures by using the standard American idea of love and connection as well as Chinese characters and colors that symbolize luck. This way it portrayed that they can co-exist acknowledging each others differences and be comfortable and receptive.
     I believe that cultural pluralism is the ultimate key to making globalization a success. It's an obvious adjustment yet people are not keen to the idea. Ethnocentrism is a problem. I am thankful that I was raised in a place that was for the most part was accepting to many cultures. It only became a problem when someone was being disrespectful. Everyone around me participated in multiple cultural activities from celebrating Chinese New Year, Fourth of July, Japanese Bon Dance, Chicken fighting (which is now illegal) and that's just to name a few.
     Every year the Big Island of Hawaii celebrates hula with a huge competition called the Merrie Monarch Festival. Not only is there the competition but also arts and crafts and fun activities to participate in to immerse oneself in the Hawaiian culture. Halau's (schools of dance) from neighboring islands, all over the mainland U.S. even Mexico. Of course the dances differ and each incorporates their own cultural flare but it's all about recognizing each other. I believe the video of the Halau from Mexico  is a prime example of cultural pluralism at its best, because they're not only accepting but sharing and respecting it as well.

Pidgin (Jandt 136)

     Pidgin is a distinct form of language that derives from the combo of two or more different languages. This accumulation of different languages originally was restricted to the usage of trade. Many people believe that pidgin is a sign of ignorance and/or uneducated but pidgin has spread from traders, laborers, to usage in National Parliament, and even Prince Charles of Great Britain used it in speech. I don't peg pidgin as less noted comparatively to American English or any other basic form of  language, I do however believe that it should be used wisely and appropriately. It has it's benefits of being able to communicate more efficiently with others but there are times when you must be aware of those around you and act accordingly. 

     Although not addressed in the textbook I'd categorize Hawaii's form of pidgin to be Melanesian Pidgin English, which means it was based on the English language. I'm from Hawaii and I know hoe to speak pidgin but I only use it when I'm back home or talking to certain individuals, for in most cases up here in the mainland U.S. its unnecessary and it would only cause confusion which could easily be avoided if I just spoke English. This video is of a comedian who shares a brief example of the pidgin local to Hawaii. I of course find it amusing and  know it to be true, see if you can share the humor too. Keep in mind she's talking about old school pidgin because remember like everything, things evolve and have subtle changes over time. 

Rituals (Jandt 7)

     In An Introduction to Intercultural Communication Identities in a Global Community, Fred E. Jandt defines culture as "A community or population sufficiently large enough to be self-sustaining, that is, large enough to produce new generation of members without relying on outside people (Jandt 7)." Each culture is different but all have are rooted from the same foreground. Hofstede classified cultures common roots into four categories: symbols, values, heroes, and the topic focused on, rituals. 

     Rituals are a collective activity that are socially essential within a culture. Rituals can vary greatly from a certain style of a handshake among fellow members or to something more complex as a ritual dance. The combination of Hofstede's four categories form a sense of cultural identity that is shared and respected. Although Hofstede noted that heroes are expressed from a cultures myths, I believe that a cultures rituals also derive from its myths. A great example of this is hula, a dance that is unique to the Hawaiian Islands, the place I feel honored to call home. There are many myths about the origin of hula, all involving the actions of goddesses believed to be true in the Hawaiian culture. One rendition of the origin of hula that I find quite amusing is that Pele, the goddess of  Fire, asked Laka, the goddess of Hula to amuse her because she was bored, so Laka began to move gracefully and silently acting out events only the tow of them knew about. Pele thought this to be fascinating and thus Hula was born. Which ever story is true there is no doubt that hula is a ritual deeply rooted in the Hawaiian culture. 

     Although hula isn't done by everyone and has changed greatly throughout time, from religious ceremonies at heiau (temples) to being banned while Hawaii was under captivity and now public performances all around the world, it's no doubt an essential collective activity.

     The YouTube video above captures one part of the aspect of hula and what the dancers of the form are really doing. Kekuhi Kanahele-Frias (the women in the video) is a kumu hula (teacher of Hula) at Halau O' Kekuhi (school of dance), as well as a recording artist.

     A problem that a culture faces when dealing with another is the discrepancy of truly understanding the meaning of its rituals. Hula is looked upon as entertainment but it's much, much more. I have danced hula for 15 years, 6 of those years I have been taught traditional Hula at Halau O' Kekuhi. Hula is a part of me even if I no longer reside in Hawaii. To dance hula you live  your culture. I have put my blood, sweat and tears into dance and that's without exaggeration.The YouTube video below expresses how dancers and kumu hula wish that the ritual of hula to not be forgotten and to remember that hula isn't just a form of entertainment.

(By Katrina Ortiz-Chavez)