MY FAMILY CULTURE

The assignment for this week’s blog posting was a really tough one.  I have worked with exchange students who lived in Gaza and were forcibly evacuated with little of their personal items.  During my conversations with this young man it amazed me how well his family adapted to living in a refugee camp for so long.  Especially with the knowledge that all that was left behind was probably stolen or destroyed.  How difficult would it be to pass down the family culture to future generations?  This young man wisely told me that, though difficult, it is not impossible.  He said they all had their stories in their hearts and minds and could pass these onto each of the future generations as they were to him and his generation.  How wise is this young man at the age of 15 (at the time of this conversation)?

Upon reflecting on this conversation the three items I would choose would be my children’s baby books, a DVD of photos, and a blank journal with a pen/pencil.  I would bring the baby books since these represent the first eight years of my children’s lives so they would be able to reflect back and share with others.  The DVD of photos would hold visual representation of our family culture to go along with the verbal sharing of stories they represent.  The blank journal with the pen/pencil would be the perfect tools to write down the memories in order for them to be shared in the future as they are remembered.  

If, upon arrival, I was told only one item would be allowed to be kept, the item I would choose would be the journal with the pen/pencil.  Since I would not have my computer, this is the next best way I can think of to share the family culture and our life in general with those we are just meeting as well as future generations of family and friends.  I am pretty much attached to my computer and my life is pretty well organized around what I can do with it, so this would definitely be a reality check for me.

The insights I have learned through this assignment is to stop and take the time to figure out who I am, who are we as a family, and how to reflect back on the past; view the present; and move into the future while keeping our beliefs; culture; and diversity.  It is always an eye opener to reflect back and think about what could be.  I have had to do this a few times and it does not get any easier with practice.