Category: Cultural Diversity

Trying to choose an event to attend was not a simple task, at least not for me, because I wanted it to be meaningful and something I remember for many years to come, also something that is absolutely unlike American society, and also an event that is unlike anything I have attended. After much research and consideration, I chose to attend the 23rd Annual Wildhorse Pow Wow Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California. According to the Crazy Crow Trading Post, “…the Wildhorse Pow Wow serves as a kind of opening ceremony for the Southern California Pow Wow circuit.”. This Pow Wow set the tone for the many other Pow Wows to come later in the year.

Pow Wows are social gatherings held by many different Native American communities, this event was them getting together for singing, dancing, and drumming, and most importantly for celebrating their culture. When I first arrived at the Pow Wow, I was not sure what to expect, my boyfriend and I were one of the first few people to show up and sit down. As time went on more and more people showed up, then I begin to see all the dancers in their various dancers with a wide range of ages and gender, they all had different outfits that were statement-making from their headwear to their clothing and shoes, they were colorful, beautiful, and most importantly unique. The start of the Pow Wow was with two young children making slow movements with a musical instrument, I found this to be curious because I wanted to understand the importance of it. It was beautiful to watch because I wanted to know what was going to happen next, in a way time seemed to stop because I was so focused on the moment. Then it transitioned into how this Pow Wow got started and then a man began to speak about a song he wanted to sing that has been handed down from generation to generation, it is a memorial for loved ones who had passed away, and he shared that his father just recently passed so he felt as he needed to share it. This song was much more powerful than anything that is around for us because I could feel the emotion behind every word and was so focused on what he had to say. But I wanted to understand what the words meant when he was singing them. After his moving speech and song, it leads up to the grand entrance with all of the dancers, this was a statement of its own because of all the outfits. Overall, the total time I stayed to experience my cultural plunge was a little more than two hours, and throughout those two hours, I experienced and witnessed a wide variety of elements in the Native American culture, for example, different dancing, singing, drumming, and so much more. Also, I got stares while I was there because I am assuming based on my looks that they wondered what I was doing there. I can understand why I might get stared at because I am not a part of their culture, also they might think I have a prejudice towards Native Americans or something else. Despite this, I enjoyed the event because it was something I was not used to attending, this event opened my eyes to wanting to experience and attend different cultural events or festivals. However, I participated in the Pow Wow started out by sitting in the crowd, then later I engaged by buying items from the vendor, I tried their fried bread because not only I wanted to try it since the Pow Wow was free and open to the public, they received their money from the vendors. Later, I communicated with some of the people that attended the event and also had family members that danced in it. This experience allowed me to have a newfound appreciation for Native Americans and their Pow Wows because this was absolutely beautiful, the dancers did not talk much but they allowed their dancing to speak for them. My experience was indescribable because it was more than I could have ever imagined.

I will be honest I went in with prejudice a bit since I had a million thoughts racing through my mind. Native Americans and their culture are foreign to me because they are not people I am around every day since their population is about two percent of the United States population, so they are not dominating compared to Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc. Also, from this experience it allowed me to witness the cultural differences I have with the Native American cultures. For example, they show their value on storytelling with dancing, singing, and drumming, which shows their culture for everyone to see because this helps with their expression of their traditions and values, also it sheds light on their past and everything they have gone through. As for my own cultural values and traditions, but in a different way, because my culture does not have a strong value on tradition since it is always changing over the years. But as for the rules, I know the Pow Wow was only open to Native Americans that were drummers and dancers, which I understood, so I had to find another way to participate in any way I could because I do not see how I could have been involved in any other way.

My overall feelings were mixed. At first, I did not comfortable because I did feel as if I fit in with the majority of the crowd. I can only imagine why they might think I was there. Also, I did not feel comfortable because I did not know the etiquette or the simple do’s or don’ts. For example, when an elder was singing, I felt as if it would be rude if I recorded it because of the meaning it holds for him and his family. As time went on, I felt a little at ease when I talked with some of the family members of the dancers and some of the Native American vendors. Something that could help me feel more comfortable is getting introduced to all of the dancers and the significance of the clothing they were wearing, or the announcers could inform others in the crowd that is not of Native American descent. So, it could more education and give everyone the ability to become more educated on Native American Pow Wows.

After attending this Pow Wow, I am more interested in attending more diverse cultural events that are nothing like my culture. The Native American culture is complex and has so much history, but just like many cultures, they have biases and stereotypes about their community. Most of their bias and stereotypes start with the basic misunderstanding of Native Americans. One of those biases or stereotypes is that all Native Americans are the same, which is not the case. According to Partnership with Native Americans article ‘What Is an Indian? Each Tribe Difference’, “Part of the answer is understanding that all Native people are not the same. We speak totally different languages, have different forms of governance and government, different stories of origin and we even look different”. The article goes on to share that there are 565 federally recognized, and I can only imagine how many more there are throughout the states. Knowing this society should educate themselves before they make assumptions about Native Americans because, as the article stated, there are main differences between all of the Native Americans. Another major stereotype about Native Americans is how they are portrayed in the eyes of children. For example, ‘Jim Crow Museum of Racial Memorabilia on Stereotyping Native Americans’ states: “The lives of children are saturated with American Indian stereotypes: ‘I for Indian’ in alphabet books, ‘Ten Little Indians’ song and dance, plastic ‘Indian villages’, coffee-can ‘tom-toms’, cardboard totem poles, ‘Indian’ Barbie dolls, Pocahontas costumes, and more. As educator Jim E. Warne has testified, today’s average U.S. education about Indians is reduced to cutting out construction paper feathers, coloring book tepees and tomahawks, and Pilgrim hats for Thanksgiving”. This article sheds light on most of the stereotypes Native Americans have to put up with and shows the harsh position they are put in because of it. Not only does it take a toll on the Native American communities, but enforces those strong stereotypes in children, which in turn will not allow them to see the truth in how not correct it is.

As for myself, I do not believe I had a single story before attending this event because I went in with an open mind and the understanding that some of the information I learned about in school and online are going to be much different and they were. The Pow Wow allowed me to see a whole other side of the Native American culture that was beautiful and breathtaking because they were being themselves in a sense to where they expressed themselves throughout the Pow Wow. From this, I can educate children on not believing what the mainstream media has to say or show about Native Americans, because it is not always true, as the article ‘Stereotyping Native Americas’ showed the way they are perceived through the world for children like their books. So, teaching children at a young age can help shape how they perceive their own culture, but others like Native Americans are shown anything but in a correct way. According to our text ‘Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves’, the authors Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards state: “Unless adults actively guide them, children can develop negative reactions from encounters with people who behave in unfamiliar ways” (58). Not only can parents guide children and show them right from wrong and educate them on the diversity in the world, but teachers can too because they can shape the mind of the children in a way to show them the possible wrongs for treating someone in a not fair manner or wrong since they are different from what they are used to. Everyone needs to educate themselves on non-dominate cultures because it is something that dominant cultures are not used to, it can also gain a better understanding of the differences in the world around us. It has been saying knowing all cultures can allow us to be able to realize our own.

From my cultural plunge experience, I gained the knowledge of a better understanding of the importance of culture and tradition to the Native Americans that attended this event. Also, I have a better understanding of the differences among Native Americans because they are all unique and have a special appreciation for their dances, singing, drumming, and most importantly their tradition. Some insight I gained is that people need to educate themselves on the Native American culture before creating their biases or stereotypes because after this experience I want to further educate myself on Native American culture since they have such a small but diverse population in this world we call home.

In recent years, workforce diversity has become a central role in organizational life because of improved globalization and developing technology (Williams and O‟ Reilly, 1998). Diversity could be connected to various factors including age, gender, culture, education, employee status, physical appearance, family status, regional origin, national origin, thinking style, religion, race, and more (Agrawal, 2012). On the other hand, low diversity teams are more likely to have decreasing performance not unlike teams with high diversity because the team members will be challenging each other’s perceptions, which usually permits them to reach better decisions (Wiersema and Bantel, 1992; Schwenk, 1984). Furthermore, past studies proved that diversity improves organizational financial sustainability and organizational flexibility (Allen et al., 2007).

It was recognized that a diverse workforce could deliver the company a competitive advantage as well as it could improve the organizational adaptability to any deviations in marketplaces (Zanoni et al., 2010; Ely and Thomas, 2001; Kochan et al., 2003). According to studies more nationalities in a group would create more debates, creativity, different types of information as well as improved performance. This is because each ethnic group is expected to enhance the group’s experience and knowledge (Jehn, Northcraft, & Neale, 1999); Watson et al., 1993). Moreover, it was found that when an employee is positioned with a group of workers who have distinct nationalities other than his own nationality, he is more likely to maintain social distance (Parillo and Donoghue, 2005; Verkuyten and Kinket, 2000). The best path to encourage diversity in your workplace is by accepting it and working to create an understanding. Becoming aware of your colleagues on a personal level, regardless of their culture and background, will assist to find common ground, strengthen your appreciation of differences, and encourage an inclusive and welcoming work environment. Successful organizations integrate diversity into mentoring programs, leadership training, and management-by-results programs (Reichenberg, 2001). As an example, Coca-Cola organized several mentoring and outreach groups to educate workers (The Coca-Cola Company).

To implement the strategy of diversity it should be aligned with the organization’s vision. This workplace diversity strategy should be recognized that all people bring different qualities, skills, knowledge, experiences, perspectives, and attitudes to work. To ensure that diversity principles are implemented in the organization’s culture, all employees, the executive, and managers should always be encouraged to consider and incorporate workplace diversity principles into work practices. There should be a workforce team to continue the strategy. The workforce team will report the progress of the implementation plan to the executive on an annual basis. This is an important step for safeguarding a workplace free from discrimination and harassment that recognizes and integrates the complementary differences of our employees. The senior leadership must be complex and visible throughout the whole diversity project. The organizational structure must provide a diversity effort. If the organizational structure supports the diversity offered, it is more likely to be taken seriously across the whole business (Polzer, 2008).

According to diversity, strategy managers should take several steps to change values and attitudes and improve the effective management of diversity. An initial step is to secure top management commitment to diversity, as this is an important step. Top managers should enhance the correct performance and business-oriented attitudes and the correct ethical values that permit them to make proper use of the diverse workforce (Jones & George, 2009). Further, top management must ensure fairness regarding the compensation of the diverse workforce (Aghazadeh, 2004). Another crucial step is improving diversity awareness. To increase diversity awareness internally in the organization, employees should be aware of the different experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of others. This could be attained through programs that reveal personal stereotypes and biases, and then overturn these incorrect beliefs and stereotypes about distinct groups. These programs help to enhance the realization about others, who are different from oneself. They also provide an environment in which all people are free to talk about their different points and views (Jones & George,2009). This usually requires that the organization values diversity, as some of the main objectives of valuing diversity are awareness and positive recognition of the differences existing among a diverse workforce. Therefore, the organizational cultural environment must allow differences to be embraced rather being tolerated.

Communicating about diversity is vital for the success of organizations. The communication must be abundant and include a variety of channels such as social media, newsletters, intranet, seminars, meetings, posters, etc. Generating a formal project plan to help the diversity strategy with measurable objectives that are integrated with the rest of the company’s strategic objectives and operations is important. Managers should use an open-door policy in organizations. Furthermore, managers can inspire people to ask questions. To get the maximum out of them, they need to feel easy for asking questions until they believe that they have a clear picture of what is required. Providing training will be useful. One of the most important strategies for effective communication in the workplace is to familiarize me with all the different communication methods (Sanchez & Guo, 2005). Verbal and listening skills are the main categories that managers should focus on. Verbal skills teach the employees that most of their message is delivered in how they say something contrary to what they say. Employees should learn the difference between active listening and passive listening regarding listening skills. Nowadays having in-person meetings is one of the best strategies for effective communication. To really maximize the effectiveness of communication, managers cannot forget the importance of body language. The managers should speak clearly and accurately. They should respect employees’ feelings. Managers should not use slang, offensive language, and discriminatory, racist, or sexist language. At the same time, they should avoid too many technical terms (Cheney, 2011).

According to the above-stated points, the author concludes that improving diversity in the workplace is important and the managers of the organization should implement a workplace diversity strategy to achieve that. Finally, the author indicates how effective communication skills help the organization implement that strategy.

References

1. Aghazadeh, S.-M. (2004). Managing workforce diversity is an essential resource for improving organizational performance. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 53(6), 521–531. http://doi.org/10.1108/17410400410556183.
2. Agrawal, V. (2012). Managing the diversified team: challenges and strategies for improving performance. Team Performance Management, 18(7), 384–400. http://doi.org/10.1108/13527591211281129
3. Allen, R., Dawson, G., Wheatley, K., & White, C. (2007). Perceived diversity and organizational performance. Employee Relations, 30(1), 20–33.
4. Cheney, G. (2011). Organizational communication in an age of globalization: Issues, reflections, practices. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
5. The Coca-Coca company. Diversity Councils and Business Resource Groups. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/diversity/diversity-councils-andbusiness-resource-groups
6. Ely, R., & Thomas, D. (2001). Cultural diversity at work: the effects of diversity perspectives on work group processes and outcomes. Administrative Science Quarterly,46(2), 229–273.
7. Jehn, K., Northcraft, G., & Neale, M. (1999). Why differences make a difference: a study of diversity, conflict, and performance in workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly,44(4), 741–763.
8. Jones, G., & George, J. (2009). Contemporary Management (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
9. Kochan, T., Bezrukova, K., Ely, R., Jackson, S., Joshi, A., Jehn, K., … Thomas, D. (2003). The effects of diversity on business performance: report of the diversity research network. Human Resource Management, 42(1), 3–21.
10. Sanchez, Y. & Guo, K.L. (2005). Workplace Communication. Boston, MA: Pearson.
11. Schwenk, C. (1984). Devil’s advocacy in managerial decision-making. Journal of Management Studies, 21(2), 153–168.
12. Parillo, V., & Donoghue, C. (2005). Updating the Bogardus social distance studies: a new national survey. The Social Science Journal, 42, 257– 271.
13. Polzer, J. (2008). Making diverse teams click. Harvard Business Review, 34(1), 20–21.
14. Wiersema, M., & Bantel, K. (1992). Top management team demography and corporate strategic change. Academy of Management Journal, 35(1), 91–121.
15. Watson, W., Kumar, K., &Michaelsen, L. (1993). Cultural diversity’s impact on interaction process and performance: comparing homogeneous and diverse task groups. Academy of Management Journal, 36, 590–602.
16. Verkuyten, M., &Kinket, B. (2000). Social distances in a multi-ethnic society: the ethnic hierarchy among Dutch preadolescents. Social Psychology Quarterly,63(1), 75–85.
17. Zanoni, P., Janssens, M., Benschop, Y., &Nkomo, S. (2010). Guest editorial: unpacking diversity, grasping inequality: rethinking difference through critical perspectives. Organization, 17(1), 9–29.

“Differences, not similarities, are the source of strength” (Stephen R. Covey). This is my favorite quotation because it prioritizes the well-being of all people in our community and reflects the desire to be valued and respected as pillars of our successful community. Cultural change and diversity are both desirable and unavoidable. Learning and understanding individuals who are different allows us to value cultural diversity. I’ve always been a curious person who enjoys learning about different cultures since I was a child. Here, I’d like to describe a life-changing experience I had while attending the Islamic wedding of one of my close friends.

Starting with a brief history of Islam, the word ‘Islam’ literally means ‘submission to God’s will’. Due to the strong relationship between religion and society, any Muslim society must be Islamic. The Quran and Sunnah, according to the Islamic perspective, are the stable foundation on which cultural growth is built. Furthermore, the origins of Islamic culture include the entire vast and abundant history passed down by the forefathers of the Islamic Ummah to their successors, in addition to the Quran and Sunnah of the prophet. In this sense, Islamic culture provides a broad foundation in its vast dimensions, aiming for nothing less than global human brotherhood, correct beliefs, and constructive knowledge being among the nation’s most important foundations.

Last month, I watched my dearest friend’s happy wedding, which took place on January 4, 2021. It was a thrilling experience for me because I had never been to a Muslim wedding before. It was different from my own Sikh religion in a variety of ways.

I used to have a limited command of the Islamic religion because I had only watched a few shows, but as time went on, my desire to learn more about the culture grew. I recently learned that in Islam, both the groom and the bride must orally and in writing consent to the marriage. This is accomplished by a formal marriage proposal and acceptance of the proposal. A first-time bride’s wali – a male guardian who watches out for her best interests – is frequently present during contract talks. Nonetheless, the bride must announce her willingness to marry. Consent cannot be acquired from individuals who are legally unable to do so, such as the mentally ill, underage children, or the elderly. People who are legally unable to offer permission, such as the incapacitated, small children, or those with physical or mental limitations that restrict their capacity to understand and consent to a legal transaction, cannot give consent. Marriage customs vary according to culture, an Islamic sect, and gender separation norms followed. The majority of weddings do not take place in mosques, and men and women are kept apart during the ceremony and celebration. Because Islam does not recognize any official clergy, any Muslim who understands Islamic tradition can perform the duties of a wedding officiant. If a person is getting married in a mosque, many of them have marriage officers, known as qazi or madhun, who can supervise the ceremony. A meher – a formal statement detailing the monetary amount the groom will give the bride – is included in the marriage contract. The meher has two parts: an immediate payment payable before the wedding and a deferred payment provided to the bride throughout the course of her life. Because the groom delivers the ring during the ceremony, most couples now utilize it as the prompt. A minor sum can be delayed as a formality, while a substantial gift of money, land, jewelry, or even education can be made. Unless the marriage is annulled before consummation, the gift is the bride’s to keep and use as she pleases. The bride’s protection and freedom inside the marriage are guaranteed by the meher. Following nikah, the officiant may perform a religious ceremony that normally involves the recitation of the Fatihah – the first chapter of the Quran – and Durad (blessings).

For me, the most remarkable part is seeing their wedding costumes, which were entirely distinctive and elegant. When it comes to Muslim families, different levels of comfort exist. When it comes to wedding attire, they have different ideas. To be honest, I was undecided about how to dress for the wedding, so I opted for traditional attire with a head covering, especially at the mosque. After the wedding ceremony, the Muslim bride changes into an ornate gown many civilizations. This gown is frequently embellished with pearls, gold, and gemstones. It’s a sight to behold, especially for first-time Muslim wedding guests.

Gender separation is also a common feature of many Muslim ceremonies, including Muslim weddings. Although not every Muslim couple may want to separate the genders at their wedding, more traditional weddings will do so. Men and women may celebrate in separate rooms, be separated by a barrier, or simply sit at different tables during the reception. Non-Muslim guests may be seated with people of opposite genders in some instances. As a visitor, I followed their traditions and avoided interacting with someone of the opposing gender.

Following the signing of the wedding contract, it was time for a feast known as walima, which may include traditional symbols of fertility and plenty such as fish, chicken, rice, and candy-covered almonds. Another item that stands out is that alcohol drinking was prohibited at an Islamic wedding. This is the first post-wedding rite, followed by ruksat. The bride waves goodbye to her relatives in this ritual. Although it is an obviously emotional occasion, the bride is greeted warmly by her mother-in-law as she arrives at her new home. To signify the bride’s responsibilities as a wife, the holy Quran is placed on her head. This was a lovely occasion, and I consider myself privileged to have been a part of it.

Reflecting on my experience at my dear friend’s wedding ceremony, I was able to comprehend that diversity is not as straightforward as it appears. Many barriers stand in the way of acceptance of other cultures and ideas. There may be instances in real life in the workplace when an individual is hesitant to learn about or embrace other cultures. It is insufficient to have a varied pool of brainpower. The challenge is to increase the integration and social acceptance of persons from various backgrounds constantly. It’s also vital to foster an open and inclusive work environment in which all members of the team feel free to contribute. These disparities frequently obstruct our ability to work together. Islam has expanded to the four corners of the globe like water bursting from a spring and flowing downstream into rivers. The truth is that Islam is like rivers that all flow from the same spring; the flavor and color vary depending on the riverbed and type of soil, but this does not impact the purity or quality of the water. Furthermore, there may be a variety of negative stereotypes or prejudices that make it difficult to integrate multicultural people and bring them together as one to achieve a similar purpose. As a result, it is critical to develop an environment of cohesion and integration to avoid the construction of silos and the isolation of individuals. Negative cultural stereotypes can have a negative impact on employee morale and productivity. For example, the centuries-old animosity between the Arabs and the French, or between the Poles and the Germans, might occasionally intrude into the workplace. Cultural humility and awareness must be brought into the scene to overcome such unfavorable biases.

Furthermore, other hurdles may exist, such as language barriers, which might unintentionally lead to misinterpretation or misunderstanding, defeating the very objective of cultural understanding. Language hurdles are only one of the difficulties. Even in an organization where everyone speaks English, recognizing a variety of accents or idioms used by native speakers might be challenging. Furthermore, effective cross-cultural communication entails much more than simply speaking words. Nonverbal communication is a complex and nuanced aspect of cultural interaction that can lead to misunderstandings or even insult among team members from other nations. Things like physical space, making or sustaining eye contact, and gesturing can differ dramatically throughout cultures. Colleagues from other cultures can bring with them a variety of work environments, attitudes, values, habits, and etiquette are all factors to consider. While these might be enriching and even advantageous in a varied professional setting, they can also lead to misunderstandings or bad feelings among team members.

Finally, the notions of diversity, cultural awareness, and understanding have swept the business world off its feet. Managing a diverse set of employees will necessitate extra effort to ensure that corporate behavior is ethical. This is because personnel with diverse origins or demographic characteristics may have varied ethical standards. Understanding deep-rooted diversity is important in addition to surface-level variety, which distinguishes and identifies people based on characteristics such as age, gender, culture, ethnicity, and so on. As a result, managing cultural variances and differing ethical behaviors among teams presents several issues. Globalization and multinational corporations rely on diversity these days to survive. Businesses, both globally and locally, have realized that employees are the most important resource they have. When given the opportunity to work with people from various cultural backgrounds, they are less stressed and more driven. It gives you a sense of belonging, as well as a renewed sense of accomplishment and work ethic. When employees are given the opportunity to work in multicultural teams, not only does their appreciation for different cultures grow significantly, but it also has a direct and beneficial impact on employee engagement, dedication, and commitment to their jobs. An engaged employee is someone who is completely committed to and excited about their job.

Finally, attending a cultural event broadened my cultural horizons and aided me in developing a perspective on cultural awareness, humility, and inclusivity.

Is India really becoming intolerant? To discuss this topic, I first want to explain the meaning of the word ‘intolerant’. It means not to tolerate the views, behavior and beliefs that differ from your own one’s. Intolerance arrives when one person’s thoughts do not match with the other’s one or when things don’t go the way you want them to be. Looking at the topic, I will try to see whether India is really becoming intolerant, or it’s just the image of it being shown to us? I will see both aspects of it. And if India is becoming intolerant, then what does it refer to i.e. whole India, any community etc. I will try to find out reasons behind it using proper examples.

How We Can Say that India Is Becoming Intolerant

First, I want to consider an example of farmers protesting against farm laws in Punjab and Haryana. Due to the abolishment of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee under the farmer bill, the farmers are protesting on road today. Under the bill, the MSP (minimum selling price) has vanished. According to the government, this bill is for the betterment of farmers but farmers see it as a major loss. If farmers don’t want the bill, then why does the government want to impose their rules on farmers? And no media coverage works as fuel to fire in this case. What is the reason? Is this a political stunt? I don’t know about that but one thing I know is that imposing rules on farmers leads to their intolerance.

Others can be the issue of crimes against women in India. According to data published by Statista, there is no downfall in crimes against women. Nobody wants to live in a state where women are not safe. Women are not able to walk freely on roads after 10 pm in many parts of the country. As we see in Nirbhaya rape and murder case, the convicts were hanged after 7 long years. It is true that to provide justice it will take time but this long time can lead to intolerance.

Politics is the other main reason to say that India is becoming intolerant. Many political parties see people as a vote bank. Setting rules that benefit the majority always helps them in elections creating intolerance among minority groups. Migrants were provided with no help to travel during the time of pandemic. On 12 December 2019, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed, under which citizenship is granted on the basis of religion for the first time. This led to many protests at that time.

These were some but there are many more issues that lead to intolerance among Indians.

How We Can Say that India Is Not Becoming Intolerant

From the above examples, it is pretty clear that there are many issues for India to be intolerant, but there are many points to state it is not.

The first one is the role of the media. Today, political parties pressure the media to show news of their benefits. Many times we are shown the image that we are divided so that political parties are benefited. But the real image is not the same. All the religions, communities, etc. are living together for so long. To get a better idea, we can take an example of paid stone pelters in Kashmir. Once a stone pelter (Bhat) dropped his mask for conversation with an undercover reporter and was asked why he did stone pelting on soldiers. And he said that he is getting paid for that. 5000-7000 rupees per month, clothes and sometimes shoes as well. It’s his job to do stone pelting on soldiers. He doesn’t care about the Kashmir issue at all. And all other sources of news showed us the complete opposite image.

Media hype everything. The reason is money and views. Panic is created by the media among the minorities and creates a sense of intolerance among them. Little intolerance and religious clashes are everywhere in the world, but an average Indian if friendly in society despite differences in religion, community etc. India is appearing to be intolerant because of the conflicts created by some political leaders for their own benefits.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, I can’t say that India is becoming intolerant. There are many issues that need to be addressed. Saying the whole nation intolerant due to these issues is not right.

‘The 13th Warrior’ narrates the story of Ahmad ibn Fadlan who is a Muslim poet sent to a mission by where he faces the Vikings. Specifically, regardless of the narrative and subtitle attributes of the script, Ahmad ibn Fadlan is considered as a leading Muslim fighter. Let’s notice that the story is based on reality and has benefited from little storytelling. The main character is a Muslim traveler who, in the Middle Ages, takes a long journey from his country to the northern regions of Europe and the Scandinavian countries.

The movie clearly demonstrates that at first Ahmad couldn’t really communicate with the Vikings due to their habits and cultural differences however as time passes by, he starts to respect them and the Vikings start to show interest in Ahmad’s character, skills and belief.

The significance of this film may be more than the opposite of the film’s action film. John McTiernan is a professional shooter in American cinema, and this time he made an action film, but this is not the only feature of the movie. If we want to consider ‘The 13th Warrior’ with the ‘hero’s journey’, we need a great opportunity to consider the heroic and personality traits and the transformation of Ahmad ibn Fadlan’s personality and in my opinion the main character played his role amazingly and demonstrated the transformation clearly.

The first point of the film lies in this journey – it is a ‘confrontation’. The confrontation between the leading Islamic culture and the land Ahmed comes from with the cultures he is familiar with. Escaping different ethnicities and primitive wars over food in the very early stages reveals this contradiction.

It may be necessary to mention the choices of the actor here too. Antonio Banderas, a prominent Hollywood actor with a long history of playing important roles, has played the role of acting and influential Muslim traveler this time as a pro-star super star. Choosing Banderas is therefore important in a movie of the United States that a superstar has been playing a positive role for a Muslim, but this time Banderas has recorded a historic film in his role as a historical travel journalist.

Although the film may be somewhat in favor of Islamic thought and Muslims, the Americans have used this opportunity and historical capacity to portray the primitive Europe and civilization. A Europe full of superstition and corporeality that is involved in the war of primitive nations.

It should be noted that the dramatic load of the film ultimately ended in favor of Islam, which is the character of Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who has been selected as the thirteenth of the warrior and although not initially taken seriously by the rest of the warriors, but only in a few minutes by looking and listening, speaks to others, they learn their language and put themselves in a position of power. Although the image of Ahmad ibn Fadlan is evident in the film, this individual intelligence emerged from a progressive thinking in the name of Islam, in which, at the first moments after learning the language, he defended his family honor against the insults of his companions and establishes its position in the group.

The key point is that Ahmad ibn Fadlan is depicted in the film as the last resort of salvation, the savior and the symbol of wisdom and wisdom, and in the first scenes of linguistic opposition between him and the primitive western warriors, he said the word “la-la-la-la-la-lohe” on the beach sands. He writes that the authoritative system of thought before him should be addressed to the audience.

On the other hand, the contrast between the ethical aspects of Ahmad ibn Fadlan and his other companions is very significant, indicating a kind of distinctive look at Islam. Ahmad ibn Fadlan is neither a volunteer nor a winery. Although heavily affected by the horrible crime in the hut, he is still thinking of the solution and the way out of this issue. In marriage to a tribal woman, she also chooses a woman who adheres to moral values and is clean. Ahmad ibn Fadlan, a civilized man, is not a Muslim activist here. In another sequence, Ahmed remarks in response to the masculine and reckless ugly jokes of his followers: “A gentleman never says that”.

Mercy and chastity while courage, wisdom and wisdom, while seeking truth and trying to achieve better results, trust in God and the power of God, while disbelieving in forces such as magic and magic, trying to prove yourself while respecting the dignity of other fellows, all and all of the remarkable things are ‘The 13th Warrior’.

A film that, while pointing out Americans to primitive Europe and civilization, are appealing to the audience, but on the contrary, the situation of the Muslim community and their individual and social culture is well represented during the Middle-Ages. The potential of such films in the historical-adventure genre may not be as strong in other genres of cinema.

Of course, the hero’s credibility and heroic belief in the audience’s perspective, this time in the movie ‘The 13th Warrior’ based on a real and prestigious story of a Muslim traveler, can be found in less than a movie of Hollywood productions. Whatever it is, ‘The 13th Warrior’, in a historical context, brings an untrustworthy truth to the West, pointing out that the transfer of knowledge at all levels, from the empirical sciences to personal health, has all come from the East to the West. The thirteenth warrior, the best and last warrior who is Muslim, is the way to save humanity and believes that ‘he’ will ultimately be the guarantor of victory. The belief that all Muslims also believe in.

Moving from France to Los Angeles was quite a life-changing experience for me. Navigating and adjusting to a completely new culture had a significant impact on who I perceive myself to be. I grew up in the small Provencal town of Saint Remy de Provence, in the South of France. Being raised in such a tight-knit community was a great experience unparalleled by living in a megacity like Los Angeles. I remember stepping out of LAX and feeling like the sky was a thousand times higher than it was back in France. Los Angeles, from an outsider’s perspective, is an amazing place, full of people who have good vibes and look like movie stars, gorgeous beaches and sunsets, and scenery straight out of movies. Being able to experience this city from this different point of view is part of the reason I am proud to call it my home. This city seems to encapsulate so many different cultures and ways of life. Because I come from such a small village, I find it astonishing to witness diverse crowds of people who speak so many different languages each with their customs and values identify as Angelinos.

Over the time I have spent here, I have noticed that the American style of the capitalist economic system, unlike the one in which I was raised, has engineered a culture of worshipping and hankering materialistic possessions. The culture of materialism in America is undeniable. Every day, Americans are inundated with countless messages implying that “a good life” can be obtained through the “good life.” By making lots of money and spending it on unnecessary things that claim to make us well-regarded, happy, and loved. We are bombarded with advertisements everywhere from the restroom to the notifications on our phones. This acquisitive mindset to which many have become enslaved seems to have made people, especially adults, reorganize their values and the metrics by which they judge themselves and others. It stimulates them to shape their lives around making higher salaries and owning more “goods.” This is not only evident in the fake small talk that we engage in with our peers but transcends all aspects of our social lives. The purchase of products that are by nature unnecessary appeal to a lot of Americans, as those are things that people will wear and show off to demonstrate their success and status. Whether it’s setting up camp in front of a store to get those Black Friday deals or people who lease cars with larger payments than the rent of their apartments to somehow feel more substantial on their way to work. Driving to an interview with a nice car will give the impression that you are successful, even if you live in a tiny apartment. People are enslaved to their “favorite” brands and wake up extra early to stand in line for hours to buy a pair of $400 sneakers. This incessant and unhealthy need to feed our egos has undeniably taken over significant parts of our lives and regrettably comes at a hefty price for the well-being of both the planet and ourselves.

Having experienced both American and French culture, I am somehow able to sense that here in America, the hustle and determination to make money radiate out of all economic and social aspects of American livelihood. Americans, in comparison to the people of my village, have in general much bigger houses, and enormous cars. In France, people have a very “laissez-faire” mindset. I have come to the belief that the quasi-socialist economy of western Europe, has shaped a livelihood more comfortable and laid back for its majorities than the American style of capitalism. Basic things like healthcare, school, insurance, and other welfare programs are available for citizens. Most young French people out of school opt to work for the government or find a job with a safe paycheck, and benefits that will insure them, and a 10-week vacation. There is not much ambition to move up the ladder in society or demonstrate one’s status. Here, in America, the sky is the limit. But if you fall by the wayside, have a medical emergency, or have an unfortunate accident you are on your own. It is up to you to meet those ends by working whatever job is necessary. I find that Americans have much more of a hustle and ambitious mindset than French people.

Another evident example of the differences between the two systems is the two countries’ cinematography and storytelling. This can give glimpses of their cultures. I have noticed that the plots of French movies mostly revolve around that character’s quality of life. In French movies, how a character makes their living and how they pay the bills is rarely the focal point. Whereas American movies very often include the character’s professions and how they hustle to make their living in addition to their personal lives and prospects.

Being part of this daycare for teens which we call high school, I find it almost impossible to avoid conforming to this culture of material possessions. Being a teenager, I feel a tad bit conscious of how people think about me. This is why I am as well complicit in the vast negative feedback loop, where we compare ourselves to others known as social media. We are all, especially teenagers, naturally insecure about ourselves. Social media has taken this concept of “status” and put a “number” on it.

When I go back to my village every summer I have the peculiar opportunity to compare my American experience to my French experience. I notice that the French youth doesn’t use fatuous metrics to judge others. This is partly due to the high etiquette and mannerisms that French kids are held up to. Modern American kids are not held to these same standards. I and my French peers were taught and shown from an early age that connections with the people you cherish are immeasurable in worth. It is customary to openly manifest this appreciation for your peers when greeting them by exchanging a certain number of kisses on the cheek, depending on which region of France you are from.

Here in America, you have this number of followers, you have this number of likes, you have this number of friends. Curating the best version of ourselves and instantly getting feedback for each like this fake version of us gets gives us a temporary boost of dopamine and distracts us for a short period. I find that it is quite evident that social media has made my generation especially here in America more insecure and concerned with demonstrating one’s status.

Our insecurities fuel our lust to prioritize material possessions over intrinsic values. All this technology was created with the vision of a more friendly and connected world, yet it has made people more lonely, insecure, and ignorant of reality. I often become frustrated at how much significance petty materialistic things have over people here, in comparison to the values of those in the community I grew up in. This acquisitive mindset is blinding to the dangerous implications and price that we are paying to feed our egos. As I grow older I notice more and more that the things that matter the most, like having bonds with the people you love, making the most of a rainy day, sharing laughs with your friends, being vulnerable, and petting cute cats are things that are immeasurable in worth. I believe that your values, ultimately sculpt the person you are.

Americans, especially young teens have become so caught up in all these materialistic values, that they are imperceptive to the state of the reality we inhabit. In the past 12 years, the impact that humans have had on the environment has increasingly become more abysmal. European countries are realizing these implications and have come to prioritize long-term welfare for the people and the environment rather than quick profit at the expense of nature, unlike the United States, which has pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement. If you took away the borders, the followers, the money, and all the spurious materialistic things that our culture has made us prioritize, maybe we would realize that all we have is each other. While so many of us are distracted, the dire consequences of man-made global warming are looming on the horizon and are already in some ways affecting us. I am concerned about the lack of motivation and determination in our generation, especially here in America, to bring about significant change.

My experience in America is one of comparing the livelihoods of the cultures I have experienced. It has taught me to organize my life around more intrinsic ideas and to do things that express these values, like spending a day at the beach and picking up trash with friends or spending the day in nature. It has motivated me to encourage myself and people my age to want to make a change, to save our planet for those who will come after us.

I have found that surrounding myself with people who cherish the same intrinsic values, gives materialistic things less power in my life. I have realized that I am very lucky to be able to call myself a “Franco American,” and that I take for granted so many things that uncounted numbers of people are in dire need of. It is up to us to define what it means to be an American in the world and we must make sure our values are well organized. 

The division of labor also played a role in the marriage of a man and woman. Martial roles were characterized primarily in terms of the work spouses performed for each other and married couples had to complement each other to survive the harsh conditions in the Arctic. (Guemple 1986) Sometimes marriages were arranged at birth, seen as a necessity to ensure the survival of the family. (Exploring the Inuit 2013) Women were eligible for marriage after puberty while men had to prove their hunting abilities. No traditional ceremony was held, but gifts were exchanged: the man handed a woman her tools, including the traditional stone lamp, they handcrafted and the women gave men a set of clothing they sewed. (Guemple 1986)

Overall, the responsibilities of Inuit women were regarded equally as important as those of the men, but there was male dominance in the share of influence or power held in the communities. (Billson 2019) How do climate change and Western assimilation shift gender roles in Inuit communities?

The above-mentioned gender roles within Inuit communities have been the result of long traditions and culture. During the past decades, however, they have faced various challenges, resulting in a shift in gender roles.

One of the most prevalent factors not only shifting gender roles but threatening the existence of Inuit communities is climate change. Environmental conditions change, ranging from unpredictable weather conditions to different sea ice conditions. (Ford, et al. 2007) This makes it unsafe and harder to hunt, travel roots change and communities have to resettle somewhere else. (Dowsley 2010) Additionally, western assimilation introduces more and more modern aspects to the communities and changes their traditional ways of living and culture.

Both of these aspects result in a shift of the above-mentioned traditional gender roles and have various consequences for the Inuit.

Whole communities are forced to relocate due to harsher weather conditions and instead of tents now live in bigger villages. (Morgan 2008) Women remain in the villages while men have to travel to go hunting. Therefore it is easier for women to maintain their traditional roles within the household, tending the children or cooking, while being able to adapt to the changes within their community. Men on the other hand have a harder time hunting, sea ice loss and warmer oceans make it increasingly difficult and unsafe to hunt. They are unable to adapt to life in the villages and often feel distanced due to being away for hunting while women remain in a more stable environment. (Dowsley 2010)

Dance is an appearance of art that is made by firmly recreating a chosen series of human motions, which can be filled with the worth of art and symbolism that are recognized by both player and viewer from surrounded by the particular way of life. The dance itself be able to be freeform or can enclose a predefined choreography that may or possibly will not support with customs of the origin or past period.

But it as well as two different forms affected dance in which performers perform for viewers and participatory group dance where performance in a group is optimistic to everyone. Involving dances are most normally found at weddings, social assemblies, and celebrations and they can be like with folk music both without help and in a group brace, lines, manacles, or other forms.

Power of Bollywood music

We can think of at any rate one song to facilitate, when we listen to it, an emotional reaction. It may be a song that comes with the first performer at your marriage, for the case or a song that reminds you of a hard break-up or the failure of a beloved one. But more and more, researchers are a decision that the health benefits of music can go away from mental health, and as an effect, some healthiness specialists are working on music treatment to be more extensively incorporated into condition care situations.

Needs of choreography

None of this idea is essentially true, and neither is the next information. All arts are very individual, so all ideas on this page will enclose exceptions. The strategy on this webpage is not regulations, but just a proposal to help you plan a more attractive, enjoyable, imaginative, and or significant Bollywood choreography. An additional form of decadence is choreographers who believe, ‘This work has a sense for me. Too shocking the viewers don’t know it, but at least I’m content.’ The choreographer presently wasted the spectator’s time.

But I’m confident that isn’t you, otherwise, you wouldn’t be analyzing a page on how to be another successful choreographer, so allow move on. A lot of creation choreographers come up with their choreography as just I like to be pretentious that spectators will benefit from watching, as much as dancers like dancing. That’s high and mighty too much, and your viewers may fast lose concern unless you recognize how to hold their consideration and make it important for them.

Traditional Bollywood dance

The dance performance of over-the-top is usually specialized dance, which performs their ability over time and is regularly tasked to take the musical complement with higher dance moves or usual.

From an individual viewpoint, we are excited about their expectations for growth and cooperation and for sure are interested to watch how they guide their exclusive and hattke style and set up a new and fun chance in India. If you desire to enjoy your much-loved Bollywood songs with various sets and dance progression, then it is the exact time to look at the demo of the battle cherry bomb.    

My love for dance started when my mom put me in ballet and tap classes at the age of six. As I grew up, I signed up for different types of dance classes like hip hop at my local community college. In high school, I was in cheer and drill, and the dance coach would incorporate various dances within each routine. Although I have had a history with dance, I have never taken into consideration my culture and its traditional dances. I am Hispanic. A mix of Guatemalan and Salvadoran from my father’s side and Mexican from my mother’s side. My paper will consist of my Mexican traditions. I will be discussing the origins and cultural values of Folklórico dance and connecting it to my personal experiences.

I am the “dancer” of my family. My family is shy and doesn’t dance. While sitting down with my maternal grandmother, it came as a shock when she told me she would go out almost every day to dance at a disco in Mexico when she was younger. When she married my grandpa, two days before her fifteenth birthday, she did not have time to go out because of wifely duties and caring for her children. I was completely stunned to learn that she was barely 15 when she became a wife but during that period, it was normal for young girls to marry young. It was also normal for a family to have many children. Both my great-grandmothers had 12 living children. I come from a culture where women are supposed to cook, clean, and bear children while the men are to work and take care of the family.

I have chosen to research the dance Folklórico based on its Mexican background and the exciting experience of watching my third-grade teacher perform the dance live that has left me wanting to learn more about it. Another reason why I chose Folklórico is because my grandmother and mother have both seen the dance live as well. I believe learning about this dance will help me discover and learn more about my culture.

There is immense diversity in Mexican folk dances. With the arrival of the Spaniards, new influences were incorporated into existing traditional dances, and new dance forms were formed. Also, European ballroom dances had made their influence on Mexican folk dances through the Spaniards. I believe ballroom dances helped influence Folklórico to become a partner dancer. Some believed folk dances help represent the past and others believed it represented the beginning of a new era.

Folk dance was used as a symbol for Mexican identity but the reasoning behind the symbol was for political motivation. To this end, in the classic romantic nationalist tradition, the Mexican government sponsored various efforts through the Secretaria de Educacion Publica (SEP), to collect folk dances from throughout Mexico and saw to it that folk dance was taught in the public schools. However, by teaching the dances in public schools, the historical context and symbol were lost and it became stereotyped.

In 1939, the Secretaria de Educacion Publica, brought indigenous dancers and musicians to perform the “original form” of Mexican folklore. I believe what helped spread Folklórico were traveling bands called Carpas. Carpas were a combination of improvisational theater and variety shows, by and for the entertainment of the common people, that emerged from nationalistic sentiment during the post-revolutionary era. Carpas were important in spreading awareness that Folklórico was used as political motivation, but once it was not used for political gain, it brought more tourism to Mexico. The dance was seen as beautiful then and now as well.

One of the best-known groups of Folklórico was El Ballet Folklórico de Mexico. This group in particular was extremely important because of its director, Amalia Hernandez. She would use historical context and ancient Mexican dances to retain and advocate for Mexican culture. She would dance not only on Mexican National TV but in rural areas too.

In the 1930s, Folklórico existed in the United States in public schools and Mexican communities. Even though folk dance was becoming popular, Mexican culture was seen as foreign forcing the younger generation to leave that part of their culture behind. This continued throughout the 1960 Civil Rights Movement and Chicanos revived Folklórico as a tool to help promote the goals of the Civil Rights Movement. Utilizing the dance as a tool helped Hispanics embrace their culture again.

Not only did Folklórico help Mexican culture it helped Puerto Rican as well. While not politically tuned, and often falling to ideological pitfalls common in salsa music such as the stereotype of the nosy woman in “Carmen La Ronca,” the Folklórico blending of tradition with the most appealing music of the moment is a guide for the progress of the Puerto Rican musical form. Compared to the dance salsa, Folklórico allowed more improvisation, which was a major factor. I am grateful that part of my culture was able to impact another culture positively.

I believe knowing the history does affect me learning the dance. I am more appreciative of the dance and the history it represents. Every dance is unique in its way but being a tool in the Civil Rights Movement made me so proud. I feel as if the dancers should learn the history behind the dance not just the routine. In the present day, people practice Folklórico as a hobby but also to preserve their culture. Today it can be a form of entertainment but during the Civil Rights Movement, it was seen as disrespectful and threatening to other cultures.

Juan Gil Martinez created Calabaceados a newer choreographed routine in Folklórico. Taking into consideration of genuineness of the dance, new choreographers are limited when making new routines. Maintaining the authenticity of the dance should be important for new dancers because if not maintained they will be losing part of the value of the dance.

When viewing the dance Folklórico, the first thing that catches your eye is the costuming. The female dancers tend to wear big flowy dresses. The dresses are usually off the shoulder and either one solid color with multi-color trimming on the edges or the dress is all white with multi-color trimming on the edges. The female dancers traditionally tend to wear their hair up in a braided bun. Flowers are also placed in their hair or ribbons are weaved into their braids. They wear colorful makeup and a bold lip. Male dancers traditionally tend to wear black or white suits with colorful ascot to match the female dancers. They also wear a sombrero when performing. Both female and male dancers wear shoes with tiny heels to make tapping noises when dancing.

During a performance, you can note that female dancers do big movements with their arms by swinging and holding their dresses high up. Folklórico’s routine contains a lot of taps and stomping with a repetition of steps. The music tends to be fast and upbeat. The performers will smile big and look happy on stage, unlike other cultural dances. There is a lot of spinning in the dance routine and the majority of the time the female dancers have their hands on the hips or swaying their dresses. The male dancers will usually have their hands behind their backs, on their hips, or holding their partner. The women will have more of a pointed toe than the men. In this dance, the men tend to be more masculine and the women are supposed to be seen as feminine and beautiful. The performances can be both men and women or just women.

Even though folklórico may look like a lot of stomping there is a lot of technique in the dance than what the eye can see. Nailing the basic footwork, or zapateado, is probably the first thing you’ll learn as a folklórico dancer. Ramirez [a choreographer] breaks down the foot into four parts for her students- the toes, heels, soles(plants), and balls. Each area can be isolated during any combination. Combinations are always to the beat of the music. The dancers have slightly bent knees to help them bounce better. It is a lot of cardio to move so quickly for the duration of a performance. In this dance foot footwork and armwork are important. Sometimes the arms and legs move in opposite motions. The footwork is firm and there is no shuffling involved. The dancers will know the need to move and will dance in sync for parts of the dance. Arm strength is also involved due to the swaying of the dress in wide motions and turns. The routines are also counted in sets to help the dancers count the steps.

I was extremely excited to be able to learn part of a routine, but I quickly realized how intense it would be. Due to work and transportation issues, I had to choose the option of watching YouTube tutorials of the dance. The dancers make it look way easier than it is. I chose to challenge myself to learn part of the routine of “El Son De La Negra”. Although I do have a history with dance, I have not danced in a while and am a little rusty which is seen in the video. I tried to dance in my boots to help simulate the heels in the dancers’ shoes. I wore a skirt to try to mimic the flowy skirt, but my skirt was too narrow so I kept my arms on my hips. I also put my hair in a bun and flowers to try to bring some of the costuming into my video. I tried my best, but nerves got the best of me even though I kept trying to record

To summarize, folklórico is an important historical, versatile dance that I am grateful to have in my culture. I knew about the Civil Rights Movement and its effects on the Chicano people, but I did not know folklórico was a tool that was utilized. The dance almost lost its authenticity when it was used for political motivation and when it was taught in public schools. To fully appreciate a dance, we must learn its historical value and how it changed throughout time. Just like European dances influenced Mexican folk dance, Folklórico influenced Puerto Rican culture and dance. This dance and assignment made me remember to fully appreciate and embrace my culture. Dance is a beautiful representation of determination and strength in an art form.

Introduction

Our culture gets influenced by the way our society sees the world. Different viewpoints, along with the personal and professional experience of an international group of people, would offer new perspectives that have the potential to inspire colleagues to see their surroundings from different angles. Cultural diversity is certain because our country, workplace, society, and schools consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups, and this is increasing day by day. We have the ability to learn from each other but in order to do that we should be able to understand each other’s diversities. Learning more about other cultures that surround us helps us understand different perspectives within the world.

Life at Home

Children are usually exposed to their own cultures at home first, and that plays a compound and omnipresent role in shaping children’s learning opportunities and experiences. In addition, literacy and numeracy interactions, within the home environment reflect, directly, parents’ views about their children and how they learn to read and write and how they acquire other skills.

While at home, I learned a lot about other cultures, traditions, religions, human behavior, and ancient civilizations from my sister who is an anthropologist. Anthropology focuses on the study of cultures, traditions, and religions, and appreciates human diversity. The more my sister taught me, the more enlightened I felt about other cultures and human behavior from old times until now, the more I became open to other cultures and other people’s views, and the more excited I became to learn about other customs, traditions, and ancient civilizations.

I lived in a building that had tenants from different nationalities and different religions. Casually, I would be invited to their houses for a meal or a cup of tea, and while I was there I would observe their behavior, traditions, and their way of showing their hospitality to me.

At school as well, I had friends from different backgrounds, and of different ethnicities and religions. Most parents restricted their children from interacting with other classmates, especially those of other religions. They considered it taboo to talk to someone from a different religion, and that, in my opinion, is where discrimination starts as children’s minds and views are limited to only one culture and one religion.

I believe that child’s minds must be shaped in the early stages of their life in a way to accept others with their traditions, culture, and religion. This will make the child more curious about the world around him/her and more accepting of other people, their cultures, and religions as early brain development has a lasting impact on children’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life.

Academic Learning

During my study at an International School, I learned a lot from the people around me. I was open to listening to their different thoughts, and understanding more about their cultures, in addition to learning a bit of their language.

One of the benefits of studying in an environment where I was surrounded by a diverse mix of cultures is that it helped me learn a new language and that contributed to my learning of people’s behavior.

Although I was not fluent in any foreign language before, if you are someone who is enthusiastically interested in learning a new language, then the benefits of this will be apparent once you start your practical life in a workplace. There you can take advantage of what you have learned during your school and college time, especially the language skills you acquired while traveling abroad for business meetings and attending events. This skill can help expand one’s circle of friendship, and it can’t be achieved without interacting with different cultures and learning from them.

Students from other educational backgrounds aren’t exposed to a multinational environment on a daily bases. The importance of this kind of interaction is best for future policymakers. One thing I learned is that being part of a diverse community made me more considerate of the effect that my words might have on other people. In addition, being part of the International School was like opening a door to a whole new world to me. It led me to grow socially by meeting a variety of people, making new friends, and developing my professional network connections with people from different cultures.

Here are some benefits and positive impacts of studying in a diverse community which I experienced in my academic life

• It promotes growth and reflection.
• It encourages a sense of awareness and compassion in students.
• It allows students to feel unique.
• It prepares students’ minds to accept diversity in the workplace.

My Workplace

A diverse workforce hires people from all backgrounds, genders, ages, races, religions, and abilities.

At the Department of Development in Riyadh Municipality, where I used to work, there were many undergoing projects and one of which was the Recycling and Classification of plastic products. In order to enhance awareness within society, our team planned to conduct some awareness programs for children. At first, the students and their parents responded positively to it. However, I quickly noticed that some of the families showed negative attitudes towards this kind of program by arguing that the current system was easier and cheaper. That day I realized the importance of spreading awareness among people, especially, the parents as they are responsible for the new generation. If this negative attitude remained, then we would not be able to contribute to solving the global warming problem that is affecting every human being.

The recycling procedure helps to combat global warming by reducing the carbon emission percentage. As for the cost involved, I have realized that by adopting this procedure the manufacturing companies won’t need to continue producing these recyclable items using raw materials. Our team believed in the reduction of carbon emission percentage for the best of the planet, therefore, we continued our campaign to educate people about recycling programs.

As asserted by UNESCO in Article 1 of the universal declaration of Biodiversity ‘cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature”. I believe that diversity should be a major goal for every workplace, as these workers will have a different outlook on the world. They will apply their personal experiences to give exceptional viewpoints to benefit the employers. A workplace culture of diversity helps employees feel included, and this extensiveness helps break down barriers and reduces the fear of being rejected.

The following are some of the benefits of having a diverse workforce:

• Increased innovation
• Community connection
• A Variety of perspectives
• Reduced fear and improved performance
• Improve the brand’s status

Nevertheless, there might be some disadvantages to having a diverse workplace as some employees may feel that their perspectives on work-related matters are ignored due to the language barrier. In this case, such employees may stop sharing their thoughts because of this problem, which puts boundaries that decreases the benefits of approaching diversity in the workplace.

Reflection

Looking back at all these home, workplace, and academic learning experiences, I believe that these experiences have made me a better, more open-minded, and more sociable person. After returning back to my country, I was able to learn things about an entirely different culture. I realized that I had been learning from a different perspective and in a different environment and that there is so much more to the world than we think. Your mind stretches more as you experience more about other cultures, and the best part about experiencing different cultures is telling other people about them. If one is able to explain the importance of diversity to people and show them how diverse the world is, he/she can help them be more open-minded toward people of different cultural backgrounds. The Local governments all over the world recognize that cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, taking as their reference the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)“. Being part of such a diverse community makes me more considerate of the effect that my words might have on other people,

In today’s world, if we all are able to respect and learn about other cultures, and respect their values and beliefs, life would be easier for most of us, and we would learn a lot of good things from each other. I know that I have learned a lot in this process, and I continue to learn every day.

Living in a foreign country taught me how to face new challenges and overcome any obstacles in my path. It made me more courageous and bold, and it played an essential part in shaping my personality and nurturing me to be the best and bold version of myself.

Conclusion

Through a variety of experiences, I have altered myself to the best. I felt encouraged and inspired by the people around me, and now I do not feel afraid of tasks that will modify me and encourage me to be a better person.

Reference lists

1. UNESCO, (2001). Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13179&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
2. EDUC 605 Learning, Diversity and Culture
3. Assignment One: Personal Learning Stories:
4. Log One: Relevant to gender, ethnic/cultural background, education levels, age/generation, and any social or political issues. 15th March 2020.
5. What is the source? (APA Reference). It would be useful to add a sentence or two about the authors, and their credentials to ensure you are using reputable sources/authors or to remind yourself of the perspective they bring.
6. DW News. (2018, April 24) Foreign workers face an uncertain future in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Yb8dZi4Bq7U