Society and family

 Culture is a funny thing. Depending on where we live, our lives are influenced and molded by our surroundings and the people we interact with. I grew up in the military and have lived all over the United States, from North Carolina to Alaska. Whenever I move somewhere, I would always have  culture shock because each place was so different from where I was before. For one thing, the way people talk and interact with each other varies. The west side of the states I feel like is more reserved in discussing our opinions because we don’t want to accidently offend anyone. Another big part of western side culture is housing. People tend to want to live in neat houses that has clearly defined borders and want their own space. This is so different in the South, where everyone speaks their mind, not caring who hears it, and they love living close to family. They also love Chic-Fil-A like it was a second religion to them, and if you didn’t feel the same way, you were soon converted or shunned. One thing I appreciated about southern culture was that I could have a deep religious conversation with just about anyone.  Some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had was during lunch when my orchestra buddies and I talked about our different beliefs and what they mean to us. We had some differences, but we found much common ground on how we all are trying to be better and love God. I never had these kinds of conversations in the west, even when I lived In Utah and I was surrounded by other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It just wasn’t something we did. We might have conversations like that one on one, but never really in a big group amongst friends.  Growing up, I used to be so angry that I had to move all the time and never stayed in one place, but looking back on it now, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. All the people I have met over the years have shaped me into who I am today and I have learned that even though we as a people are so different in so many ways, we are also similar in the same amount. We are all trying to do better in our lives, whether that is through education, or just trying to become a better person. We all want to find happiness in life. 

In my class this week, we talked a lot about family culture and how each family has its own set of rules and standards that are spoken and unspoken. My teacher gave the example of when he was growing up, he and his older went over to a neighbor’s house to see if she needed help with anything because she always gave them cookies after they helped her. She didn’t need helped that day but my teacher, being a seven year old, asked if they could have a cookie anyways. After they left, his sister swatted him and told him that he should never ask for a cookie. He learned that day that one of the unspoken rules in his house was that you don’t ever ask for things. This got me to thinking about some of the family rules in my house. One of the rules in my family is that everyone has to go to college, and we have to pay for it ourselves. I mean, our parents help with groceries and travel, but everything from rent and tuition we have to figure it out ourselves. I’m grateful that I have to pay for this myself because it has taught me how to be financially independent and I don’t take what I have for granted. My family’s dynamic is all about loving each other, loving God, and striving to become our best selves through education and being a good person. I am so grateful for the family I have because I know not a lot of families have the kind of love and support that I get in my home, and I hope that one day that I can build a home that is also full of love and where people feel like they can be themselves.