Cultural Immersion Essay

Culture has been characterized as the beliefs, arts, morals, customs and traditions exhibited by a group of individuals within a particular society (Langness 1987). It has long been believed that cultivation has been associated with stars ancestry. My gaucherie to Jamaica has make it evident that this entirely is not the case. at that place be a pattern of different factors that could cause two groups of individual from the very(prenominal) ethnical understate exactly nutriment in different societies. My paper pass on be discussing my experiences and realization during my short solely meaningful trip to the is impose of Jamaica.My Cultural mount In order to show that pack who inject from the same ethnical indorseground do not necessarily pay off to have the same culture, I leave behind counterbalance provide information regarding my stimulate personal background to serve as the basis. Although I am an American emotional state in California, my ethnical descent i s African. The root of my family are embedded in Mississippi. It is for this occasion why the aliment and room of life I have been brought up with resembles those that outlast in the southern part of the country.In fact, even if I do come from a single parent house time lag, our traditions are very much Southern from the fodder we eat, the importance we give to our religion and outlay succession with the family. sidereal day One of My excursion This trip was not just my first time to Jamaica, but my first trip out stance of the United States. The moment I had gotten out of the plane, I could say that I was at once shocked with what greeted me. When I odd California for Jamaica, I went through an aerodrome that was air-conditioned and my full of the latest security measures system precaution devices and machines to pass through.I did not come over anything of this sort when I arrived in the airport at Jamaica. No high-technology security equipment and no air-conditioner running in the airport. I was greeted by a man named Darwin mill close to who was going to drive me to the house of Mr. and Mrs. throng, my soldiers family. Mr. Mills disposition was as heartily as the weather. He was to a greater extent(prenominal) than happy to drive me first about the Montego Bay area of the island to show me around. Although he was extremely enthusiastic about everything in Jamaica, I could not help but notice how different it was from my homet take in California.It was if I was in another world. For starters, the vehicle utilize by Mr. Mills to bring me to my end point was right-handed, which was why they were driving in the inverse lane than I would back in California. I also saw bulk travel on either side of what was supposedly their main highway. When I meant that they were walking on either side of the highway, I am not talking about them walking on sidewalks on either side of the highway. They were literally walking on the side of the highway . What really caught my attention was how under go the area was.It was not anything uniform what you would see in tourist brochures and magazines. The streets were filled with jalopy holes. Houses were small and the fences were poorly made. T here were no skyscrapers or large business establishments back home. It made me realize just how aureate I was animated in a sturdy well-built house with a sturdy fence and driving on a well-paved thoroughfare, despite the horrendous traffic. My first savvy of authentic Jamaican cuisine was at lunch time when Mr. Mills brought me to the escape from House Hotel.I was blown outdoor(a) on just how fresh the food was. It tasted deliciously different. After which, I was interpreted to Ricks Cafe, which is k instantaneously more than for the daredevils jumping over the cliffs into the wide lamentable ocean. At the background was a marque drum band playing Reggae music, which is one of the signatures of Jamaica. I was fascinated on how so mething so simple could be able to develop grand, upbeat music. When Mr. Mills dropped me at Mr. and Mrs. crowd together house, I nearly jumped at the atomic pile of the dogs that Mr. James keeps loose at the crusade yard.He apologized for them and explained to me that their dogs were allowed to run loose for their own protection. Although their homes were equipped with two air-conditioners, he explained to me that this is seldom used since electricity is rather pricy in Jamaica. This is the reason why they unless use electric fans. As I retired for the night, I kept reminding myself not to immediately judge my life back in California and what I have ab initio seen in Jamaica so that I would be able to fully understand more about living in Jamaica. Day Two of My slip of paperThe highlight of the spot day of my trip was when Mr. and Mrs. James introduced me to Mr. James uncle, Charles and his cousin, Brenda. It was through my conversation with them that I begun to slowly go ldbrick more about Jamaica. agree to them, for a long time, Jamaica had been a colonisation of England. It only gained its independence in 1962. mass of the inhabitants of the island were predominantly of African descent, like I was. Although they live far away from Africa, they lock hold dearly to their African traditions and customs.Celebrations of the respective(a) African festivals are held annually. Despite its prospering tourism industry, Jamaica stays to be a third world country. This conversation had answered a lot of my questions when I had first arrived in Jamaica and it had opened my eyes and my mind and developed an understanding and appreciation to the people living in Jamaica. Despite everything surrounding them, they remain to be warm and extremely fit to me and more than willing to help me contain as much as I can about Jamaica and Jamaicans way of life. Day Three of My TripMy last day in Jamaica happened to land on a Sunday. The day started with a day at t he b separatelyside which Jamaica has long been known for. But I did not go there to swim, because I do not know how. Instead, I had been taken by Mr. James to the beach to do some shopping. Unlike in California where everything is bought in the local grocery or seafood market, here in Jamaica, it only takes a result of a few hours for the food to be caught, picked, cleaned, cooked and served. Speaking with meals, my last meal in Jamaica was something similar that one that I would ordinarily have back home.We were served a bedspread of greens, jerk chicken, rice and peas. Just like back home, Sunday was a time when families get together and enjoy each others company over a wonderful spread of home-cooked favorites. Reflection Taking the road less traveled by American tourists in Jamaica, I was able to learn so much about their way of life. Back home, I have been favored to have access to a number of amenities and privileges that around Jamaicans would only breathing in about. Yet, their situation has not diminished their warm and sunny outlook towards life.Despite their confine resources, Jamaicans are able to make the most of what they have and keep a confirmatory outlook. For instance, some African Americans to this day hold a grudge against Caucasian Americans for the prejudice, racism and oppression the older generations have experient since the time of the slave trade. While Jamaicans had also experienced the same oppressive word in the hands of the English, they have laid the oppression behind them and instead observe on the fact that they are now free from the oppression. Reference Langness, L. L. (1987). The Study of Culture. Novato, CA Chandler & Sharp.