SNAPSHOT: Cultural insight
For World History AP, one of the mandatory projects per cycle is to complete a snapshot, or an analysis of what we have been reading in the textbook,"Strayer".
We also follow a format by using an acronym called SPICE. S stands for social, P stands for political, I stands for interaction with the environment, C stands for cultural and E stands for economic. The most intriguing category to me is cultural because I love learning about how different people have different rituals and maintain their way of life from different beliefs. One day in class we were learning about different types of customs that citizens in the Song Dynasty did in earlier times. One of the most thought-provoking was called foot binding. In this time period, Confucianism took a big part in the Song Dynasty and because men were more praised than women, and to give an image of higher social status, at a young age girls' feet were wrapped dangerously tight to prevent further growth. The idea was that this was image was beautiful in the Chinese culture. Personally, my first thought was that they were crazy, but when i discovered what the reason was behind this practice, it made me rethink about how our society interprets what 'beautiful' really is.
We also follow a format by using an acronym called SPICE. S stands for social, P stands for political, I stands for interaction with the environment, C stands for cultural and E stands for economic. The most intriguing category to me is cultural because I love learning about how different people have different rituals and maintain their way of life from different beliefs. One day in class we were learning about different types of customs that citizens in the Song Dynasty did in earlier times. One of the most thought-provoking was called foot binding. In this time period, Confucianism took a big part in the Song Dynasty and because men were more praised than women, and to give an image of higher social status, at a young age girls' feet were wrapped dangerously tight to prevent further growth. The idea was that this was image was beautiful in the Chinese culture. Personally, my first thought was that they were crazy, but when i discovered what the reason was behind this practice, it made me rethink about how our society interprets what 'beautiful' really is.
What were your first thoughts? Mine were jaw-dropping. I had never ever ever heard of anything like this. Many questions came to my head, why did these people do this, what were the benefits, DID IT HURT? Neck stretching was common in many tribes and villages in Africa and in Asia. This happened to both women and men, and interpreted to high status and wealth. The rings push the collarbone and stretch the vertebrae to create an illusion of a longer neck. Some even start wearing them at an early age of two years old. The rings are said to not be harmful, but if they were removed after a great amount of time wearing them, the weight of the head could potentially kill the person. Interesting, isn't it? Learning about what people do and the way others interpret it. Perspective can take a big part, as long as there's been enough education about it.
In the month of March, students from the sophomore class at HAIS had the amazing opportunity to spend an amazing day at the Chinese Community Center in Bellaire, Texas. Time flew by while we were learning about Taiwan's history, playing with Chinese yoyo's, and eating delicious food. After lunch, we traveled in groups around the community center and participated in events such as ping-pong, learning Kong-Fu, and making Chinese paper flowers. (The paper flowers were pretty difficult!) To me, it was a different environment and looking around, we saw artwork and after school events on the bulletin boards outside the Sunday school classrooms. I asked a supervisor about it and just like in China and the Cram schools they had after school and on the weekends, the students here in the Bellaire area got the opportunity to learn Chinese and gather with their friends as a community. Understanding and realizing the dramatic lifestyle changes when coming to America is a big factor in living in a society like this. Many things are just simply different such as clothing and urban living. The founders of CCC are so great to Houston and the people who have come from China because they dedicated such a comfort of home away from home. Recognizing the perspective of the Asian community helped me understand the importance of playing a greater role in your community.
HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT: STUDENT CONGRESS
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LEAD11-12.PERS2. Explain the perspectives of other people, groups, or schools of thoughts, and identify possible influences on those perspectives, including access to information and resources.
This year was a very remarkable and achieving milestone for HISD. A couple of dedicated students from HAIS attended the first meeting (shown above) of the passing of Student Congress. Student Congress is basically a medium to where students and the board of HISD can communicate. My fellow classmates and I attended Carnegie Vanguard High School at our first meeting with more than 25 other high school representatives in HISD to work together to explain perspectives and find solutions. For example, I am in the group called "Advocacy" which identifies and addresses problems and works to find realistic solutions for them. Through newsletters, social media and meeting once every month, together we are the new future of HISD. Our group also created a forum where students could write (anonymously or not) about any opinions or suggestions. Down below are social media networks, follow for your future!
This year was a very remarkable and achieving milestone for HISD. A couple of dedicated students from HAIS attended the first meeting (shown above) of the passing of Student Congress. Student Congress is basically a medium to where students and the board of HISD can communicate. My fellow classmates and I attended Carnegie Vanguard High School at our first meeting with more than 25 other high school representatives in HISD to work together to explain perspectives and find solutions. For example, I am in the group called "Advocacy" which identifies and addresses problems and works to find realistic solutions for them. Through newsletters, social media and meeting once every month, together we are the new future of HISD. Our group also created a forum where students could write (anonymously or not) about any opinions or suggestions. Down below are social media networks, follow for your future!
LEAD11-12.PERS1. Express personal perspectives on situations, events, issues or phenomena,and identify influences on that perspective.
In my Chinese 3 class, we got to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration because it coordinated with the same time we came back from break. We had one celebration here at HAIS but for our project, Jared Shepperd and I went to the festival at Discovery Green. It wasn't a cultural shock because it was a very Americanized festival, however, the perception that the Chinese community tried to apply to the American culture was evident. Both Jared and I watched traditional dances and listened to singers. We also tried some of the food such as authentic egg rolls, cuisines, and drinks such as milk tea and fruit juices. The Chinese culture is very appreciative to respect one another and I realized that when I observed how the community treated/greeted each other. What I learned in my English 2 class last year about the one-child policy came to my realization when I came to the festival because most of the families were with 4 or more children. The American culture and legacy of having a 'big happy family' influence the generations of immigrants from China.
In my Chinese 3 class, we got to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration because it coordinated with the same time we came back from break. We had one celebration here at HAIS but for our project, Jared Shepperd and I went to the festival at Discovery Green. It wasn't a cultural shock because it was a very Americanized festival, however, the perception that the Chinese community tried to apply to the American culture was evident. Both Jared and I watched traditional dances and listened to singers. We also tried some of the food such as authentic egg rolls, cuisines, and drinks such as milk tea and fruit juices. The Chinese culture is very appreciative to respect one another and I realized that when I observed how the community treated/greeted each other. What I learned in my English 2 class last year about the one-child policy came to my realization when I came to the festival because most of the families were with 4 or more children. The American culture and legacy of having a 'big happy family' influence the generations of immigrants from China.