Culture Norms

I had the most difficulty adjusting to the restaurant norms in England, France, and Italy. In America, waiters and waitresses come whenever to take your order. They are even border-line annoying in their insistency. However, in European countries waiters wait and wait and wait to take your order. They will not approach your table unless the menu is closed and placed on the table. Once my family and I waited to place our orders for forty minutes before realizing that our menus were wide open. As soon as we closed them, the waiter came running. This norm took at least four days in Italy to comprehend, and I soon realized that I liked it better. In America, waiters pester you to no end until you finally order. I've once been asked four times in fifteen minutes to place my order --- No, I'm not ready yet!

Cycle of Violence

In A Bronx Tale, C is a young boy growing up in a mob influenced town. Throughout his life, he must figure out how to balance his friends, family, and Sonny. Although Sonny said he never trusted anyone, I believe the closest person he had was C. When C was nine, Sonny referred to him as "like a son". This status propelled C into a radically different world than his father wished for him. Violence was a common occurrence, as was racism. Sonny told C that he was better than all of the violence and encouraged him to date Jane. But association alone tarnished C's reputation as a bus driver's son. C became a member of the mob due to his friendship with Sonny, and witnessed numerous violent acts because of it. Each act followed another one, it was a neverending cycle. Sonny died because the man he shot when C was nine had a son, and the son avenged his father. C's friends died trying to kill the black people even though they were not doing anything wrong. C tried to not be racist around Jane, but he learned a different way growing up. He had to struggle to get rid of everyone else's expectations of him and find himself amongst violence, death, and racism. In the end, C escapes his friends and Sonny through death. It was really sad, but it taught him that the "worst thing in life is wasted talent", and the real C went on to become a famous actor.

Identity

A person uses groups in order to identify himself of herself. Everyone belongs to a group, but certain ones are more prevalent than others. My master groups are friends, family, and religion. I am a religious Jew. I am observant, I keep Kosher, and I celebrate Shabbat. Some people are suprised to find out how observant I am, but others aren't at all. I'm also very close with my family. Hopefully, my brother and sister realize that I am really nice to them. I think my sister appreciates what I do for her, but my brother Alex is in his own world most of the time. He's a college frat boy and calls me a couple times a week to talk about TV, which is more than he calls our mom so I guess I'm honored (lol). And then there are my friends. I have been best friends with Lauren and Leslie since seventh grade. Alot of people at Stevenson can't really say that so I feel really lucky. I love my friends and family. They're a huge part of me, and they help to define who I am to myself and others.

Sociological Mindfulness

In the summer of 2007, I went on a social justice trip in Chicago called Or Tzedek (Righteous Light). It was one week and thirty-two hours of community service. However, I got a lot more than something to add on my college resume. On the trip, I met a homeless man named Dave. He completely surprised me and obliterated my preconceived notions about the homeless. Dave was going to college classes. He was working and trying so hard to make ends meet. Davehated drugs and loved his daughter. All of a sudden, my eyes were opened to this new world where the homeless were the victims of a situation not the perpetrators. That trip taught me to open my eyes and to stop jumping to conclusions. I am forever grateful to Dave and the trip for changing my thought process and teaching me about sociological mindfulness.