Problems when dating or marrying someone of a different culture

Differences between cultures can be an impediment, and when it comes to relationships (in this case, engagement or marriage) it can result in a difficult and even awkward situation for the two who are involved.

People could not tolerate at all the things that aren't normal or common for them. The values, beliefs, eating habits, chronemics, proxemics, kinesics and all related to non verbal language.

If someone is in a relationship with another person who isn't from their culture, I think the most important thing is the communication and tolerance. As well, culture have an important role in the nexus we create, in a relationship the two parts have to take in account that culture imposes boundaries to human beings. Sometimes we don't agree at all with the aspects of the culture we belong and we have the right to be what we want to, and not the things that it imposes to us.

But Culture still represents some of who we are, because it molds our thinking and our perspective of life, how we see and perceive it.

Comparison between the kind of music and dance in Palenque and The Alvin Ailey dancing company

I just saw this video about Palenque http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7pULdFkuB8&list=PLDED0F2BD053520D9&index=11 


I find some similarities in the clothing, like its party and humble intention. Also, that both types of Music express parts of their history, how they have lived and how they feel about it.

The differences are that Ambulancias Alegres' music is Bullerengue, it's a very moving rhythm, that have drums as a very important instrument on this music.

Differing of Spirituals performed by the Alvin Alley, that reflect solemnity and devotion, that's why the music isn't that fast. Sometimes it seems to be a celebrating and festive music, but it still saves the peace of the feelings.

Personal Culture

How have either a sport, hobby, or music shaped your own personal culture? Give details to support your ideas.

Well, as my blog's name, I'm a music lover, and I specially love Classical Music. I consider Music is my personal culture since before I was born. Everything about it excites me.
Sometimes, I cannot believe how inside I am in the music. I live and breath it from the pores of my skin and I love all related to it, listen to it, enjoy it, feel it, sing and play it, understand it. Music is like my lifetime friend and love. 

Also, I like to paint, dance and design clothes. I dedicate almost all the time doing  things related to arts and it's really pleasant to do what you love everyday.

We musicians, tend to have conversations about music and make jokes about certain pieces, composers or about our daily life as musicians :) we have our own slang. 
And it's common to find very strange people studying music; we consider (or at least myself) that we are like people from another planet, I mean, we have another different way to see and perceive the world. Music make us insane, but we love it. 

I love it all about Music!

Economic empowerment for women

I was reading 3 profiles about Costeñas through Kiva, a microfinancing organization that lends money to people around the world. http://www.kiva.org/about/how

I analysed the advantages and disadvantages that each one may have, and I read a litlle bit more about their loan overview and I would lend money to the business of Blanca Isvelia. http://www.kiva.org/lend/291335

My reasons are:

-First, the kind of products she is selling, dairy products. These are products that everyone is going to buy more than once because they are neccesary.

-Second, she has a wholesale business, which means she sells great quantities of her products and supplies shops all around the city.

-Third, despite she has a higher loan than the other Costeñas, she seems to have a farther projection of her business and her business seems to be growing easily.

-Fourth, due to the income she has, she shows that she can keep repaying the money that people had lend to her.

I think her business is going in a good way, I wish Blanca Isvelia to have success in her dairy business.

Kenyan Matatu Drivers Response

http://wambururu.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/one-good-chance-is-always-worth-another/

1. How are matatu drivers treated in his experience with the BBC?


It's clearly seen that cops tried to take advantage of their authority and arrest Matatu drivers for any reason, and then receive some money to let them go. 


2. Do Barranquilleros have the same negative opinion of mototaxistas as the Kenyans have of matatu drivers?

I think that it is almost the same. We tend to generalize the thought of that every single mototaxista break all the laws and that they are involved in most of the accidents. Although not every of them act in the same way, it's common to see that most of the traffic accidents are caused by this people and their negligences. So, when we think of mototaxistas, we inmediately bring a negative concept and perception to our minds.

AfroColombians Video Response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiGKIO722HA

In the video we can realize that in Colombia there is a notorious racism with AfroColombians, like if they were an inferior race, that doesn't deserve the same rights like everybody else in the country. 

It's simply not fair to discriminate them and negate them to have a dignified lifestyle. I think they have the same abilities like everyone and, they should be treated with respect, the way we should like to be treated.

However, there is something like an organization in Colombia which is investigating about racism, its frequent practices, and it is taking this matter into their own hands. I think they should make campaigns about this and aware people, make them conscious of this revalued concept.

AfroColombians deserve to be educated, to be employed, to be!

Race is just a label. We all are human beings.

Tinariwen Video Response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5P0oO8nphMY

      1. What do we learn about Tuareg culture from this video? 

The way they are living, and how they want to have another environment. 
Many Tuaregs try to rebel against their politic system, but this group of people sing and express their feelings and thoughs about freedom through music. They are showing to us how is their situation in the Sahara desert. 
Tinariwen found their way to give voice to what's happening, they used their situation and made something creative with it.

      2. Keeping in mind what you learned from this interview, how does seeing the visuals within the video and knowing the meaning of the lyrics give us a deeper understanding of Tuareg culture?

Well, the video shows to us a little bit more of their lifestyle, that isn't the ideal but they don't feel discouraged and enjoy making music. 
And of course, it give us a deeper understanding of their culture because only having listened the interview, I haven't imagined how tough could be living on the desert.