My Family Culture

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

Honestly, there aren't any tangible items that represent my family culture. So this scenario isn't the easiest thing for me to respond to. There are no family heirlooms or anything like that that represent my family...

My father was born in the Philippines and came here in the Navy in order to support his family. My mother was born in Boston, MA and her parents were from Ireland and Scotland. My father adapted to the Western culture and my mother was born and raised in the United States. The six children they have grew up within the Western culture. My father didn't incorporate much of his cultural traditions and values into our family. He made a handful of dishes and only taught us a few words in Tagalog.

So, in order to respond to this scenario, I'd have to go with personal tangible items reflective of me and my experiences:

-Personal documents (SS card, birth certificate, ID, etc.) because they are the physical evidence of who I am and where I came from.

-My computer because it not only holds all my family and personal photos, but it will allow me to keep in touch with everyone and research the culture of the country I will be going to.

-My stuffed bear Baloo- it was my oldest sisters stuffed animal and she gave it to me when I was younger. I used to carry it around and everything- and it's not a small bear- it is about the size of a pre-toddler. It had a tear in it's left arm that I never sewed up because I would hide my moms cigarette packages in it all the time to keep her from smoking. Man did she get mad when she couldn't find them... lol

Upon arrival, you are told you can only keep one of the items you brought with you. How do you feel and which do you choose?

As much as Baloo had helped me get through tough times, and as essential as a laptop may be, I would have to choose my personal documents. They are the ONLY thing that truly represents who I am and where I came from.

**Disclaimer- emotional response coming up**

Reflecting on this exercise and even my family culture was actually not fun or easy for me. I noted in my Assignment how I never felt like I was part of any one cultural social group or really a part of my family. I've felt like I'm caught somewhere between Filipino and American and that I'm not like any of my family members- except my father. This weeks topic only made these feelings more evident. However, I think it's a good thing because it's something that I have to understand and overcome in order to move on and to become a more culturally responsive early childhood professional.