ATA 2:

The second assignment was about the thirteen values Americans deem most important. For the assignment we had to read the article describing each of the thirteen values and decide which value we most relate to in our daily lives. After careful consideration and reflection I ended up choosing the eleventh value; directness, honesty, and openness.

ATA 1:

Our first assignment was about the six stages of intercultural sensitivity, and which one we most identified with. After reading the journal article describing each of the stages, we had to ask ourselves which one we fell under. At the start of the assignment I was between two of the six; adaption to difference and acceptance of difference. The more I thought about my experiences which I was going to use as examples, I learned I fell under the stage adaption to difference. While I was working on this assignment it reminded me of what I learned from my previous sociology class, and how culture is defined in terms of sociology. Culture defined by sociology is defined by a members way of life; their beliefs, values, language, and customs. I reflected back on this definition when I was thinking of what sensitivity I was most like.

How this assignment was relevant to me personally, is it made me think and reflect on the type of person I’ve grown up to be. It made me thankful for the way my parents raised me, and the experiences I was able to have so far in my life. Looking back on to the assignment I learned about myself. I always assumed I was acceptant of cultural differences. Thus I assumed I fell under acceptance to difference. However, thinking of my time to living overseas I remember how not only was I acceptant of their worldviews, but I worked to learn more about their culture so I could adapt my behaviors to theirs. I didn’t want to just live in the culture, I wanted to respect and experience it. I’m always told I act older than my age, and I feel I owe that to my time living overseas. I was around my parents friends and co workers a lot, meaning I had to old adult conversations and act accordingly to the environment. I believe from those experiences, lifestyle, and environment it shaped me into the person I am today.

I chose the above image because to represent my person takeaway from this assignment because it represents who I am as a person, and what helped me get there. I was asked to draw this in my Art class in high school, the assignment was to represent our past. It’s a little blurry since it was taken with an old camera, but the images are off cultural things from both countries. I even included the ACS Owl mascot from my school I attended when living in Greece. I feel this image represents my person takeaway from this assignment because I used examples of living overseas in my assignment.