Assignment Takeaway 4: In terms of gender variances across cultures, I find it interesting when comparing ads in Mexico, Peru, and America. I recently visited parts of Mexico, Honduras and Belize for a week. The contrasts in terms of ads were extremely interesting. Peru and American ads were compared in my assignment, but Mexican ads compared to the two never even crossed my mind!

Although I did not go online to find ads, I did walk around in these countries and the gender differences seemed to open my eyes to more ways in which women and men are affected in different countries. Mexican advertisements in the areas I was in seemed to be geared more towards luxury, and trying to follow the same kinds of ideals of luxury as Americans. Men seemed to be portrayed as extremely masculine, as I expected to see with Peruvian ads. There wasn’t as much masculinity in terms of competition, but they did use comparative language like best and strongest, etc. Femininity was very close to American ad ideals. Women constantly were displayed laughing and unbothered by any troubles, and often portrayed with a man by their sides.

The inner feminist in my was very bothered by this and in general the amount that I was ignored in everyday areas. At restaurants I was always offered food after my boyfriend, I was never handed the check even when I specified that I wanted to pay, and people often tried to haggle with my boyfriend and ignored my existence.

Assignment Takeaway 3: Boy have my feelings changed since this assignment. A once exciting paper that I found exhilarating to write, now brings me disappointment at the fact that I will not be able to see the culture with my own eyes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to having to cancel this trip I never noticed how much my identity was tied to a visit in Ireland. I know people travel to Jerusalem for religious identity transformations and cleanses, and I guess Ireland is the closest I have felt to a voyage into finding my own identity. My entire life I have been told to be proud of my culture and to remember the stories passed down to me, but never seen this country with my own eyes.

Cultural identity can be tricky. I believe that is why I can empathize with my Filipino-American friends so much. I know it is not the same, but my mother constantly reinforces Irish traditions into me which I then feel as though I must hide when I am in public or around others unfamiliar with these traditions. My Filipino-American friends often struggle with the feeling of not being Filipino enough. I can completely empathize because I often don’t feel Irish enough. Even though it is my blood, just as it is their blood, I cannot fluently speak the language of my ancestors and I am completely Americanized and follow the instincts of an American, rather than an Irishman.

Below is a picture of my Gaelic tattoo as a reminder to myself of my culture and that it is a part of me, whether I am geographically somewhere else or not.

Assignment Takeaway 2: Prior to assessing Kohls’ values, I never noticed how much my values differ from the average American. I actually find my values aligning more with my Filipino friends than anything. I notice my value of time has changed since knowing them and I no longer become anxious to the point of leaving an hour early to get somewhere. I find myself getting sad when I cannot spend time with friends and connect with them, and even calling more than texting! This is very surprising to me because I used to hate calling people but now I find hearing their voice comforting. 

Through this course I al realizing I am much more aligned with the Filipino American cultures and strive to go out of my comfort zone to learn other cultures to become less anxious around others.

The picture below is of my Filipino American Student Association family, whom I feel closest to. After trying many organizations (including sororities and honors) I love that I found my home in FASA. I think it makes for interesting analysis for this course as well.

Takeaway 1: After assessing my own intercultural sensitivity, I noticed minute actions that showed me that I am not as sensitive as I had thought. In the grocery store, I felt uncomfortable when people from other cultures started random conversations with me, whereas I felt at ease when an older person from my culture did the same exact thing. This honestly surprised me because I didn’t notice I was uncomfortable until after the assessment. I think I only feel uncomfortable because of the different body language from people of other cultures that I am not accustomed to. For instance, some cultures have a more overbearing type of communication, both verbal and physical. I am very uncomfortable with that and I didn’t think I would have been.

Even with my closest friends, I often do not touch or hug others. I think it is interesting to observe that I am not comfortable with the more masculine and open cultures.