Extra Credit International Day

I attended "International Day" at the college of engineering on Nov. 19. It was really small, but it was enjoyable. When I arrived, there was a little boy playing the bongos, and an older gentleman playing the guitar and singing into the mic. It was pretty interesting to listen to the two sounds mixed together because they were a mix of identities- The little boy was dressed in a traditional African outfit and the man was playing the guitar and singing in Spanish to make a song together.


The next part of the International Day was young ladies and gentlemen from a Mexican dance group dancing Mexican Folk dances. I didn't catch the correct names of the dances, so instead of butchering it, I will just tell you about it and post pictures that I took on my cell phone. The first act was two guys and two girls. The girls were dressed in pretty, long, flowing dresses and the boys were dressed in all white except for their belts which were colorful red scarves. They danced as pairs to Mexican music.

The next dance was three girls dancing together (all dancing the same thing) to different, faster music. The dancing really focused on the use of the dresses. The girls held on to their skirts and spun around a lot, and you could see all of the layers of the dress and they looks beautiful. They had their hair in a braid down the back and a flower to match their dress.

Then the guy who was in charge of the group, Mike, got up there and explained that these children dance all over MI, and in the summer almost every weekend! They were all Mexican, and their families were there, so it had something to do with their culture and keeping it in their lives throughout the generations. The kids were in elementary AND middle school, and Mike said they spent hours and hours practicing these dance along with other things they did, including their social life, sports, and homework. Mike also said that they were nonprofit and their "costumes" were made ENTIRELY by the PARENTS! I thought this was shocking, but it also showed how close this dance group had made each of these families. They spend so much time together and by coming to the International day they were not only showing courage for performing in front of mostly adults and college students, but also exposing me and other students to a culture we wouldn't normally see.

Museum Visit

1. What issues of diversity are addressed in these two exhibits?

I think the main issue of diversity that was addressed in these exhibits was the different lifestyles different ethinicities and cultures have based on where they are located and the people there. Looking at how the Our Journey's exhibit was more geared towards these individuals life's based on their biographies that were summarized. Then the Mali exhibit used the pictures as the stories that were taken by these students but it didn't focus on the lives they have had thus far, just through their pictures.


2. Pick a narrative that intrigues you (in either exhibit). Whose story is being told and how?

The narrative I chose was from the Our Journeys exhibit. Pepon Osorio was an artist, which is something that I am very interested in. He was born in Puerto Rico and also lived in New York. General statements about his life were stated with quotes and paragraphs on the board in the exhibit. What really struck me was his quote: "My heart is where humanity is." This shows not only his interests as a artist, but as a person.


3. (Our Journeys/Our Stories Exhibit)-Focus on Sandra Cisneros. How does she or does she, discuss finding her voice?

She discusses finding her voice when she was a child and she realized that she didn't want to write like her classmates or teachers. She wanted to create literature that would be enjoyed by everyone, even laborers, "mi padre," by taxi drivers, even children.

4. (Our Journeys/Our Stories Exhibit)-Based on what we have read in class for today, what do you think of the use of Spanish and English texts? Why would they do this?

I think and know that some words and phrases are easier to explain in one language as opposed to another. It might be easier for someone who speaks Russian to describe something, like slang, in Russian as opposed to English. I think it works that same way in the Naomi Leon text, as well as how the exhibit was in both English and Spanish.


5. In the Mali exhibit – please read the first introductory panel. What do they say about telling stories? Do they discuss the insider/outsider perspectives? What does this mean to you?

This exhibit is their way of reaching out to us to communicate their vision of their own life. They decided what to photograph and shared it with their friends and family, and then the MSU Museum decided to share this because as stated in the Museum: "The MSU Museum has a commitment to understand, interpret, and respect cultural diversity." I think this shows how the museum wants to show insiders AND outsiders multiple perspectives of these Malian towns and lifestyles.


6. Was there anything else that caught your eye, intrigued you, you are questioning?

I loved the photography, but I wish it was in color. I do love black and white, but some of the pictures in color might have enriched my experience just looking at the photos. I also thought it was interesting and cute as well that the captions were so simply put: Here is my friend bathing his little brother. It didn't talk about look at how big my friend's brother's belly is huge because of lack of food, or it didn't at ALL talk about the hardships... it talked about their everyday life which I thought made this experience richer.


* I visited the Museum today, 11/03/08

the LGBT meeting- "For the Bible Tells Me So"

I went to this past Thursday's LGBT meeting and I was there for about 45 minutes. When I got there we were discussing questions that were on the table and then we went on to watch the "Unconditional Love" segment of the movie.

I think it was a great way to show us the different ideas everyone has because we got multiple points of view from different families. Some families protested, while some families just accepted how their child was no matter what- unconditionally. It was REALLY sad that the one girl hung herself before she felt that she could open up to her family and hung herself. The pictures were really disturbing.

What I didn't really get out of it was the way that Christians can accept homosexuality but for me, I don't really need to know myself because I really think that it's not up to other people to decide who other people can and can't love.

My mom and I were talking about it and we kind of put ourselves in groups: My generation is much more open and accepting (more than other generations) of gay and lesbian people. My mom was taught from the Church not to accept it, but she is in the middle on it. She doesn't think it's right, but she doesn't think it's her right to tell other people what they should do. And then my grandparents are people who don't accept it AT ALL and think it is morally and physically wrong. I know there are still people that are the exact same as my grandparents, but a lot less then there used to be.

Gina made a great suggestion that it would be good to have a panel of people from different religions and they feel about homosexuality. I think it would be good of families from every religion who have children or relatives that are gay and lesbians and discuss their feelings and the reactions and changes they have had or had to make.