10/15/19 Week 5: Response to: Cultural Paradigms

Paradigms: par·a·digm

The word above might seem like a foreign language to you. When I first read it, I did not know how to even pronounce it. The way it is pronounced is written above so that you are able to see. I think it is important that we understand how to say a word before we learn what it means. Anyways, I can't wait to tell you more about the meaning of the word paradigm! 

As a current student at BYU-Idaho, I am studying all about different cultures in order to help me be better in the career I am choosing to follow. The earth we live on has over 100 different countries. Each country has its very own culture. The importance that every culture has makes an impact on how a country thinks, acts, or says certain things. The different patterns that humans follow according to their own culture are called: paradigms. 

As a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was able to witness a different culture when I served in Uruguay, Montevideo. It was a huge learning experience for me. I learned all about the different cultures and paradigms that Uruguay has. I was shocked to see many different things that I had never seen in the United States. In addition, I also had many thoughts as to, "Why don't we have this in the United States!?". It allowed me to really dive deep and understand the differences throughout the world. The paradigms that other countries practice, tend to be completely different than what we, as Americans, have. For example, in Uruguay, they drink a special drink that is called Mate. It is used as a beverage, as well as a ritual for friends and family to gather together and spend time together. This was very different for me than the usual "hanging out" that I've been used to my whole life. I began to think is this the proper way to gather together? Drink Mate? :) 

I think that as a current PE instructor, I can apply this knowledge about paradigms and the differences that not only exist in different countries but different cultures all around me. As I see other students and their different beliefs, this can educate me and help me to understand that not everyone is the same. 

In my own home, the culture that I have is very different than my co-workers, friends, and other acquaintances! But, it is neat because it really describes who I am. My culture might seem odd to other people, but not to me. In my opinion, we should respect the thought of culture within our home. 

IN CONCLUSION,

I wanted to end with a great quote given by a professor at Brigham Young University-Idaho. His name is Brother Ivers and I talked a little bit about him in my last blog post too. He says, 

"There are simple paradigms like clouds, cars, rocks, houses, okay? And there are complex paradigms like hypocrisy. What is hypocrisy? What is beauty? What is graciousness? What is pride? What is humility? What is laziness? What is funny? What's flirtatious? What's loyal? What's polite? And you know something, those paradigms differ immensely from culture to culture."

I hope this post helped you understand more about paradigms. Feel free to comment down below! 

Thanks for reading!