Aarya Patil Week 5: United as One
California is a state filled with bustling streets that are decorated with diverse cultures. The array of languages that are spoken really unifies America as one. I learned that our languages, with their deep histories, are a call for people to learn and appreciate the culture behind them. Especially in schools where we have special programs to help non-native speakers learn and master the English language. Moreover, schools offer a variety of language learning opportunities, popular ones being Spanish, French, and Mandarin. Classes as such show that people have the determination to learn new dialects and embrace other cultures.
The Bay Area itself has many different places that celebrate diversity, where people can learn more about the culture and language. For example, San Francisco has Chinatown, Japantown, Little Italy, and many more. These neighborhoods have become critical points for immigrants to preserve their native languages. If you are visiting these areas, you will likely hear their mother tongue being spoken as this is one of the only ways they can ensure that their culture and traditions are passed down to the new generation.
As an Indian in California, I am grateful that there is a large community of us, and that I do not have to miss out on some of the key traditions. Recently, there was an event where people could attend Garba, which is a largely celebrated event in India. Garba dances “celebrate fertility, honor womanhood, and pay respect to any of an array of mother goddesses.” Events like this bring people from all over the Bay Area together to celebrate and partake in this tradition.
Furthermore, the American government makes an effort to provide options for different languages. One thing that stuck out to me was that most drive-through restaurants allow you to order in a different language, and they have specific employees for those types of situations. I find it fascinating how we have gotten accustomed to providing the option for another language, to ensure that everyone is included and no one is discriminated against due to them not being able to understand English.
Overall, California has a diverse population of people, all of whom treasure and preserve their culture.
Garba | Gujarati, India, Rituals | Britannica
The Importance of Language Access in Diverse Cities.
Hi Aarya! One especially noteworthy component of your blog is your relation with the subject you present. You clearly indicate that you value cultural diversity in our modern society; I discern the emotional repetition you include by enumerating the cultural hotspots of our collective community. The specific instances you present as the backbone of your argument promote cultural awareness and togetherness. It is interesting how you connect the cultural differences present in American society as a determining factor of the composition of American values.
ReplyDeleteLanguage has an unfathomable impact on the formation of American culture and identity. For instance, you mention the prevalence of the French language as a fundamental part of the American voice; the broad interrelationships you communicate with the establishment of language and American culture signifies the value of diversity.
I especially admire that you use a personable example to exemplify the purpose you intricately weave through your generalizations of possible cultural components that make up every American. Altogether, I enjoy the connections you make between various cultures, further signifying your complex understanding of the possible similarities existing between cultures.
Hey Aarya! I was also considering writing about this topic, as it is one of my favorite things about living in America and more specifically California. I loved how your examples were relatable in the sense that many of us have experienced them, including garba nights, the various cultural towns in San Francisco, and learning new languages in school. This technique allowed you to form a closer connection with your audience, and I, as a person of color, was able to really appreciate that. However, I did not know that drive-in restaurants allow people to order in different languages so I found that really interesting and admire the inclusivity. Though, the best example you used was your own. By establishing your stance as an Indian-American, you are able to bring depth and enhance your writing while displaying a credible point of view. Overall, I think you did an amazing job by elevating the topic of language in America through multiple effective writing techniques.
ReplyDeleteHi Aarya! I personally also love California as it is a huge melting pot of all the different cultures. It is definitely true how we have a large range of diversity compared to many other states in America. It is especially nice how we have programs to help non-native speakers as that is very considerate and thoughtful. As an Indian in California, I'm grateful for our big community here since we get to keep our traditions alive. I also recently attended a Garba night event at our school. It was very comforting to see the amount of Indians who showed up, as well as those from other schools as well. I especially enjoyed how it was not just Indians but individuals from all different cultural backgrounds. Multiple schools in the Bay Area also had Garba events that everyone attended. One thing you mentioned that is really nice is how you can drive to a drive-thru and order in another language since they've got employees who can help with that. It's truly amazing how they make sure everyone feels welcome, no matter what language they speak. Your blog beautifully captures the diversity of America!
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