My family does not really have a family culture, we are more a part of the dominant culture. We 'follow the American' way. Our heritage is not really prominent or practiced in my family. My items to me are not very culture like. I do not feel like my family really has any items that are related to our culture. My three items that I would bring are my family's coat of arms, my MacBook Pro and photos of my family through the generations.
My family's coat of arms is a piece of my family's history. It shows where I came from and who i am. It is proof of my family. It links me to my ancestors.
My MacBook is the most important material item to me. They link me to our current society and dominant culture. They hold all my most important documents like my birth certificate and S.S. and items that mean the most to me. Having my MacBook is a way to still connect me to all my loved ones in other places.
My old photos of generations past are a record of where I came from and who I am. It shows me and my future children their past family.
I would be slightly upset if I was told I could only keep one item. All of these items are a part of me and are very important to me. Having my physical coat of arms and the old photos is more symbolic the having a copy of them but if I could only keep one I would keep my MacBook because it has a copy of everything and connects me to my ancestors as well as my current family and the world around me.
We all view cultures differently and I never really saw myself abiding to a culture or linked to one.
Even though you stated not having a particular culture, you mentioned very important items to tie you to your heritage. Very well done Rica in describing items that make you who you are.
ReplyDeleteI understand about the family items. My family does not have such items either that I would want to bring with me in an emergency. I like your idea of the MacBook. That would help keep your connected. I think I need to reconsider mine to include my iphone!! I guess I was just under that assumption that whereever I am at the iphone is with me :)
ReplyDeleteI too do not think that my family has a lot of materials items that symbolize "culture" but I think that if I took more time that there would be more than I first thought. My grandfather's family is from Italy. One thing that we share with each other and pass down are recipes that have been in the family.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments everyone!
ReplyDelete@ Brit 14: I agree that your iphone would already be with you, its small enough to fit in your pocket so I dont think it would count as an 'item' but im not sure. I feel ones documents would not be an item either since they would fit in your pocket..
@ Emily: I feel recipes would be a good cultural item, they are representative of that country. I don't have that.