Did you know that tipping a waiter/waitress in Iceland is extremely disrespectful?
Well, if you attended class this past Wednesday, you do know that. However,
Well, as a New York resident, I have encountered situations in which I encountered a culture that was different from mine. Being from Brooklyn, one of my earliest was my first exposure to the Hasidic Jewish community. It was a visible cultural difference.
It was in Crown Heights Brooklyn and I remembered seeing women in these long skirts and turbans and men wearing these black hats with curls on the side of their heads. They pretty much seemed to stay to themselves but they maintained doing so even amongst the other members of the community that were primarily of African or Hispanic descent. I asked my mom who they were and she told me that they were Hasidic Jews and that it was their culture to dress modestly and keep to themselves.
Whoa...Can you say culture shock? In my culture, women wear mini skirts and pants if they want to. Women don't wear turbans and headscarves unless they are doing household chores or making some type of fashion statement. Men either have haircuts or long hair if they choose.
That experience of mine falls into the visible culture difference that was displayed. I've never been privy to experience any of the invisible culture differences they may have, as I have never interacted with a Hasidic Jew on a personal level, but hey, the world is small. And, anything is possible. I'd be welcoming of the opportunity.
--- The Rambling MMIT
This brings an interesting point: NYC is such a diverse area; and, after all, Baruch is the most diverse college in the nation. Different cultures are all over the place, and we often experience these cultures while we are going around NYC and after a while start to see that they are all quite different.
ReplyDeleteLearning about the Jewish Religion is very interesting because there are so many different forms of religiousness. There is reform, conservative, and orthodox, and a lot of in between. Hasidic Jews are the most religious that you will see. I am a conservative Jew and I still learn new things about my religion every day! It is very interesting that you noticed the difference at such a young age! I enjoyed reading your post!
ReplyDeleteI found your post very interesting. I myself am Jewish (although not very religious) and the culture of Hasidic Jews is completley foreign to me as well. I can't even imagine what's it like for someone with no prior bakgrouround. I know the feeling of seeing someone from a different culture and being confused about their tradition.
ReplyDelete