1.
How have your initial expectations and perceptions about the culture evolved or changed throughout your lived experience?
I initially felt as if the culture would not accept others asking questions to understand their culture and that was for any culture. However, that has changed because by doing this lived experience, I was able to communicate with the Jewish culture easily in a way to feel less uncomfortable. My perception of the culture has changed a whole lot because after going through this lived experience I have realized that the Jewish community is very small; however, they stick together and are very open when it comes to
wanting to know their culture.
2.
Can you identify any specific moments or interactions that challenged your pre-existing beliefs or stereotypes about the culture?
So when I originally did the lived-experience pre-journal, I thought I would be
experiencing the Asian American culture; however, it changed, I thought that
all Jews wore “kippah” which is the Jewish hat, however, after attending the 5
th
annual festival I realized that not all Jews wear the kippah, and you can’t identify who is a Jew and who isn’t until you communicate with a Jew. The reason is that Jews have a diverse small culture. 3.
In what ways did your own cultural background influence your interactions and relationships during this experience?
My cultural beliefs and attitudes have changed because I used to feel wrong for not fully being religious; however, within the interactions I had with the live experience that there are other cultures, for example, the Jews who have
specific words to describe Jews within their culture when it comes to religion.
Therefore, it doesn’t make me feel bad that I may not be as religious in all ways, but I am in some ways. 4.
Reflecting on the cultural differences you encountered, what aspects do you find most intriguing or valuable, and why?
I find it interesting that the Jewish culture has only a small percentage in the United States and that they take their culture seriously and are proud of who
they are because they host an annual “Mitzvah Madness” every year to get more people to understand that there are several organizations in the community to help with college, to help with teaching kids, bringing awareness to the help that is needed within Israel, etc. Another interesting thing is that there are several kinds of Jews when it comes to religion. They are liberal Jews, conservative Jews, and reformed Jews. The liberals are more Americanized, conservative Jews focus more on tradition and reformed Jews do not believe in some of the Jewish beliefs, laws, and practices.
