105 Learning Journal #2

[Noelle Garcia]

Reading about Filipino culture is interesting because it mentions so many aspects of my own culture that I don't pay attention to anymore. One of the articles I read mentioned eyebrow raising, which I find amusing because I realize that I do express myself through raised eyebrows a lot. I'm not sure if that's a universal and normal way to signify confusion, perplexity, annoyance or even just to say hello in most cultures but I know I do it often. "Laughter may convey pleasure or embarrassment; it is commonly used to relieve tension" is another thing Filipinos do, and I know I am guilty of this habit because as my dad always mentions, I end most of my sentences with laughter. Maybe it's a nervous tick I have, or maybe that's just a part of my personality and cultural upbringing but I do take things more lightheartedly than most. Perhaps I even laugh in the most inopportune moments but habits are hard to break. Time wise, I think it really depends on the individual, or a person's upbringing as the article was talking about. Generally however, Filipinos tend to be late, and most don't adhere strictly to schedules. However, my family has a lot of fiery Spanish blood running through our veins and I was raised to be punctual and polite. It's very interesting to me, reading so much about Filipino culture, and seeing the many similarities and differences that plays out in my life, especially after moving to the United States where I've blended my Filipino roots with a dash of an American upbringing. One habit that really sets us apart from other cultures though is the fact that we use our lips/mouths to point to things, rather than using our index fingers. It's a funny habit and seeing how other non-FIlipinos react to it is pretty funny because they're expecting a more direct way of pointing at something, not realizing that our lips are doing all the work.