- What are your cultural learning goals for this semester?
My cultural learning goals are:
- To understand the social norms embedded in everyday conversations -- what are the boundaries in Bahasa Indonesia that are different from those in English. And what do these differences reveal about Indonesian culture, specifically that of Bali? For example, what is culturally appropriate to say. Or, is it okay to call someone fat? In Bahasa Indonesia, it is. But, there is more than one way to say "fat." So, we must choose wisely.
- To understand the role animals play in society. For example, how are dogs viewed and what are their roles in households. Animal/animal characteristics is one of my topics that I will explore this semester. First, and in particular, dogs represent a large part of my life. As a result, I would like to delve deeper into their place vis-a-vis other animals. Why do Balinese families -- for the most part -- understand dogs as "guard" dogs? In this light, how are these families' mindsets different from the more urban, younger individuals who view dogs as part of their families?
I plan to consider these questions through A) a children's book whose theme is animals (Although, more research must be done to unpack the nuance presented in bullet point number 2, I'm sure.) Thus I will explore animal rights associations' websites and articles to identify the roots of these observations. And B) through conversation. Admittedly, my learning patterns have historically been directed toward "doing," if you will. So, these boundaries will present themselves through countless hours of speaking in Bahasa Indonesia with my language partner, whom I can assure will steer my understanding of what is culturally appropriate to say in the correct direction. More than I would like to admit, these social norms will be illuminated in the texts that I will read.
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