Cultural Post #8

[Berhaun Fesshaye]

I learned that Bangladesh also has a different calendar than the one we use in the US, like Ethiopia does. I learned a lot about Korean culture and how stressful both school and work life seem to be. Also respect for elders is a big deal and overall it seems that Korean culture puts a lot of pressure on students and employees because they are more collectivist than the US. The Korean wedding process seemed extremely detailed and meticulous which is interesting. What was really interesting to learn about was the contract weddings that occur in the LGTBQ community. I also thought it was interesting how Hebrew has similar gender distinctions in most words like Amharic does. Learning about the importance of the market and being able to bargain was interesting because it is similar in Ethiopia since most people do not buy things from stores like we do.

[Michael Marsh-Soloway]

Great summary, Berhaun. How do the cultural presentations of your classmates relate to your observations and knowledge of traditions practiced by Amharic-speaking communities from Ethiopia and Eritrea?