Wow, This course is almost over. I never thought I'd be saying this, but I learned a lot in this class. I learned the different views that people in my class have about different things, as well as so much about how different cultures view their beliefs. I mean if you want to get into specifics, before this class, I always thought people of the Muslim faith thought very low of women, but after talking to someone of that faith, I learned that they aren't classing women and men, but infact respecting both sexes. This class taught me a lot about different things about cultures. I did not know at all the different factors that make up a culture. It's not just religion, or ancestory, but in fact can be the place you live, the place you grew up, the people your grew up around, the amount of people you grew up around, the animals you were around and the traditions families have celebrated, among many other factors that could lead to a culture. So many different factors caught me off guard and definitely made me appreicate a little more about how people act and how they react to different situations.
At the beginning of this course, I wasn't sure how this class was going to pan out. I was actually afraid of having an opinion in the class due to the expected content to cover. But while in this class, I didn't need an opinion. As we were going through this class I realized that I was just ignorant to the different cultures. I didn't need an opinion, because my opinion wasn't relevant to any of the information we were talking about. We would talk about what we as Child and Youth Workers can do to help people of different cultures, and information we should know to better understand the cultures. Theres no need for any opinions in that, all it is, is to retain all the information said so that we can better ourselves with our knowledge which will help us build on our skills and experience. It is very important and relevant to go into this class with an open mind. Even with a closed mind, mine opened pretty fast.
My favourite part of this class was when we did the blogs. The blogs allowed us to reflect on the learning we did in class, as well as the lack of learning we did as well. I liked this because it is easier to have a reflection each week rather than having a reflection once in a while depending on the class. Everyone retains different information at different times and the blog gives so much option to choose the better times one has learned. It's hard talking about something you didn't connect with, so this give some openness. If one misses a class because one was sick, then this assingment gives a chance to do a reflection on another day. I just feel this assignment is worth the extra effort, especially if someone needs to debrief of a class.
I think as a whole, the Culture and Diversity class is a very important part of the Child and Youth Worker Program because as new CYW's we will need some important information about different cultures so that when we come across someone who practices traditions from a different culture we would know and understand how to go about it helping the child enjoy, appreciate and inform others of different traditions. It is important to understand and appreciate the difference in people but also enjoy the similarities people have in each other. We have to get to know and understand the different children and youth we work with, this class gives an opening to learn more about many different cultures around the world. I definitely loved the importance of this class.
Also during his visit, I was watching him sign and it reminded me of something I think I'd be good at doing. I talk with my hands all the time already, and I figure if I learn Sign Language while speaking normally, I would still be talking with my hands, but I would actually be saying things with my hands rather than just moving them. After class today I was so inspired by Aaron that I came home after class and started looking up where I can learn Sign Language. I've established that I will take a class at Georgian College for basic Sign Language. But once I've accomplished that I will save to go to George Brown College and take their American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Program. This plan would be so life changing and such an incredible experience that I am so interested in doing. I would love to be able to communicate with Aaron, along with any person who is deaf or hearing impaired without needing an interpreter. It would be one of those experiences that I think would be worth every minute.
After getting myself some experience within the field of Child and Youth Work I would love to advocate for the deaf just like Aaron does. I never realized the discrimination that goes on for the deaf until he explained the problem he's having with a fire alarm. Something every house has to have, but the ones in his house really don't work. He can't hear them, so why would the fire marshall by any means think they work? It's not fair to anyone when the deaf are in danger because of a fire all because of different needs. Knowing this, it got me curious as to what other things are needed for the deaf among other cultures that should be accessible but are far from being reasonable. But I would love to advocate and help get the needs for people who can't get it within reason. Everyone's life is worth living and people who can hear a fire alarm should understand and respect that!
