Trip to Gloucester

Topic #8: Learning from our trip off campus.

04/13/2024. 

Think about your day off campus. Take a picture of something that sparks your interest.

What does that picture mean for you? Refer to any of the questions below to guide your
commentary.
OR Answer any or all of these questions about any aspect of your day:
• Did you see or experience anything that you were not expecting? Describe.
• Was there anything that particularly caught your thoughts? Describe.
• Could you relate any of our class topics to various aspects of your trip?
• Could you identify cultural influences on your own beliefs and values?
• Most importantly, what did you learn from your day?
If you did not go on the trip, comment on a recent trip, following the same guidelines. 

 

Our trip to Gloucester proved to be an eye-opening experience and also presented unexpected encounters and cultural reflections for me which I have combined into three points.

Firstly, upon arrival at Leslie’s home, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by not only Leslie but also her three lovely and friendly dogs. This immediately caught my attention, as it was something I had not experienced before in Ghana, where owning multiple friendly dogs is relatively uncommon. This experience sparked my curiosity and led me to reflect on the cultural differences between pet ownership and companionship.

Secondly, the visit to Lesile’s home provided an opportunity for me to experience American hospitality firsthand. As we were welcomed into the house, I couldn’t help but notice the warmth and generosity with which we were received. This hospitality reminded me of similar customs in Ghana, where hosting guests with water and food is a common practice. However, what stood out as distinctly different was Leslie’s suggestion for her husband to take us on a tour of their garden and this is a gesture that is not commonly observed in Ghana hospitality customs. In Ghana, while guests may be invited to sit and relax, it is not common for hosts to offer guided tours of their gardens or even talk about the history of the gardens or home. These differences in hospitality customs highlighted the diverse ways in which cultural norms manifest in different societies. While the gesture was unfamiliar to me, it offers a deeper understanding of Leslie and her husband’s interest and passion for gardens and also their generosity and willingness to share their space with us.

Lastly, arriving at the Daffodil festival, I was surprised by the vibrant atmosphere, the number of people, and the colorful display of flowers and historical content. Initially, I was surprised by how everyone had a different table to display their unique artifacts, and this surprised me because, during festivals in Ghana, there’s no separation of artifacts everyone comes together to sing, dance, and enjoy the same festival foods. These differences highlight Hofstede’s cultural dimensions of individualism and collectiveness (Hofstede, 2011). The separation of the display of items and art highlights Americans’ acts of individualism, where everyone is expected to look out for themselves, and also fosters personal freedom, expression, and independence while Ghanaian approach to festivals highlights collectiveness where activities like singing, dancing, and eating together are communal, reflecting unity and the blurring of individual distinction in a favor of group identity and enjoyment.

The festival provided a scent of various floral arrangements and a diverse array of people from different backgrounds each displaying unique artifacts and thereby contributing to the rich tapestry of American culture as described by Althen in the American ways of life (Althen and Bennett, 2011).

Throughout the day, concepts such as hospitality, cultural differences, and the significance of traditions resonated with me as I engaged with various aspects of American culture by moving from one tent to another and taking pictures of some of the displays. As I returned to campus at the end of the day, I carried with me a deeper appreciation of the diversity of festival celebrations in America.  Below are the pictures.