American Culture

01/26/2014

There is a text written by a famous brazilian composer called Caetano Veloso which describe a little the way that we, brazilians see Americans. Below is a part of the text translated to English made by myself (So, sorry about some mistakes).

 

”Americans are very statistics

They have strong gestures and large smile

They have bright outstading eyes which see deeply about what they look at. But not really deeply.

Americans represent a great part of world’s happiness

They are typically Americans…” (Caetano Veloso)

I really think that Americans represent a great part of world's happiness, most important arts, movies, music, are from the USA. When I visited "We, The People Museum", during presentation I really could realise how Americans is a part of our lives. Mainly when I saw all my favorite artists, singers, actors, politicians. Sometimes it seems like if the whole world were a bit part of this great nation.


01/27/2014

Thinking about culture

Americans really like culture. In every museum in the world you can find a lot of American Visitors with theirs audio-guidelines in their ears paying attention in every work of art. 

Furthermore in the USA, mainly in New York there is one of the most famous museum in the world, "The Metropolitan Museum Of Art". 

 For who ones appreciates arts like me it a essential place to visit when you have more than only one single day to spend in the Big Apple. I said that because unfortunately, I had only one day to explore the city. So I could not visit any museum. However it will probably my next stop when I visit the USA again! 

01/28/2014

 For years the idea of family has been changing around the world. That kind of family whuch have a father, a mother and some children is not the only one accepted in society where multiculturalism takes part of the way of life. It has not been different in the USA. Nowadays is often commom to see couples of different ethinics having kids with a beautiful race mix.

Another positive impact in family caracteristics in many parts of world, such as in the USA is the gay couples. Recently some Americans states approved gay marriage showing that in a democracy everyone must have the same rights!



01/29/2014

One of the worst things while you are speaking English with someone is when words disappear. Then you try to find a new manner and stay stuck in the same place. One good way to solve this problem can be explain the word that you want to remind in a diferent way. It can help you in practice more the spoken English and to escape of a difficult situation. However if you are not able to explain yourself, the best thing is change the dialogue.

02/01/2014

Philadelphia Art Museum 

Much more than steps where Silvester Stalone immortalized one of his most famous characters, Rocky Balboa, the Philadelphia Art Museum is a place to find great pieces of arts, among Monet, Manet, Renoir, Picasso and Andy Warhol, you can find a remarkable space for art from Asia there is inside of the bulding  an unbelieveable Japanese temple and a typical house tea.

Beyond this the bulding is gorgeous. It seems an European castle in middle of Philadelphia, furthermore the Benjamin Franklin Avenue is charming and breathtaking, after to visit the museum, you can walk around the avenue enjoying the wonderful view of the downtown with its skyscrapers overview.


02/05/2014

American Democracy

I have asked for two different Americans about what they should be the next focus of the USA about civil rights. It was a surprising for me when both answered that they think the USA should support more equality for everyone. One of them said that the revolution against King in 1776 was made by wealthy people and some of them had slaves. And in his opinion it was one of the reason to divide the country. He thinks that nowadays things are really better, however there are too much poverty and  this people need to have the same opportunities for other ones.  And both think that America should have more freedom to people do who they want to do. When we talked about the USA we usually think about liberty, freedom and equal rights, then it is amazing when you hear na American complain about those things. It shows thta every country has its own problems to solve, and it is really comfortable when its citizens can discuss about everything. It is a democracy!!.

2/10/2014



Amish -  A different (only different) way of life.

This last weekend I went to visit an Amish village forty minutes far from Philadelphia. In every where since I arrived in this city I have heard about Amish people. 

One thing that was always in my mind about them was whether it was only a manner to live or it is most about religion. 

Well I could visit one Amish house, of course it was a tourist activity and the house was prepared to receive tourists into to know more about that people. However it was interesting to discover that they have some appliances that I had never been thought about such us fridge and mixer (by air compressed). The iron works with gasoline, it must to be hard ironing clothes and paying attention to avoid some gasoline drop in them. 

They have a very simple life. They wear discreet and flat clothes and use horses and couch as means of transportation. They are pacifist and believe in peace.

What I could learn with this experience was that people can choose how they want to live and other ones should respect and try to not be prejudice with differences.