Cultural aspects

Talking about the cultural aspects a Teacher Assistant can find in a foreign country it is important to talk about traditions, customs, the community where you live and weather conditions. 

Why is it important to talk about the cultural aspects?  Because this is one of the most freaking points in which a TA can feel overwhelmed and excited about. 

In my case, I was really open minded and excited about the cultural aspects because I knew that I was going to face different situations and things not similar to what I was familiar with. For example, the traditions that are more visible in Minnesota are that everybody must go to the state fair every year, and it doesn’t matter how many times you go because there is always something new to see.  So, you get a lot of invitations by different families and their kids, thus don’t feel embarrassed if you go more than once; just enjoy the time and the weather. 

Minnesota State Fair

Then, it comes one of the most famous holidays “HALLOWEEN”. In this day, ALL the children are really excited because they are going trick of treating dressing up with their costumes. But pay attention to this, this is not a party just for kids you can go trick of threat with the kids and dress up as well. Moreover, there are hunted places or houses that you and your friends can go. Please, don’t be afraid of experiencing  this amusing tradition and have fun!

For me, Halloween was one of the most super excited traditions I wanted to live because I knew it was going to be terrific. I just tried to get involved in all the activities with the family and friends. I carved the pumpkin and made my own designed, I went to different hunted houses and parties.

And there it comes another really important tradition celebrated all over the United States THANKS GIVING. In this day, all the family get together and cook a lot of different foods including turkey with gravy and pumping pie. There is no other place than home in this holiday! What American families used to do in this holiday is to eat together and thank for what they have, then they watch movies or pay board games.

CHRISTMAS is another important holiday that American families celebrate; in my host family for example, there is another tradition before Christmas that starts on December 1^st when the elf “Oscar” comes to their house, he observes every behavior of all the members of the family, and he leaves chocolates every morning if you did it well the day before, if not you won’t find anything for you. On Christmas, according to your behavior you can expect a gift from Santa Clause and from your parents depending to the report that the elf gives to Santa. I loved this tradition because it is a way of thinking about our actions and consequences as well.

I could talk a lot about this marvelous day, but I need to continue with the other traditions.

VALENTINE'S DAY is another important day for everybody, also, it is a crazy happy day.

At school for example, the kids give you lot of candies and “valentines”. You must be ready with little treats for the kids as well. They already know what to give you and beforehand they decorate their bags. 

After this crazy holiday it comes SAINT PATRICK´S DAY. During this special celebration everybody gets drank and crazy and go out at night. If you have the chance to go anywhere enjoy it. For example in San Francisco (where I was that day), there was a big parade with people wearing in green clothes. In case you are there, don’t forget to dress up in green!
  

And the last but not the least it is EASTER; on Easter parents get ready with eggs full of chocolates, or money. They fill them out a week before Easter and hide them all over the house because the kids go hunting eggs that the Easter bunny left at their house (there isn’t anybody else that left the eggs ok!).

The way you celebrate and experience each holiday is going to depend on your HOST FAMILY- some families are really conservatives than others, but enjoyed every time you spend with them. For example some families try to get together during dinner, other used to drink a cup of wine at night, or just eat at their own peace. 

Each place and town have their own traditions, for example in Cottage Grove the people used to go to different lakes during summer and they used to go at night to Stillwater- which is a really small, beautiful and an old town. During winter,  they used to go to inside water parks. 

To finished, it is important to talk about the weather conditions, why? Because that is going to guide you to do a variety of activities. 

On winter, you can go skiing, tubing, ice fishing, etc. You go to Saint Paul´s winter carnival and ice sculptures. Moreover, you can go to the theater. Please, if you are going to Minnesota don’t forget to take a coat and a winter jacket with you!