Global Sociological Imagination

The video “What have my Cocoa beans Got to Do with Canada” and “Musings of the Son of the Global Village” was an eye-opener because I would have never imagined that the world was connected in such a pattern. The actions of one person on the other side of the country can affect someone else in the world. The global village that we live in is connected, as it is interlocked with the past, present to make a brighter future.

In addition, if I think about it my life has greatly been impacted by the actions of people outside of Canada. If I look at myself right now while I sit in my room typing this essay, the laptop I am using is from the United States, the shirt I am wearing is designed in Italy, the pen I have next to me is made in China. All these everyday things are made from another part of the world and bought by me for my happiness. The people that made these things may only think, that was just a pen, but for me that is a reliable, durable pen which makes me pleased of myself for the great selection. After viewing the videos I am thankful for what I have and for those who went out of their way to make it and slaved long hours.

Moreover, my actions in Canada might have not have greatly impacted other people lives outside of Canada but I try to make a difference. For example, when there is a natural disaster in another part of the world I am one of the people that will be fundraising money, in order to help the people who were affected. I like to recycle; this lightens my carbon foot-print on the world which makes a safer and greener world. Furthermore, I have sent clothes out to other parts of the world for those who are unfortunate .

Consequently, after viewing these videos I have come to realize how I am also a child of the global village as I look into my life. The famous saying “It takes a village to raise a child.” I completely understand what this means as it is not only the people that you are biologically related to that influence your actions but the ‘village’ around you. This is another example of how we are all interlocked into one big community and depend on others from other parts of the world to carry out responsibilities. These responsibilities may make a huge difference in someone else’s life.  I will also question myself from now on if my purchase is helping someone else in the world or is it destroying lives. That is one of the lessons I learnt through these videos.

Body Ritual among the Nacirema

Reading about the Nacirema culture my first thought of the bat is that this is quite different from the Western Canadian culture. That is completely fine if it is different, because I feel that if everyone was the same than this world will not be a very interesting place to live in. The Nacirema culture raises many different views from their culture and to the one that I am familiar with. These people are a North American group who live between the Canadian Creel the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. The Nacirema culture is focused upon a rich natural habitat and the activity of the human body which is reflected upon health and appearance. One of the beliefs of this culture is that the human body is ugly and is easily able to catch diseases. In order to avoid these diseases each house a shrine, this has influences of rituals and ceremony. Interesting fact that stood out to me while reading this article was that the simple act of the cycle of life is usually hidden. A pregnant woman does not celebrate the birth of her child but instead hides the fact that she is pregnant and does not even nurse her child after the child is born. I did not feel as if that was right, each child does deserve the unconditional love from its mother but this culture does not supply that unconditional motherly love to the child. There are some different opinions from different cultures are okay, it just raises questions which make me compare the culture to the one I am living. After further analyzing this article, I have come to the realization that Nacirema is actually American. This all makes sense, just it was difficult to read this and not judge but to ‘understand’ the concept of their culture.

Hello world!

     They say to truly understand someone; you should walk a thousand miles in their shoes. Well in the busy world that we live in, no one really has the time to spare to do such a task. Those who do have the time will benefit by learning about the people around them.

My name is Gagan Paul and I am a first year student working towards becoming a registered nurse. This occupation has always interested me as I know that if I take on a role of being a nurse I will be helping those around me. I enjoy working with people and knowing that I could help make a difference in their lives. I also volunteer at the hospital in my spare time, specifically in the extended care section. I read, talk, arrange various games and attempt to play the piano for the seniors in the extended care. I am currently a lifeguard, swim instructor and a basketball coach. I enjoy playing various sports and like to keep active. I appreciate being around people and listening to their stories because I feel as if I learn a whole new chapter about them.

The reason that I took sociology 1125 is grasp a further, deeper understanding of sociology. Today, I am aware that sociology is the study of society. Society is created by humans, and has developed throughout time to have everyone abide by “rules of society”. These rules maybe written or not but many understand them without them having to be said. I wish to gain further knowledge of society with this course. I am interested to know what lead the human population to make such rules, and how the cultural differences within each population of people have affected society as whole. I am curious to learn how people interact with one another in society and manage to function as there are many different rules within different cultures. I am also quite intrigued to learn about why we let society has shape us and what would the world be like without society.