Extra Credit: World Conversations

While hearing about other people’s study away experiences during World Conversations, I was not only fascinated about their different cultures, but also inspired and desiring to experience these cultures for myself. The main topic I would like to describe is the Tanzanian culture. The topic was “Reducing Maternal Mortality” and by empowering women, it is a step in bringing communities out of poverty. There were many aspects of the culture that seemed so foreign and weird to me. However, I had to take a step back, and realize that this is what is normal for them; this is their culture. Having 5 or 6 children was completely normal; they were needed in order to keep up with the agriculture and farming (which is the major lifestyle in Tanzania). A woman isn’t respected and actually a “woman” until she does have multiple children. The men have no part in the pregnancy or birth of the children. Facts about the food and how they value and eat were also foreign to me, but made me want it to be more like this in the United States. Eating was a place of celebration, gathering of friends and family, and communion. It’s a ritual; and not just once a week or on someone’s birthday, but every meal. In Tanzania they spend so much time in the preparation of the meal. The food there isn’t eaten on the go, unhealthy and unbalanced, at fast-food restaurants. The meals are nutritious and plentiful. Meat was a sign of wealth and respect; therefore they gave their guests meat. Often the guests were left at the table to eat, while the host and family went elsewhere. Again, these practices and norms in the Tanzanian culture are so foreign to me. It made me think what other people would think of what I find to be normal.