i need someone who's specialist in anthropology

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Raghad Alajmi

Professor Barton

ANT5

03/10/2019

Comparison between Middle Eastern Culture and the New York Culture

Globalization has become a trend in the present age. Therefore, cultural

variability is a concept that exists in a society and has several forms. This concept of

cultural variability is almost existent in everyone’s everyday lives. Nowadays people

interact more and more with the entire world. For instance, students study abroad so

that they gain a better knowledge and cultural experience from other parts of the

world. Similarly, travelers move across the world to enrich their experience.

Therefore, I’m an international student and this essay discusses my experience of the

cultural difference between the Middle East culture and that of the West particularly

New York in terms of food, and marriage.

Food constitutes a big part of life and a basic necessity for all beings.

Definitely there are a countless variety of foods and thousands of recipes that explain

how meals are prepared around the world. Individuals enjoy making food in different

ways. Culture and religion affect the meals in different places over the world which is

the reason for the differences between American and Arabic cuisine in terms of how it

is prepared, presented and the kinds of the added spices. For the Middle Eastern

culture hospitality is important. Therefore, people spend a long time preparing big

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feasts. In the Middle East grains plays a principal part in the diet where most

individuals incorporate it in their diets. The dissimilarity between the Middle East and

American food is outstanding. In the United States, individuals prefer fast food

compared to any other type of food. On the other hand, people in the Middle East

prefer meat together with rice like Mandy, Mathloth, and Kabash.

Arabs are more focused on matters of family, and it is a necessary aspect of the

social group in all Arabic countries. Arab people consider marriage a significant

aspect of human life because they consider it as the security of society. In the Arabic

culture marriage between a husband and wife become the societal and economic

agreement of a family as well as a ritual which makes sexual intimacy legitimate in

society. Contrary, American marriage is constituted by state laws. The traditional

American wedding involves the couple publicly declaring their love allegiance for one

another in the presence of a priest, pastor or a judge officiating the event. Usually, this

ceremony is conducted before close family members and friends as witnesses. While

marriage is the most awaited event in the American culture, the Western society has

also accepted the reality that some couples have been cohabiting that is living under

the same roof and engaging in premarital sex which leads to having children out of

wedlock. Also, divorce is a common aspect for married couples in the West.

In conclusion, culture is a significant part of an individual's lives as it

influences their humor, values, hope, views and fears and worries. Indeed,

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understanding other people’s culture plays a vital role in overcoming ethnic and racial

differences. 


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