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culturalimmersionreport1.docxRunning head: CULTURAL IMMERSION REPORT 1
CULTURAL IMMERSION REPORT 6
CULTURAL IMMERSION REPORT
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Introduction
I happened to visit Florida and it was such an amazing experience in terms of the people I met, the environment, the cultures, and their activities. I realized that Florida’s culture has no much difference from the American culture; there are a lot of similarities. The differences actually comes in because Florida is a coastal state and therefore its American culture is influenced by other cultures especially Europe. It was such a great experience spending two weeks there I enjoyed every moment I spent there.
Tribes in Florida
In Miami there are Latino and Cuban populations which indicate much about Florida’s culture. There is cultural diversity in Florida which can’t go unnoticed. Hispanic culture is present in Florida. I spent a week in Miami and I had to learn some Spanish since it is widely used by those who live there. I realized that in Florida one cannot talk about one dominant culture it is like a blended culture.
There are also many museums in Florida displaying arts. This makes it evident that they treasure art as one of their major identification of culture. I was lucky enough to watch the paint dry at the Murals in Miami. Much of Florida’s culture was evident in there museums as all the activities conducted there were historical which helped me see how their culture was since the old days. The artifacts were so beautiful and creative which is a clear indication of how talented and skilled Florida people are when it comes to arts.
I visited some towns in the state of Florida but one that I liked most was Boca Grande which is a wealthy community located in the west coast. The community is so charming for its white sand beaches and first class tarpon fishing. This place was amazing and acted as a true definition of beauty. I would say that coastal people are very interesting and they are so committed in finding happiness. They love planning and attending events such as dances and other events. Those beaches have diverse events on a daily basis and this attracted so many visitors both local and international.
Economic activities
Florida’s major economic activities revolve around leisure such as tourisms, hotels, restaurants and other related activities. I expected this because it is a coastal state which means that many people come into the country for entertainment in the beaches. The visitors I saw were mostly from Northeast. There are a lot of old immigrants which I enquired about and realized that most people from neighboring states prefer retiring in Florida.
I realized that Florida citizens love tourism with all they have from little children to the old people. The government has really invested in infrastructure and entertainment related activities. Tourists who visit Florida are allowed to access any part of the country. Tourists drive so fast on the highways and nobody complains. While travelling I would meet them over speeding and I would fear but the veterans were so okay with it. Tourists stop anywhere to look for directions and even commit many more automotive offenses with no one questioning them. The citizens have also taken up this bad driving they also don’t adhere to speed limits and engage in careless driving anyhow.
I also observed that Florida is an agricultural state as they produce a lot of fruits and vegetables. They also rare cattle and thereby produce a lot of dairy products. People I met there also told me that it has started manufacturing light due to an enabling environment in doing this propelled by less regulations ad low taxes.
Museum and arts
In almost all the museums I visited there was a film being watched and outside there were people making and selling arts and craft such as grass baskets, necklaces made of beads, dolls made of palm leafs and wood cravings. The arts are so beautiful which is a clear indication of the neat skill they have in it. It also made me realize that they have a strong sense of art which is part of their culture. Locals and tourists buy these arts so much that they at times fail to meet demand.
In the beaches I observed that people do a lot of airboat riding, making tours in the swamp buggy, watching wrestler and eating great meals. I visited a Chickee hut which was actually one of my best memorable in Florida. Chickee hut is basically a simple structure with its floor raised and roof made of palms. These huts had no power or water but it gave me a clear view of tone of the Florida’s major tribe- the Seminoles.
I also realized that Florida has African-American heritage. There are many museums that I visited which focused on African-American arts and Florida culture. One of the African-American museums in DeLand displays artwork and Caribbean and African artifacts. It was actually dedicated to African-American history and culture. There are some research library and cultural centers that shows the experience of Africans.
I observed that Latin culture is present in Florida. The most cosmopolitan city in the south on Miami’s ocean drive lively Latin-based music is done in most of the cafes there. Also in the Espanola way there is a diverse Latin flavor. People there would blend Latin culture in how they talk, how they cook, how they did events and the general way of life.
Cowboy culture
In Florida there are cowboys which people there consider as their culture. This culture dates back in the 19th century and people still enjoy it to date. There are people who own large acres of ranches where people for horse riding. I also observed that horse riding is also done in the government owned ranches. People especially those in Orland love the cowboy culture and they identify with it so well.
Food culture
Florida also has great foods which I was so excited to eat. Their major foods are fresh seafood and they love fruits as well. For the days I was there for every dish I was served and actually so people take there were lots of fruits. As mentioned earlier Florida’s culture is much influenced by other populations which has impacted even their food culture. Most of Florida’s cuisine is a combination of southern dishes with Latin and Caribbean flavors for extra taste. They also provide dishes that are completely served in other states as foreign dishes.
The food scene in Miami is global as there are both local and international chefs providing expertise increasing Florida’s sophisticated culinary offering. One thing I observed is that there are varieties of foods; it is very hard to order something and lack. This is because they incorporate dishes from many other cultures.
Language
Most people there use English as the first language for communication. A few people use Spanish Portuguese and French although this is not as rampant. As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot of diversity in Florida that is why people talk different languages since they come from different countries.
Religion
