United States culture has been shaped by different cultures. Some of the cultures include; Africans, Asians, Native Americans and Latin Americans. The United States is among the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Closely every region of the world has predisposed American culture, mostly by the English nations who colonized it in the 1600s. The state is described as a "melting point" due to various culture influence it has seen from other counties on it own American culture. The term western civilization is a broad word that is usually referred to cultures from Europe and the United States. Same as the other cultures effects America culture, American culture influences the world as well. As a Native American, it has been a thrilling life experience to interact with the Indians at my place of work. With my social and outgoing personalities, I saw it necessary to seek more information pertaining the Indian culture.
Cultural matters play a huge role in patience compliance. A study focusing Cambodian adults revealed that least formal education made significant determinations to conform with therapy but did so in a way consistent with their primary understanding of how the body and medicines work. The Indians extended family has a substantial impact, with the oldest male acting as the decision maker and a spokesperson. Authority of older family members is respected and unquestioned. The culture focuses mainly on maintaining of harmony which is an essential value in the community (Spring, 2016). With these values, they emphases on avoiding confrontation and conflicts. Presence of respect for the authority helps to avoid disagreements with the recommendations of healthcare practitioners. Nevertheless, the absence of differences is not an indication that the patient and family with or will trail treatment recommendations.
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A family is an outstanding unit that plays a vital role in most lives of Indians. Their ethos emphasizes interdependence and loyalty. The families portray a collective image, and as a result, the entire family perception is impacted by personal action. Decisions touching an individual life- such as career path and marriage- are made through a general family consultation. Family notion extends outside the emblematic nuclear unit to include even the wider household circle. They get encouraged to have a cordial relationship with their uncles and aunts just as that of their parents. An extended family comprising of three or four generations may live together which tightens the connections within. Even if the Indians live in small nuclear families, they still uphold robust bonds to their extended family. However, migration and urbanization of the younger generations have shifted the family focus towards extensive linkages that are not necessarily bound to occupation and geographic proximity.
Indians possess acute communication style. When speaking with far acquaintances, they may tell them what they want to hear to avoid conflicts that may arise from disagreements. The method of communication is sometimes termed as indirect and ambiguous. Personal space in a conversation differs with different sub-cultures. They are not much conscious of the area while in buses and trains since everyone is squeezed together. Hindus tend to stand about 3 feet apart. On time orientation, the Indians focus on long-term commitments and traditions unlike us who focus on the future. Hindu have a belief that, life is an ongoing cycle and see the need to do more good when one exists as an ancillary emphasis. Time orientation has caused India to miss specific timed activities and deliver projects late which has eventually affected business relationships with the United States.
Today, America is facing obesity as one of the most urgent health issues, as 18 percent of children and more than a third of adults are obese. Alaska Native and American Indian are 1.5 times more likely to be obese than the Caucasians. 33 percent of African Indians, children and adults included are obese while half of the women are overweight. Diabetes and heart diseases are common due to the prevalence of obesity (Blais & Hayes, 2016). Poverty is the leading contributor to these diseases due to lack of access to nutritious foods. Fresh fruits, whole grain carbohydrates, and vegetables are costly, and with limited funds, American Indians end up accessing scarce nutritious food like flour. The American Indians are however the only Americans with a legal right to health insurance. Death rates for those diseases which can be prevented are higher than those who do not have an Indian origin. Suicide, diabetes, accidents, and alcoholism are some major causes of their death.
Their pain management is dependent on various components, such as spiritual, physical, emotional and financial. They view pain as a struggle that needs to be overcome in an individual capacity; this makes them refuse any pain treatment attempt. A pregnant woman is well thought-out to be in a state of ‘Increased heat' (Warne &Frizzell, 2014). She is supposed to eat ‘cold food' and avoid the ‘hot foods.' A ‘Dai' (midwife) assists the mother to give birth at her home. A ‘confinement' begins ones the mother has given birth, and it is at this point that her relatives led by the mother-in-law takes over. When it comes to death, the Hindu communities have an ultimate belief in reawakening. The idea behind the reincarnation is that one's body can be reawakened depending on one's right deeds and sins in past lives. The accumulated virtues or sins determines what caste system follows after reincarnation. The present life is permanent while reawakening gives hopes of moving to another live rank.
The most widely followed religion is Hinduism with 79.8%, this according to 2011 Indian census. Other faiths include; Christianity, Buddhist, Muslim, Jain, and Sikh. Hinduism infiltrates social interactions and daily life among the people through artistic work, festivities, and temples (Warne & Frizzell, 2014). They have classic narratives such as Ramayana and Mahabharata in televisions and films. Examples of their holidays are; Navratri (nine nights), Holi (a festival of colors), Dussera (tenth day of Navratri) and Ganesha Chaturthi (a celebration of the birth of Ganesha, son of Shiva). Prayer is an essential component of this religion. It is one of the methods that they use to communicate with God. The main reason behind prayers even for the other religions is to seek solace from God. The prayers are taught in schools and temples on how to meditate with God. Yoga is also taught and practiced in schools to help in meditation and self-realization. The eight limbs of yoga include- postures, discipline, rules, breath control meditation and self-realization (Samadhi).
The most substantial number of vegetarians in the world is in India. The figure stands at around 20-40% of those taking vegetables due to personal choice or religious reasons or even both. I also learned that it produces the highest amount of milk in the whole world. Since I did not know that they prefer greens and animal products more than we prefer meat, I will be able to advise the chefs to consider preparing vegetables for them to make sure that everyone's preferred diet is availed. Having learned a lot about the Indian culture, I can acknowledge the cultural diversities and beliefs for they make our society unique.
References
Blais, K. K. & Hayes, J. S. (2016). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives (7th). Boston, MO. Pearson
Spring, J. (2016). Deculturalization and the struggle for equality: A brief history of the education of dominated cultures in the United States . Routledge.
Warne, D., & Frizzell, L. B. (2014). American Indian health policy: Historical trends and contemporary issues. American journal of public health , 104 (S3), S263-S267.
