How About... a HUMAN CULTURE

vadushkas_nurse

He and I often discuss that religion and cultural titles are often used interchangeably as descriptions, it has lead to some insightful understandings and meaningful conversations. I often find myself proudly exclaiming these descriptions to people when I talk about him, it is what makes him and what makes our relationship so special.

Having been with my fiance going on nine years is a true blessing to me, his wisdom and love are beyond narrative. I have learned so much about culture and tradition from being a big part of his life. I struggle when people's first question to me is "well are you going to convert"?

And I quietly wonder to myself, first, if I really need to explain my values to this person, and then secondly, I consider that this is an opportunity to share with others what great gifts choice, love, and life are (when you value the little things most).

I feel proud to tell people that we have chosen a very unique way of sharing our lives. We participate in all the traditions we know and value. We chose to have an open and all-encompassing mind about things. What I love about living in Canada and the societal understanding of transcultural is that we embrace others for the uniqueness and that we are able to live the way that makes us happy.

My loving relationship has increased my tolerance, empathy, and love for life and people. I feel that if people would be more open-minded and appreciative of family and relationships, then we could be more at peace and happy just living.

I think that the uniqueness of different cultures is what makes each of us special and that much deeper of a friend, as there is so much to teach and share. The most important concept I think about when talking about trans culture is what matters most, is the human culture. we all have underlying fundamentals and similar genetic makeup.

It is time to recognize what connects us as human and use the gifts of culture to share with others. We all share the possibility of love, life, choice, family, and happiness should be chose to search for them. When we all embrace our differences and uniqueness, we can then only find inner peace and further advance the human "being" culture.

What I find interesting as I write this short story in Microsoft word, is that the only word with an unrecognized understanding by the computer spell check is the word transcultural.

We as a society should be better than this and remember we are very lucky to have the abilities to think, learn and interpret!! Let's behave smarter than "word" and determine what transcultural means to us and act it out in the real world there is so much more to life than labels and separating people who are different. We are all human and that's what matters most.

nursesail · Jan 11, 2009

I think the reason the microsoft does not recognize "transcultural" is because most people use the word "multi-cultural" or cultural sensitivity, which, in my opinion, is different. To me anything "trans" goes above and beyond and does not let "culture stand in the way of communication and relating to each other. "Cultural sensitivity" to me is a political buzzword that says I have to subjugate my culture to someone else's, not share it and enjoy someone else's. I like trans-cultural better.

oramar · Jan 11, 2009

I would never ask you if you were going to convert, not even if I was your mother I would not say that. Perhaps that is why I get on with my own adult children so well. For instance neither of my grandchildren have been baptised. This would have been quite shocking in my day but it is their business how they raise their children and not mine. Lucky my husband thinks nothing of it either. However, 30 to 40 years ago we would have got some serious questioning from our parents, aunts & uncles even great parents if we had chosen to do that. It was unheard of in our families even our communities.

leosasha · Jan 11, 2009

Vacation in Puerto Vallarta Mexico every year. I particuarlly enjoy the culture there. Have met many Canadians there as well as others from all over the world. Have always appreciated diversity and learning about how others live. Have always been appreciative of the Canadians for their ability to gracefull assimilate other cultures into their own.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Jan 12, 2009

I am married to a person from a different culture, from a different country, and I can tell you that it has enriched my life. We enjoy the times that we have gone back to her original home country to visit her family (she's from a Southeast Asian country). I probably have more of an international outlook on events and things generally thanks to this, more so than the average American. Didn't become a big tea drinker, or eater of east Asian cuisine until I met my spouse LOL

I agree with another poster here - "transcultural" isn't really used much at least here in the U.S. Here they call it "diversity". Social and cultural diversity. At least that's the word the media here uses most often.

leosasha · Jan 12, 2009

Today I had my nails done at a salon operated by a Chinese family. Then went to lunch at a resturaunt operated by a family from Mexico. Picked up a six pac of Red Stripe beer from Jamaica on my way home. All this while driving my Toyota Corolla (also own a GM). Am off to Mexico tomorro. Will hang out with my Canadian friends there. I'm thoroughly sold on cultural diversity.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Jan 12, 2009

Today I had my nails done at a salon operated by a Chinese family. Then went to lunch at a resturaunt operated by a family from Mexico. Picked up a six pac of Red Stripe beer from Jamaica on my way home. All this while driving my Toyota Corolla (also own a GM). Am off to Mexico tomorro. Will hang out with my Canadian friends there. I'm thoroughly sold on cultural diversity.

Sounds a lot like me LOL I make a trip every once in a while to the local Chinese supermarket to pick up grocery items that you just can't get anywhere else, plus my personal favorite Tiger beer (from Singapore - the most popular brew in SE Asia - can get it in any store or bar over there, but sort of hard to find here). Different curry and couscuous dishes have become my favorite sort of home cooking. We have friends and relatives from all over the world who pop in to visit us from time to time and we share stories with each other. Working on getting time off and $$$ to spend next Xmas with my wifes family over there - looking forward to that. I'm all for cultural diversity too :-)

leosasha · Jan 12, 2009

Am looking forward to traveling with my Grandchildren in the next few years. Think we'll try Miami Florida first. I truly enjoyed my visit to Little Havana while there last. Think the kids will also. I suppose Disney Land is on the horizon. :bugeyes:

jeninthedesert, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2009

My nursing program has been putting a lot of focus on providing culturally congruent care and "transcultural" is now part of our vocab. We've even had to do presentations on transcultural nursing.

leosasha · Jan 12, 2009

Live and learn.

alan headbloom · Jan 30, 2009

Within the field of nursing, the term "transcultural" has been used for about two decades, first introduced by Madeleine Leininger. Her website: http://www.madeleine-leininger.com/en/index.shtml. If you can attend a training session or conference on the topic, you'll never regret the investment.

Outside of nursing (for example, in linguistics or anthropology), more common terms are "cross-cultural" or "intercultural."