Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sense of Space

The term sense of place has been defined and used in many different ways by many different people. To some, it is a characteristic that some geographic places have and some do not, while to others it is a feeling or perception held by people (not by the place itself). It is often used in relation to those characteristics that make a place special or unique, as well as to those that foster a sense of authentic human attachment and belonging. Others, such as geographer Yi-Fu Tuan, have pointed to senses of place that are not inherently "positive," such as fear. (source: Wikipedia)

I believe sense of space is how the environment; neighbourhood, city, country affects the locals and the visitors. The affect of environment on people, especially artists has been mostly discussed in the Romantic era. One of the poems discussing the environment is The Lake Isle of Innisfree by William Butler Yeats.

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, 
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; 
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee, 
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

In the poem author dreams about living near the lake where he would have a small cabin and would be independent from everyone else. He dreams about escaping from depressing city street to countryside full of life.

How does one's gender define one's identity?

Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females. Gender is also understood as behavioral, cultural and psychological traits typically associated with one sex. On the other hand, a gender identity is one's private sense of being a man or a woman, and consists primarily of the acceptance of membership in a particular group of people: male or female. So how does one's gender actually affect and define one's identity?


There are many stereotypes stating typical characteristics for each gender, like for example that women cannot drive. Of course this facts are in some cases true but not being able to drive can be true as much for a man as it can be true for a woman. To some small degree, I believe one's gender affects one's identity but this is nothing comparing to how big role environment and culture one grows up in affects it.

By Stormbear

Religion

Religion is "a system of beliefs in a god or gods that has its own ceremonies and traditions" (Macmillan Dictionary). These beliefs are usually accompanied by symbols, traditions and sacred stories that explain the universe, the origin of life and similar occurrences that are hard to understand. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws and lifestyle from basic ideas about human nature and cosmos. (Wikipedia)

Religion plays a different role in people's lives. It is one's personal decision how important role it plays as well as which religion it is. A lot of people believe that living by the religious laws, like for example, going to church every Sunday, makes you a true Christian and a better person. I on the other hand believe that what makes you a good person are your deed, not believing in a Christian God or Allah or any other head god.

We often forget that it does not matter what religion we choose as our own, what matters is that no matter in what we choose to believe, we believe in something that gives our life a sense and helps our overcome rough times.

It Is Well Known that Race Affects our Identity...

Race is a classification system used to categorize humans into large groups based on physical appearance, ethnicity and geographic ancestry. It is know that it affects our identity but how big part in becoming who we are does race actually play?

To begin with, as sociological factor it may in part reflect subjective attributions, self-identities and social construction. Furthermore it is often used to achieve social categorizations. Throughout history Caucasians have been the leading race. This sense of superiority has caused racism which has led to many tragedies like slavery and genocide. More than ten millions of black people have been shipped to America as slaves. This has greatly affected their culture and although now they are supposed to be equal with others, youngsters are still thought to commemorate all these people who have been used as slaves. This is a big part of their bringing up and it therefore affects their identity. Of course Afro-Americans are not the only ones whose identity has been compromised because of their race. It is similar with native people of both Americas and Australia and many others. What are we, Europeans, thought to be encounter of two different worlds and beginning of a new, better era for Indians, it is seen by Indians as the end of a world they knew.

Although by the law we all have the same rights no matter the race, religious and political view, these rights are not often respected when it comes to people who are not white. In this sense it affects our environment and therefore our identity.

Imagine all the people living life in peace 

When a white world becomes a mixed world

Today in English classes we watched part of a documentary video called Mixed Britannia . Documentary talks about racial problems in the United Kingdom and it focuses on interracial marriages. Nowadays 1/10 children in the UK live in a mixed family but not long ago, being in a mixed marriage meant dealing with serious consequences. 

By Smile_once_more

A story of narrator's grandmother is mentioned in Mixed Britannia. In 1919 thousands of white men were involved in racial outbursts.  While Neil Sinclair's grandfather escape, his grandmother and mother hid in the house. When white men broke into the house some of them destroyed valuable objects and some of the questioned Neil's grandmother. Because she refused to tell them where her husband is they slapped her. When police came next day, they said it was her own fault for marrying a black man.  When white women married foreigners, they lost their British nationality and all the rights that came with it. 

I believe it is important that rate of mixed marriages is increasing. It shows that people are becoming more tolerant and are realizing that different skin colour is not a barrier between two people who are in love.

Race is by dictionary definition "each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics." It clearly states that all differences are just physical and although I believe being Caucasian has some affect on your, I do not believe it affects you enough to be better or worse than someone else. An American poet Langston Hughes calls himself "the darker brother" which indicates that everything about him, except for his skin colours, is the same as of a white brother.

Being represented

Few weeks ago I participated in an international exchange between Slovenian grammar school from Ljubljana and Spanish grammar school from Alicante (east coast). I worked as a Spanish speaking guide on one of their excursions. After spending whole day together, conversing about all kinds of different things, they told me that if they did not know I was Slovenian they would never guess. They described me as an open minded, talkative young woman with cheerful disposition. They described my character as a Mediterranean type as opposed to what they imagined a real Slovene was; someone who is holding back, is closed and keeps to themselves. I believe they perceived me the way I wanted to be.

I think a lot of Slovenians are more closed and keep to themselves but I would not say that this are qualities that define you as a "real" Slovene. What is even more, I do not believe something like "real" Slovene, or any other nationality for that matter, is even possible. Of course there are people who are described as "real" and fit the stereotype but as we all know stereotypes are just generalizations.