Practicing Awareness of Microagressions

I need to admit that I used racial microaggression with Dr. Wing Sue when I saw him for the first time while watching the video. I did exactly the same thing the "white woman" did to him, asking him where he was born. My first impression when I saw him was that he is from China or Japan, and he speaks English with a little accent. I quickly did a mental story about Dr. Wing Sue, which was far from the reality. I imagined him coming to America, with his parents, when he was a little boy. I do come up with stories about people, and sad to say, stereotyping and using microaggressions with them. Now, I am more aware of the microaggression concepts and the different kind there exists. I need to work harder and follow the recommendations or conditions to be in place in order to avoid biases.

This week I have the opportunity to talk with a co-worker (Ana) who has a son that is getting marry soon. He is Hispanic, and his fiance is African American. Ana did not want to meet her daughter-in-law at first because she was not Puertorrican. I know this couple , and they are subtle people, and I explained Ana that the little time I have spent with this couple, I noticed how pleasant she is, not looking at races or anything. Microaggressions are everywhere, either you do it with people around you, or you become a victim of microaggression.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I interviewed a member of my family, and member from my sister's church.  My first interviewed person said that culture to her "is a person of a different language; someone who talk different than meand look a little different than I.  Also, someone who is well behave, speak without using bad language and can get along with people of other cultures.  Diversity is being able to be different from others but yet alike.  Also being able to work in or with different people or places." 
The second interview person said "culture is the costoms and traditions which are characterists of a group of people, region, country, etc.  Diversity to me is the variety and the many factors in a group."
The third interview person defined culture "as a way of life or tradition.  Diversity is being different yet alike to others."

Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received - and what are some examples?
I think people's definitions about culture and diversty were very superficial.  Sometimes we do not take the time to think deeper about what really culture and diversity means.  The definitions about culture covers how people live, their traditions, language, etc.  Diversity was more about the differences between people and/or places.

Which aspects have been omitted - and what are some examples of such omission?
Some aspects omitted was the rules we have which guide our behavior, the perspectives we have about life, the way we walk, talk, and how we celebrate holidays.

In what ways has thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics
It made me think about both questions, and how I would explain to others if they ask me what culture and diversity means to me.  My immediate response would be telling what we see about people culture (the tip of the iceberg) and then proceed to have more specific details about the culture, going deeper.  I would say that culture is also looking as people behavior in different situations, what are their beliefs, their values, traditions, etc. 
I realized that we need to talk about, say it out loud several times, to gain confidence in telling other about this topics.

My Family Culture

This is a hard question, thinking of only 3 items that I would take with me that represent my family culture. I need to recognize that I am not a sentimental person, who keeps memories as some people in my family do. The most important for me to have with me is my family. I can adapt easily if I have my family (my husband and my daughter) supporting me, and vice versa. Just to mention three items to keep I think that would be some family pictures (albums), important family documents folder(identification cards, birth certificates, etc.), and my grandma's recipe cookbook. All of these items reminds me of who I am and where I came from, the memories I had when I was a little girl, looking at my love ones, some of them are not with me anymore.

It is heartbroken having to experience a situation like this where you need to leave your town/country, and move to a strange place, where you don't know anything about it. I cannot imagine how devastated I would feel if I do not have my immediate family with me. If I have to keep only one item, I think I would keep the memories that picture bring to me. I can share with my daughter when she grows up, and she can pass it to hers when the time comes.

An insight I gained with this exercise was I recognized that my family is what I value the most, and I might not care of living tough situation if my daughter and my husband are with me, supporting each other. I noticed that I did not have a clue of what to take with me, what material possession I would take. I am not into taking material stuff; my most important thing is keeping my family with me, and worrying about their safety and well-being. My family culture is what we can continue building together, regardless of where we are living.That is what I care the most, to have each other back and support.