by Natalia Neisya (061214071)
Talking about culture is also dealing with different areas, races, and even countries. Culture becomes an interesting topic for discussion because we can learn other cultures from other areas. It will give us new knowledge and help us to realize that culture is an important thing in our life. Then, it brings us to keep and to preserve our culture.
Through this report, the writer will share her knowledge about kind of cultures which have been learned in Extensive Reading II class. There are kind of cultures from Indonesia, Japan, and China.
First, we will discuss about Indonesian culture such as Batik, Traditional Javanese Wedding, and Ngaben Cremation. Second is Chinese New Year Ceremony. The last is Japanese culture, such as Tea Ceremony and Ikebana.
Batik
Now, let us talk about Batik. Batik is a traditional cloth from Indonesia which has special unique motifs such as Kawung, Ceplok, and Parang. Nowadays, it has been growing as a world culture. Many people around the world use Batik for different purpose. Usually people use Batik for clothes, accessories, decorations, etc. Making Batik is not easy. We will pass some process. First, we should prepare the cloth. Choosing cloth for Batik is an important thing, because it will determine the result. Primissima is the best quality of cloth. Then, we should design the cloth. After that, we should apply wax in the design and color the cloth. The last is boiling the cloth to release the wax. Batik has also special treatment to keep the cloth beautiful. We should use Lerak (special soap for Batik cloth) to wash Batik cloth, so it will not wreck the Batik cloth.
Traditional Javanese Wedding Ceremony
Traditional Javanese Wedding becomes one of popular and special ceremonies in Indonesia because of its complex rituals. It is divided into two parts of rituals. First are preparations including Peningsetan, Tarub, Siraman, Ngerik, Midodareni, and Ijab. Second are the main rituals including Panggih, Wijidadi, Kacar Kucur, Dahar klimah, Mertui, and Sungkeman. Javanese Wedding has also special decoration such as Sajen, the Gate from kind of plants, and Kembar Mayang.
Ngaben Cremation
Ngaben Cremation is a traditional ceremony from Bali. It functions as spirit purification. Ngaben Cremation uses some instruments including Banten, Various symbols such as small tower, music instruments, symbol of ancestors, symbol of dead, etc. The steps of rituals are first, bathing and dressing the death body. Second is purifying the death body with holy water. Third is burying the death body at cemetery. Then, the family will conduct Memukur. The last is conducting Ngaben ceremony on another year. Ngaben Cremation becomes a great and expensive ceremony in Bali. Usually, it also becomes a tourism object.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a special occasion for Chinese people. It is time of reunion and thanksgiving, and family affair. It becomes special occasion because Chinese New Year has a long celebration. Usually, Chinese celebrate this occasion on 15 days. In this celebration, we will find kind of traditional food such as vegetarian dish, fish, chicken, noodle, nian gao, and man tou. Chinese has also special decoration for New Year. They usually use kind of plants and flowers, orange and tangerines, and candy tray. Each item has also special meanings for them. Plants and flowers mean the emblems of reawakening of nature. Orange and tangerines symbolize abundant of happiness, while candy tray symbolize togetherness.
Tea Ceremony
Tea ceremony is a Japanese culture. It has two parts of ceremony. In the first part, people will drink Koicha (very thick tea). Then, in the second part, they will drink Usu-Cha (thinner tea). The host will also serve dinner in this second part. In conducting Tea ceremony, there are some rules followed. First, Corean ware is the only one utensil used in this ceremony. Second, we should use a room as plain as possible. The last, it should be conducted in the afternoon or at 6 p.m.
Ikebana
Ikebana or floral decoration is also special decoration from Japan. It is not just a decoration but it has an important meaning, love of nature. It means that Japanese do Ikebana to express their love of nature. In Japan, not only women do Ikebana, but also men do Ikebana. Ikebana becomes their part of culture, so all of Japanese people should know and learn about Ikebana. There are kind of material used in Ikebana such as living branches, leaves, grasses, blossoms, moss, and fruits. While the equipments used are container, bamboo basket, glass container, and kind of kenzan (gotoku-dome, jakago-dome, kame-dome, etc). Ikebana has also kind of style such as seika/shoka, chabana, momoyama, moribana, adachi, and literati.
In conclusion, learning culture is interesting. Through a culture, we can learn other areas, races, and countries. Every country has different culture. They have different way to express their feeling toward God and nature. Every culture has also its special meaning and its unique thing. Through a culture, we know how to respect other people.
References
Batik, traditional fabric of Indonesia. Expat.or.id: Living in Indonesia, A Site for Expatriates. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.expat.or.id/info/batik.html
Chinese New Year. Educ.uvic.ca: Chinese new year homepage. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html
Ikebana. (2010). Ikebanahq.org: Ikebana International – in friendship through flowers. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from http://www.ikebanahq.org/whatis.php
Negoro, Suryo. S. Traditional javanese wedding ceremonies. Retrieved April 5, 2010, from joglosemar web site: http://www.joglosemar.co.id/wedding.html
Ngaben, Bali cremation ceremony. (2006). Balitouring.com: Bali daily. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from http://www.balitouring.com/bali_articles/ngaben.htm
Quitney, Jeff. (2000). The Tea Ceremony in Japan. Coffee.quickfound.net. (original work published July 17, 1892). Retrieved March 8, 2010, from http://coffee.quickfound.net/japanese_tea_ceremony_1892.html
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Human and Dogs
Maryska-081214114
People have dogs as pets to fulfill their social and emotional needs
As human being, we have an ability to think rationally. This is a gift in our lives. This ability makes us become more special than the other creatures in this world. Influenced by this rational thought, we always try to increase our standard of life to make our lives become better and more meaningful. Because of this standard, we work hard to fulfill our needs. We work in order to get money. Then we use the money to buy food, clothes, house and also the other good stuffs like mobile phone, television, computer, etc.
Somehow when we are getting too busy in fulfilling our material needs, we will find that we also need companionship and friendship in our lives. It is simply because human needs are not merely about the material. People also have emotional and social needs. Humans are social being. We can not live alone. We have needs to be accepted, appreciated or listened. In the other words, we can say that humans need to love and to be loved. We try to fulfill these needs by interacting and communicating with others. That is why we experience friendship, marriage, and having family in our lives.
Unfortunately, human relation with others is not always good. Sometimes people compete each other, be enemies, and then suddenly a lot of problems appear. May be you will never imagine that your best friend, the one that you always trust, betrays you someday. Your parents can be so arrogant and force you to do their wills. Your lovely boyfriend or girlfriend may leave you alone.
When all people around you become very annoying, you will grateful to have a dog as your other friend. People can keep many kinds of pets such as cats, dogs, fish, hamsters or rabbits for many reasons. But if you want a pet that can help you face your difficult situation, dog is the best choice. According to Kesling, J.D. (2005) the bond between human and the dog actually has been built in the ancient time. Like what she stated “However, the information we do have seems to signify the dog was “highly valued” and the burial site in Ein Mallaha seems to suggest an “affectionate” attachment rather than an “exploitive” relationship.” This proves that actually the relationship between human and dogs is very unique. Dogs are not merely animals that you feed to guard your house. Instead, they can be your friends which can help you fulfilling your social and emotional needs.
Dogs as Extraordinary Pets
What makes dogs become favorite pets is that they really involve in the human life. Dogs welcome you when you come home from school or work. When you are playing with your dogs, you run and laugh with them. If you really want it, you even can sleep, eat, and take a bath with your dogs. Moreover dogs can do extraordinary works. Dogs’ ability plays important role in doing some jobs to help people. For example dogs provide a great benefit as the guide dogs and the police dogs.
If you go on reading this writing, you must be grateful because of your good sight. Some people are unlucky. They get blind after an accident or because of a physical defect. In this case, dogs can be very helpful. Becoming a guider for the blind is one of the dogs’ extraordinary works. These dogs are called the guide dogs. Unfortunately, it is still rare in Indonesia to have guide dogs for helping the blind people. However, knowing how these guide dogs do their jobs is amazing. These dogs become the eyes for the blind. It is a very honorable job. Besides, what makes me interested in the guide dogs is their special ability that is called selective disobedience. According to Harris (2010) selective disobedience is dog ability to ignore their masters’ command that can bring them to danger. So, when the guide dogs feel that the masters give wrong dangerous command they will not obey them. May be this skill is the important key why the guide dogs can help the blind to go to place to place safely.
The other extraordinary work of dogs is becoming the police dogs. You will be amazed to know that dogs can be human great partner in battling the criminals. Dogs’ good smell sense and intelligence are the key to make them do the jobs well. We are amazed by dogs’ ability to sniff out bomb or illegal materials that are potential to destruct the human life. In the other words, dogs help humans to protect and save many lives. Dogs also help human in maintaining the environment stable.
Dogs are very clever animals. You must be happy to have this clever animal as your partner. Even if you do not have dogs as a guide dogs or police dogs you can still enjoy your togetherness with your dogs. Although your dog is only an ordinary one but it can still be an extraordinary dog. If you think that your dog is not clever enough like the others, you can think about their loyalty. This is also one of dogs’ strength. Many people say that dogs are very faithful animals.
What We Get from Dogs
We can get many valuable life values from our experiences with dogs. Dogs offer great companionship and friendship for us. If you are sad, you will be entertained when your dog is sitting beside you. When you stroke their fur, you will feel the unconditional love. This is the greatest thing that your dogs offer to you. Through their companionship, you will also learn how to give and accept this love.
Dogs can be our teacher. When we know that dogs are clever and faithful animal, we are invited to have a kind of reflection. Humans are more superior than the animals, but God gives an opportunity to learn much from this little animal. Juliet du Preez in her article said that dogs teach us many valuable life lessons. They are unconditional love, gratitude, “life is fun”, a sense of family, touch, understanding, awareness, giving and behavior. So, dogs have indirectly taught us how to respect our lives.
Life is tough. Somehow we can not share our feelings only with other people. Dog is one of the amazing pets that can accompany us enjoy the beauty of this life. Dogs are faithful and clever animals. They can do extraordinary jobs to help people by being a guide dog or police dog. Besides, dogs also offer us companionship. They can be our teacher. They indirectly teach us many valuable life lessons.
References:
Du Preez, Juliet. Life Lessons We Can Learn From Dogs. (2008). Life made Great. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.lifemadegreat.com/blog/2008/10/life-lessons-we-can-learn-from-dogs
The Human-Dog Bond: A matter of selective love and despise. (2005). Responsible Dog & Cat:Training Behavior. Retrieved January 31,2010, from http://responsibledog.net/human_dog_bond.html
How Guide Dogs Work. (2010). HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/guide-dog1.htm
How Police Dogs Work. (2010). HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved March 21, 2010, from http://www.howstuffworks.com/police-dog.htm
People have dogs as pets to fulfill their social and emotional needs
As human being, we have an ability to think rationally. This is a gift in our lives. This ability makes us become more special than the other creatures in this world. Influenced by this rational thought, we always try to increase our standard of life to make our lives become better and more meaningful. Because of this standard, we work hard to fulfill our needs. We work in order to get money. Then we use the money to buy food, clothes, house and also the other good stuffs like mobile phone, television, computer, etc.
Somehow when we are getting too busy in fulfilling our material needs, we will find that we also need companionship and friendship in our lives. It is simply because human needs are not merely about the material. People also have emotional and social needs. Humans are social being. We can not live alone. We have needs to be accepted, appreciated or listened. In the other words, we can say that humans need to love and to be loved. We try to fulfill these needs by interacting and communicating with others. That is why we experience friendship, marriage, and having family in our lives.
Unfortunately, human relation with others is not always good. Sometimes people compete each other, be enemies, and then suddenly a lot of problems appear. May be you will never imagine that your best friend, the one that you always trust, betrays you someday. Your parents can be so arrogant and force you to do their wills. Your lovely boyfriend or girlfriend may leave you alone.
When all people around you become very annoying, you will grateful to have a dog as your other friend. People can keep many kinds of pets such as cats, dogs, fish, hamsters or rabbits for many reasons. But if you want a pet that can help you face your difficult situation, dog is the best choice. According to Kesling, J.D. (2005) the bond between human and the dog actually has been built in the ancient time. Like what she stated “However, the information we do have seems to signify the dog was “highly valued” and the burial site in Ein Mallaha seems to suggest an “affectionate” attachment rather than an “exploitive” relationship.” This proves that actually the relationship between human and dogs is very unique. Dogs are not merely animals that you feed to guard your house. Instead, they can be your friends which can help you fulfilling your social and emotional needs.
Dogs as Extraordinary Pets
What makes dogs become favorite pets is that they really involve in the human life. Dogs welcome you when you come home from school or work. When you are playing with your dogs, you run and laugh with them. If you really want it, you even can sleep, eat, and take a bath with your dogs. Moreover dogs can do extraordinary works. Dogs’ ability plays important role in doing some jobs to help people. For example dogs provide a great benefit as the guide dogs and the police dogs.
If you go on reading this writing, you must be grateful because of your good sight. Some people are unlucky. They get blind after an accident or because of a physical defect. In this case, dogs can be very helpful. Becoming a guider for the blind is one of the dogs’ extraordinary works. These dogs are called the guide dogs. Unfortunately, it is still rare in Indonesia to have guide dogs for helping the blind people. However, knowing how these guide dogs do their jobs is amazing. These dogs become the eyes for the blind. It is a very honorable job. Besides, what makes me interested in the guide dogs is their special ability that is called selective disobedience. According to Harris (2010) selective disobedience is dog ability to ignore their masters’ command that can bring them to danger. So, when the guide dogs feel that the masters give wrong dangerous command they will not obey them. May be this skill is the important key why the guide dogs can help the blind to go to place to place safely.
The other extraordinary work of dogs is becoming the police dogs. You will be amazed to know that dogs can be human great partner in battling the criminals. Dogs’ good smell sense and intelligence are the key to make them do the jobs well. We are amazed by dogs’ ability to sniff out bomb or illegal materials that are potential to destruct the human life. In the other words, dogs help humans to protect and save many lives. Dogs also help human in maintaining the environment stable.
Dogs are very clever animals. You must be happy to have this clever animal as your partner. Even if you do not have dogs as a guide dogs or police dogs you can still enjoy your togetherness with your dogs. Although your dog is only an ordinary one but it can still be an extraordinary dog. If you think that your dog is not clever enough like the others, you can think about their loyalty. This is also one of dogs’ strength. Many people say that dogs are very faithful animals.
What We Get from Dogs
We can get many valuable life values from our experiences with dogs. Dogs offer great companionship and friendship for us. If you are sad, you will be entertained when your dog is sitting beside you. When you stroke their fur, you will feel the unconditional love. This is the greatest thing that your dogs offer to you. Through their companionship, you will also learn how to give and accept this love.
Dogs can be our teacher. When we know that dogs are clever and faithful animal, we are invited to have a kind of reflection. Humans are more superior than the animals, but God gives an opportunity to learn much from this little animal. Juliet du Preez in her article said that dogs teach us many valuable life lessons. They are unconditional love, gratitude, “life is fun”, a sense of family, touch, understanding, awareness, giving and behavior. So, dogs have indirectly taught us how to respect our lives.
Life is tough. Somehow we can not share our feelings only with other people. Dog is one of the amazing pets that can accompany us enjoy the beauty of this life. Dogs are faithful and clever animals. They can do extraordinary jobs to help people by being a guide dog or police dog. Besides, dogs also offer us companionship. They can be our teacher. They indirectly teach us many valuable life lessons.
References:
Du Preez, Juliet. Life Lessons We Can Learn From Dogs. (2008). Life made Great. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.lifemadegreat.com/blog/2008/10/life-lessons-we-can-learn-from-dogs
The Human-Dog Bond: A matter of selective love and despise. (2005). Responsible Dog & Cat:Training Behavior. Retrieved January 31,2010, from http://responsibledog.net/human_dog_bond.html
How Guide Dogs Work. (2010). HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/guide-dog1.htm
How Police Dogs Work. (2010). HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved March 21, 2010, from http://www.howstuffworks.com/police-dog.htm
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