It is every girl's dream to receive flowers from someone. That is especially true when you are given flowers from a special someone. Most flowers have a good meaning. However, many flowers have specific connotations that they are associated with. My mom always told me that in Chinese culture a child only gives Peonies to their mother on Mother's Day. The Peonies represent the love that a child has for their mother. Roses, on the other hand, have a more universal meaning. Everyone recognizes the meaning behind giving someone a rose--the love that is behind that action. Orchids are also a favorite; not only are they beautiful but they symbolize proudness and femininity. Sometimes, it is hard to decipher the story behind a flower. In The Scarlet Letter the rosebush that is incorporated into the first chapter can have a double meaning. It can symbolize hope but it can also entail human frailty. The choices in flowers that society surrounds itself with are also in accordance with the history of the flower. The stories behind flowers aren't always associated with a positive thought. When someone thinks of posies, a certain nursery rhyme comes to mind; its origins deeply rooted in the time of the bubonic plague. That is definitely not a flower that you want to receive on Valentine's Day. Next time you receive flowers from someone make sure you research the meaning behind them. You may be surprised by what you find.
Resources:
"Flower Meanings by Type, Name, Color and Occasion - The Flower Expert." The Flower Expert. 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Berry, Gail. "‘Ring Around a Rosie’ A Brief History of the Bubonic Plague."Orca Health Decide Ring Around a Rosie A Brief History of the Bubonic Plague Comments. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
For each person, personal space is a different distance. Different societies have different social norms in regards to what the right amount of space between people are. Passing this arbitrary distance would be awkward and it may also deem you as a social outcast. This distance is almost entirely based on the environment in which you were raised. In the busy city of Cairo, where 16 million people reside, there is almost no sense of personal space. People are crowded together in every situation. However, that kind of closeness does not apply to America. Here we have a bigger personal bubble then people from other countries. In other countries a kiss on the cheek is a greeting or a show of affection, but in America it is highly unusual to do that between friends. If you kiss your friend's cheek it will probably freak them out. To people in America that is a shocking invasion of their personal space. This personal space expands even further at night. When walking down a street people will usually walk on the opposite side of the street from you. If you both happen to be on the same sidewalk then they will walk on the furthest end of the sidewalk from you. Some people will even go to the trouble of walking through the grass to keep the optimal amount of space between them. This is considered the acceptable social rule in America. In interacting with people that are not from the same region as you; attention to personal space is very important.
Resources:
Maskil, Arona. "Understanding American CultureTips for Acclimating to US Daily Life." Understanding American Culture. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
Staff, NPR, Leila Fadel, and Lourdes Garcia-Navarro. "How Different Cultures Handle Personal Space." NPR. NPR, 5 May 2013. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
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There are tons of kids out there who wish their parents were like other children's parents. However, those kids can't say that there is not a single redeeming feature about their own parents. Yet, they wish for the best of everything which often seems contradictory. The two types of parents that often get talked about is the strict parent who doesn't let their kid do anything and the permissive parent who lets their children run free. The kids of those two different kinds of parents tend to show characteristics that are different but just as harmful. For example children who have strict parents usually have no relationship between the child and parent; they also judge themselves very harshly. The child most likely would live a secret life to get away from the pressures brought to them by their parents. It makes these kids have harsh lives in the way that they can't relax and just enjoy life. On the other hand, the parent who isn't invested in keeping track of every detail in their child's life have children with very different personalities. Kids under the guidance or actually, the lack of guidance from these permissive parents are usually very demanding and spoiled. They have no self-discipline and no respect for adults. Many different outcomes can come from how a parent deems it reasonable to instill their values into their children. There is no perfect parenting technique and each different type comes at a price. Therefore before children blame their parents for not being perfect; think about how difficult it is to raise a child right. If there even is a "right way" to raise a kid.
Resources:
Poulsen, Alison. "Parenting Together: Authoritarian vs. Permissive Parenting." So What I Really Meant. Wordpress, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 Sept. 2014.
Verial, Damon. "Comparison of Permissive & Authoritative Parenting Styles." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Sept. 2014.
