Wednesday, January 18, 2012

(Easy 10 points!) Please correct any errors on a short essay of mine!?

I've conducted my research from two women; one named Kim, from Brielle, in the Netherlands, and the other named Audrey from Cork, Ireland. I chose these two as they're generally considered to be European nations with a western influence on them so was hoping to contrast between them in my findings to determine their similarities and differences. What distinguishes their cultural identities from each other while retaining western ideology? One of the first questions I asked both of my participants was what language they both spoke. My findings were interesting as Kim’s primary language is Dutch but she speaks English fluently and that it's not uncommon to find English speakers in the Netherlands whereas in my interview with Audrey her primary language is English, yet the Irish have their own language based on Gaelic known as Gaelige. She explained to me that when England took over they couldn't understand the people so coerced them into speaking English. Which likely started as a second language for existing speakers of Gaelige during the post-war generation till it became a primary language to the generation that succeeded it. She told me the younger generation of Irish people aren't as interested in learning Irish anymore though it's taught so it won't be forgotten. My next question I asked my participants was kind of foods do they eat there. Remarkably enough the foods are quite similar to what is commonly eaten in the United States. Kim told me that in the Netherlands they love cheese (And even prided herself on saying that its better than cheese produced in the U.S!) They have Dutch styled pancakes, which she described to be thinner and larger compared to pancakes cooked in the U.S, and that they also have toppings for them! Such as bacon, cheese, mussels, and even garlic sauce! They also have boiled potatoes and hotchpots. Audrey said in Ireland she instead has meals comparable to food you'd find in the U.S ranging from chicken burgers, pizza, to vegetable plates, baked potatoes, pasta, rice, hamburgers. Though she also mentioned foods eaten in the olden days of Cork, known as Tripe and Drisheen. Tripe, literally is an edible offal from the stomachs of various farm animals. In Ireland a whole cuisine was supposedly made out of this in Southern Cork because of the large production of meat gathered for the British Empire Cork had developed its own cuisine from any part of the animal leftover. Drisheen is a black pudding made from pig, cow, or sheep blood. She then went onto mention a traditional Irish breakfast which does include Drisheen in it. It consists of Drisheen (Though more commonly referred to now as pudding), bacon, fried eggs, sausages, beans, tomatoes, toast and coffee or tea. Next I inquired about what kind of religion is practiced and the answers varied. Kim told me that in the Netherlands religion is very diverse though most of the people are Christian. In Ireland however mostly everyone is catholic and are very devout in their faith. Next I asked the two about what traditions and/or holidays they celebrate. Kim answered that it more or less depended on the person and that they have national holidays as well as local ones. One they celebrate appeals is a national holiday on May 5th, their liberation day. They do have Christmas and Easter but they also have something else. On December 5th, for kids mostly, they celebrate a holiday called Sinterklaas. She also described the story to me that goes back to a Greek bishop who used to live in Turkey. That was raised by a rich family. When his father died he gave everything to people who needed it and just took some money to travel. Eventually he is supposed to have saved some children and settled down in Greece as a bishop. After his death he was declared a saint. He I supposed to live in Spain and come to the Netherlands by steamboat with Zwarte Pieten (Black men in weird outfits as she described) as his helpers. He then rides with his helpers on his horse and delivers to presents to children who have been good. The children who have been bad however would have to go with him back to Spain in a sack and receive a beating by a “roe” (A load of twigs bound together) His birthday is December 6th but instead of receiving gifts he distributes them on December 5th to small children who put a shoe by the fireplace. She also celebrates April 1st in Brielle. She explained that it is a small town and that hundreds of years ago the people of it defeated a Spanish lord who wanted to invade the Netherlands. Audrey told me that one of the main holidays is the same as we celebrate here, St. Patricks Day. In addition to Christmas.

No comments:

Post a Comment