Family Vaules
Philosophical Journey Project
Starting Place: Brookfield, Connecticut
This small town located in south-west connecticut is home to about 16,000 people. The small area of 20 square miles was originally populated by the Potatuck Indians and was named Newbury. However, in 1778 the town was renamed to Brookfield after Reverend Thomas Brooks, who was the first minister of the area. Since then, the town has grown and developed into the beautiful area it is today.
Relationship to Family Values
This town is where I have spent the last 6 years of my life. Although I was not born here it is where my roots are located. This town has sculpted my life in many ways, one major one being the people who surround me. In Brookfield I have my family and friends all around me. They are always there to guide me in the right direction or give me support is ever needed. They are the people I can look to in dark times because I know they will always be there to help me.
Next Stop: New York City
This city is home to over 8 million people and has over 50 million visitors each year. In 2011 alone, the city made about 18.6 billion dollars from tourism. Clearly, this city is a major attraction. This area that consumes 468 square miles in the center of the New York Metropolitan Area is home to around 3 million families.
Relationship to Family Values
Although NYC is one of my absolute favorite places in the world, it doesn't exhibit my philosophical belief of family values. All throughout NYC you can find tons of families spending time together, however those are mostly the tourists. The families that live in this city tend to not have enough time to spend together. Whether the parents are busy with their hectic work schedules or the kids are busy with school work, there is virtually no time for bonding. This is not to say that some families do not find the time but that the majority do not. This lack of closeness in their relationships often leads kids to find other ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, some which might not be the best of choices. Unfortunately, for this reason NYC does not stand with my belief.
Final Destination: Florence, Italy
This city is the capital of the Italian region on Tuscany and the province of Florence. It is approximately 40 square miles and home to 370,000 people. Like NYC it has much tourism even if it is not to the same extent. It is most well known for the food and culture but also the family values that it holds.
Relationship to Family Vaules
In the Italian culture, family values are extremely prominent. Family and friends are extremely close knit and spend much of their time together. Their sundays are reserved in order to have meals together, a tradition that is not often broken. Also, young families are very reliant on their older generations, meaning that grandparents usually play a very active role in their lives styles. The lives of each family member are very closely interconnected, an aspect that results in very strong family values. In this city, these values are the base of society. There is often no competition for materialistic things because people's family are able to genuinely bring them happiness. This city exemplifies my philosophy of family values.