Symbols and Language of Haiti
Haiti vs. US
Symbols and Language
Symbols: gestures, signs, objects, signals, and words.
Material culture- refers to the objects or belongings of a group of people. (Articles of clothing)
Non material - consists of ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society. (Appropriate attire for events)
Haiti's Material Culture
Art: Boats and engravings, paintings, and wood.
Architecture: Many houses are huts, but buildings are simple and some have a European feel.
Music- Combines influences from Caribbean, France, Africa, and Spain to create songs in Creole.
Clothing- No particular style, but lightweight to stay cool.
Foods: 2 meals a day: small breakfast (coffee or juice, egg and bread) and large afternoon meals (lots of carbs). Rice and beans are very popular. Also sweet potatoes, mango, yams, corns, bread, and coffee.
Interests: Soccer is very big, and basketball is growing. Dancing is also a big part in Haitian life.
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/Hatian_Culture_tip_sheet-IDMH.pdf
Material ( soccer ) Picture of Robby Glass playing soccer with kids.
Material ( dancing ) Picture of me showing 14 year old Haitians how to hold a ballet pose.
Material ( attire children where to learn about God ) Picture of me handing out a picture of The Cross.
Haiti's Non-Material Culture
Symbols: Mass grave site representing those who lost their lives during the earthquake.
Norms: Women and men kiss each other on the cheek and hold hands regularly. Children start to work around 7 years old, and are expected to behave with immense respect toward adults.
Folkway: Using the bathroom and bathing semi-publicly due to lack of enclosed restroom areas.
Values: Finding or creating a job and starting to work at a young age is important to them. Marriage. They value being clean (brushing teeth and bathing heavily, especially before going on trip.)
Non- Material
Haiti's Cultural Diversity and History
Parts of history and collective memory include independence from Imperial Europe in 1804, and the 2010 earthquake.
220,000 dead
300,000 + injured
188,383 houses destroyed
105,000 damaged
1.5 million people homeless
Women wait for medical care. Their attire and medical care show their diversity.
Haiti Landscape
US Material Culture
Art: Canvas paintings, pottery, and art museums.
Architecture: Large buildings, lots of windows, very intricately designed, most houses have large foundations, usually of brick, and are one or two stories with a basement.
Music: Most of the US's music listened to is pop or country.
Clothing: Depending on where you live, the clothing styles and choices change because of climate. For example, people in the north tend to wear vests, boots, and heavier clothing to keep warm compared to people in the south or warmer regions who wear tank-tops and shorts. The clothing style can range from fashion choices made by people around you.
Food: The US has many fast food restaurants and most people eat three meals a day. Between their meals they may also have snacks. The US has a "guide" to show the healthy amounts of food and proportions based on your daily calorie intake. They show how many fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and dairy you should consume to maintain a healthy diet.
Interests: Interests tend to change based on where you are and what is interesting to the people around you. The most common interests among school students are baseball, basketball, football, soccer, hockey, tennis, volleyball, track, golf and softball.
US Non-Material Culture
Symbols: Flag of the United States of America, and The Bald Eagle.
Norms: US and Haiti do the same when it comes to relationships. They hold hands, and kiss each other on cheeks. Kids who have parents that farm, tend to start early so that in the future they can become farmers. So they use respect for the parents and listen so that they know for the future.
Folkway: Public bathrooms everywhere. They are clean, and come with clean towels, soap, and clean running water.
Values: Sanitation is important to many people. Some choose to take care of their hygiene, while other don't. We brush our teeth at least 2 times a day, shower, and change clothes daily.
US Cultural DIversity and History
The US consists of many different cultures, languages, and nationalities.