Libro de Respuestas de Especialidades JA/Actividades Misioneras/Etnología/R4

4. Desarrollar una amistad con un niño, niña o persona mayor de su iglesia, escuela o comunidad cuyos antecedentes culturales son distintos a los suyos y llevar a cabo la investigación en los siguientes: biblioteca, internet, videos, enciclopedias, etc., acerca de la cultura. Concretar una entrevista con esta familia y completar lo siguiente:

a. ¿De dónde procede la cultura?
b. ¿Qué idioma se habla?
c. ¿Qué religiones son destacadas en esa sociedad?
d. ¿Cuáles alimentos se comen para:

(1) El desayuno?

(2) El almuerzo?

(3) La cena?

e. ¿Cómo son los hábitos alimenticios influenciados por los alimentos disponibles en ese país?
f. ¿Hay tradiciones culturales que son diferentes a la suya? ¿Cuáles son?
g. ¿Las personas de esta cultura celebran las mismas fiestas que las suyas? ¿Qué costumbres tienen ellos al celebrar los distintos días de fiesta?
h. ¿Qué costumbres o tradiciones de la cultura original han seguido la familia en este país?
i. ¿Es diferente el vestido en esa cultura?
j. Identificar al menos 5 formas en las que son simllares y 5 cosas que le hacen usted diferente. Decir la forma en que su actitud o sentimientos hacia personas de distintos orígenes culturales le han afectado a usted. ¿Cómo se siente acerca de sus diferencias?
k. Asistir a la iglesia con su amigo si se trata de una iglesia diferente de la suya, o asistir a un servicio religioso de un grupo cultural diferente. Identificar 3 similitudes y 3 diferencias que se observó en los servicios religiosos.

Earning this honor on your own

This would be an excellent opportunity for you to invite your friend's family to your house for a meal (perhaps Sabbath lunch). Having them come to your house is more socially acceptable than inviting yourself over to their house, though it is going to be more work for you. If you are living with your parents, be sure to clear this with them first. Also make it clear that you wish to interview the entire family about their culture when you make the invitation. Be sure your house is clean before they arrive. If you like, you can even give them a list of the questions you intend to ask ahead of time so that they may prepare. They may also wish to bring a few items from their home to show you.

When they arrive, you should spend a little time socializing with them before the meal is served. Your goal here is to set them at ease and make them feel comfortable. If you like, you may serve appetizers, and perhaps something to drink, such as juice, hot chocolate, or water. After the meal, you should bring out your question sheet. If it's OK with your guests, you may tape record the conversation, or you may simply take notes. Remember to be courteous during the entire visit, and ask follow-up questions for any of their answers that intrigue you, or which you do not understand. Do not pry into personal affairs that are none of your business. Remember, this is not a news magazine interview attempting to sensationalize a scandal.

When the interview is complete, it would be quite acceptable to socialize more. When your guests are ready to leave, be sure to thank them for coming.

Earning this honor as a club

If you wish for you whole club to earn this honor, you have an excellent opportunity to organize a church social. Identify several people from different cultures, and ask them to participate first. These will be the special guests. Give them a list of the questions well before the event so that they may prepare. Once you have at least three specials guests representing three different cultures, set a date, and invite the whole church to attend. Select a different Pathfinder to conduct each interview. Reserve question j for the audience - ask them to answer it.

As part of the social, you may wish to serve a meal consisting of items from the cultures represented. Identify each food item, indicating what it is, what the major ingredients are, and what culture the food represents. Place these food items on a special table. In addition, you may ask your featured guests for recipes ahead of time so that your club can prepare some food as well. Be sure to place the dishes made by your club on a different table so that if it turns out nothing like it's supposed to, nobody blames your guests. You may also open this up as a potluck, asking everyone to bring a cultural dish representing either their own culture or one they are familiar with.

Again, you may record the interviews, or you can have your Pathfinders take notes.