The Scholary Personal Essay on Chinese Culture

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The Scholarly Personal Essay
Personally, a satisfactory definition of my culture would encompass several realms. Some comprise Chinese religious beliefs, family traditions, and food preparation. Culture is an integral component of most societies, especially for people like myself who travel globally (Ontario). My love for adventure allows me to meet people of various diversities and backgrounds. For that reason, I hold on to certain traditions because they help me reminisce about home cognitively. In this research overview, I wish to discuss my cultural ways back home and how I nurture them while still in the United States. I first thought about culture during my trip to the United States. The process was long, as I remember finally getting off the plane after landing in Los Angeles, California.
A quick scan of the area illustrated that everyone was pacing frantically from all directions, while their faces looked confused and stressed with the hassle and bustle of the busy city. The environment made me feel worn out. As I passed down the stairs and many hallways, I saw a family praying next to a washroom, which immediately gave me a remarkable memory of my family back home. I remembered how we prayed together. Besides, this family’s organization and positioning made me imagine I was home. In my culture, family and benevolence principles are essential aspects. I noticed that every family member in the praying group was dressed modestly. For instance, the ladies wore a Chinese dress called Cheongsam, and the men wore a Zhongshan suit despite their Islamic background. The group was praying with their palms open, indicating that they were surrendering and trusting in God.
The appearance of this family will forever remain engraved in my memory. Pure happiness and joy are some of the notable aspects I recall. The unique part of praying next to a restroom without caring onlookers illustrates that they are a family stuck together who genuinely care for each other. Back home, we have a saying that states, ‘family that pray together stay together.’ Therefore, a warm feeling went in and out of my body when I first noticed them. Besides, at that time, many things began making sense to me. For instance, I realized that I would be in the United States for quite some time, unaware of when I would arrive home next. The thought of not knowing when I would ever get home made me homesick. I was now confronted with the reality that social media and communication applications would become the basis of my relationship with my family during my stay in the United States.
Food is another appealing cultural factor that binds us together (Sibal). Since childhood, I have always loved food. After I realized cultural similarities at the airport (after I finally stopped stalking this family), I was starving. Because there were many foreign signs of food establishments, I decided to dine in one of them. I recall reading the ‘Chipotle’ sign but did not know what they serve. Out of curiosity, I decided to try their delicacies. While eating, I observed how culture had manifested itself again (Brewer). For instance, I was stuck between choosing a list of unfamiliar fo...