Reflection

   

      Researching and creating my 20% project was a very interesting experience.  I learned about the benefits of the internet and technology when trying to learn about other countries.  I also became more aware of how uneducated Americans really are when it comes to customs and culture in foreign countries.  We tend to think of our way of doing life as the right way.  We forget that there are so many other ways out in this world.  I am glad that I now know more about China, Estonia, and Zambia.  Specifically, I learned about the types of food, clothing, and customs of each country.  For example, I learned how when visiting China, people will be served different types of food depending on what region they are staying.  In Zambia, poverty is so high that the main staple of people's diet is ground maize turned into a porridge.  There will not be a great deal of diversity in food.

In Estonia, 75% of the people claim to be irreligious and pride themselves on it.  They also consume a large amount of pork and potatoes.  Someone visiting Estonia would have a variety of food to consume based on whatever was fresh during that time period. 

All of this information and so much more can be seen on my website.   I created this website in order to show the world all the information I learned in an easy way.

     For this project, I did run into a few difficulties.  It was not as easy to find all the information.  I had to do some extensive research and still did not find out all of the information that I wanted to.  I feel like the only way to really be able to share the information I want to with this world, I would have to go spend extensive time in each country.  Luckily, in the next year I will be spending a month in each of these countries.  Then I would be able to share first hand experience about the culture and customs of each of the three countries.  

     My entire class presented their 20% projects in a showcase during the last day of class.  Our professor invited other people in her field to come and see our projects.  There were more of us then there were of them.  I was only able to share my project with one lady.  However, she seemed to be very interested in the information and wanted to be able to continue to follow me as I leave in a few weeks to travel to these countries.  Fellow student also observed my project and found the information very interesting.  I believe that America as a whole is interested in foreign countries.  They just need an easy way to access the information. Hopefully my website has provided a small way in which to do that.