Rituals

When I was younger, I used to sacrifice things that were important to me for Lent. When I was a portly nine years old, things that were dear to me included soda, candy and video games. Candy was usually the least favorite of my vices so I would stop eating chocolate for Lent. I did not understand the concept of Lent because I never went to Sunday school but my relatives and good friends were Catholic, so I joined them in their traditions. Looking back on it, it is sad to think that refraining from inhaling Hersey Kisses was my way to relate Jesus's suffering.

Contact Zone

My “Concepts of the Self” class was definitely a contact zone. The students in the class came from various backgrounds and had differing political and social philosophies. There were many instances when students would clash with one another but more often that not, the students would always be in conflict with the teacher. There was an asymmetrical relationship of power between him and his students. Opinions and thoughts were heard but not necessarily listened to. This attitude created an environment of tension and subdued discord. Towards the end of the semester, a full on passive aggressive war was in progress.