Nicole Somma
Taboo Words
Outside Topic 3
When we talked about taboo
words in class it got me thinking about my own personal experiences. Both of my
parents are immigrants from Italy. When I was growing up my household was completely
different from my friends. I like to joke and say my life is just like the
movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. It is easy for me now to separate my Italian
culture from American culture, but it took time for me to understand the
differences. In class we talked about how one word or action can mean something
different things to different people.
Well when I was little, one night after dinner I was rubbing my stomach
at the dinner table. In America this actions is seen as positive motion,
meaning I am full and satisfied. Well right at that instant, my Nonna started
screaming at me in Italian. I did not understand what I did wrong and started
crying. Well I soon found out that in Italy, when a person rubs their stomach
it means you dislike them and are wishing bad luck on them. It is something that
you do not do. Events like this happened
frequently in my life and understood that just because it is acceptable in one
culture does not mean it is okay in another. Now before I travel, I make sure to look up so basic dos and donts. I personally think it is common curtsy to try to understand another persons culture.
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