How Do American Adults Interact with Children?

It was very interesting to observe the role of American children in different places in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first place where I had the oportunnity to observe the relationship between kids and adults was at my friend's house. Some of her cousins and their parents came over during Thanksgiving. The kids ages rank between 7 to 14 years old. I was surprised that kids were not playing just among themselves; they also played some games with the adults. I consider those children behave very good and get along pretty well with adults. They look more mature than kids in my country. I think Americans kids probably are too busy for being and acting as kids. They are not treated as kids, probably they have more responsabilities that make them mature earlier.

The other place where I had the opportunity to observe how kids interact with adults was in downtown Minneapolis, during the Holidazzle Parade. There parents standed close to their kids due to the nature of the activity ans that the place was to crowded. They look after their kids, but at the same time allowed them to enjoy the parade. Most ot them acted older and were not spoiled.

As a conclusion, I think the way parents treat their kids in American society is closely related to some important values in this culture: freedom and self-reliance. Since kids are very young parents teach them to be independent and allow them in many circumstances to make their own decisions. I consider the way parents treat their children has a serious impact in them because it strengthens these important values.

Costa Rican Families and American Families

As well as Americans, the most important thing  for Costa Ricans is our family. We love our families so much. We like to spend time together and talk about our lives. I have been in The United States 3 months and I have realized that for most of American families it  is difficult to get together. Americans are very busy most of the time. Another interesting reason that makes it even more difficult for American families to gather is that sons usually move to another state when they start attending college. Young Americans become independent usually when they are 18. In Costa Rica, we don't become totally independent until we get our degree. Parents economically support us and help us to pay tuition for studying in college.

Another difference is that most of the time, Costa Ricans take care of their parents when they are seniors. Not necessarily the older son or daughter of the family has to do it; it can be any of the sons. Contrary to this, Americans are so independent and when they have their own family they usually don't take care of their parents in their homes.

In regard to divorce, I would say it is very common in Costa Rica. According to the article “Los divorcios suben y los matrimonios caen” (Divorces increase and marriages dicrease) published by the journalist José Enrique Rojas in the Costa Rican newspaper “La Nación”, the rates of divorce had increased during the past years. In 1985 the rate of divorce was of 12 divorces out of 100 marrriages. In 2007, it increased to 37 or 38 divorces out of 100 marrriages. In addition, there is a very interesting phenomenon in Costa Rica, while the rate of divorce increases, the rate of marriages dicreases. I have no idea which is the rate of divorce in The United States, but I supposed it is more common in my country. I asked an American if divorce is common in the U.S and she told me that now it is more common than in the past. In addition, she thinks that one of the main reason why American families are more instable now is because of the influence of the economic crisis in the U.S.

Voting In Costa Rica and In The United States of America.

    Last tuesday I had the opportunity to observe the local political elections in the polling center located in Davies center at UWEC.  This process remained me in certain way and made compare it with the political elections in Costa Rica.  As well as The United States, Costa Rica is a democratic republic. In Both countries, suffrage is universal at age of 18.

    During the elections here the enviroment was really quiet. Usually, in Costa Rica it is very quiet too. 

For most of the people in both countries suffrage is a very important civil duty.  Here, the first step before voting is to present your personal ID.  Then, people receive a very long ballot that includes all the different political categories to be elected.  In Costa Rica, we usually receive 3 different ballots and they are not as long as the ones here.  Besides, in my country ballots include a picture of the person and a description of the party.  Another difference I saw is that in America, all the private polling places are so close one to another in a line.  In Costa Rica, they are separated by a distance of at least 5 meters.

In addition, here there is a machine for the people who want to vote electronically.  In Costa Rica, we do not have that system and probable we are not going to implement this technology in the coming years.  Besides after voting, here people deposit their ballots in a machine that count the votes.  In Costa Rica, after voting ballots are deposited in separated cardboard boxes.  When the election process finishes, votes are counted manually, so it takes more time to know the final results.

    During the process, I was surprised because some people who were supposed to vote in another polling place came Davies and registered to vote there.  I was wondering how goverment can avoid fraud if citizens can register twice? so I ask a lady who was there.  She explain me that penalties for people who commit fraud are really serious such as going to jail.

    It was really interesting to observe the political elections process and learn a little bit more about how people select their leaders in the United States.

Slavery Was not Abolished; Human Trafficking Is the Modern Trend of Slavery.

 

According to Nicole Lancette “There are more than 27 million of victims of human trafficking” when I heard that I was shocked.  The proportions of this worldwide problem are amazing. However, most of the people do not know anything about it.  This is the third largest and fastest growing illegal trade after drug trafficking and arms trafficking.

About 80% of the victims are women and 50% of them are minors.  By means such as force, fraud and coersion those people are forced to work as servitudes, child soldiers and prostitutes.  The demand for sex and cheap products are significant reasons that explain why the current cost of a slave is cheaper than when slavery was legal.

There are multiple causes of this universal problem, for instance economic reasons.  Many of those victims are promised better living conditions in another country.  For paying the costs of the trip it is necessary to make a loan.  When they arrive to their new “home”, they are stripped of their legal documents and it result imposible to pay loan interests.  In addition, the feeling of not wanting to help others and the social stigma of being poor are some of the cultural reasons.  It seems that uneducated people are very vulnerable to suffer from this problem and more likely to be punished despite of being the victims.

Simple acts such as buying a chocolate that was not manufactured by slaves can start the difference.  This serious issue should not be ignored.  If you thought that slavery was abolished more than a century ago you are wrong; human trafficking is the Modern trend of slavery.