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Growing up in sunny Southern California comes with a lot of perks; the great weather, lots of unique cities, some of the best Mexican food in the world, but the biggest blessing is about 20 minutes away from my house. The crashing, cool waves of the Pacific have nurtured and raised me all my life. They have watched me grow, been my cool down after family runs or swim practices, and provided me with comfort and all the fun a kid with a surf or boggie board could ask for. The beach is central to life in California, and even after three weeks of being in Utah, I miss it terribly.

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If you were to look in my backpack or purse right now you would find an almost empty package of gum. Along with all of the wrappers littered along the bottom. I always have gum with me. My family is the same way we always carry around gum. In the United States it is so important to have good hygiene and one of the indicators of good hygiene is good smelling breath. My family is constantly making sure that we have gum, its to the point where after almost every meal I put a piece of gum in my mouth. Gum helps me to maintain good hygiene in the eyes of my family and society.

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Now isn't that title an attention grabber. You know how in every friend group, there is one person who is considered the 'mom friend'? ... That's me! My 'Mary Poppins Bag' was lovingly named by my friend Kaitlyn last year. It has everything you would ever need in it. Tissues, hand wipes, lotion, chapstick. It's all in there. I used to hate being called the mom friend, but I love it now. It has communicated to my friends that I am responsible, and reliable. My friends come to me now whenever they need anything.

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My home was always filled with art. My mother graduated as an art major, and she had a keen eye for classic paintings. She nurtured me into my love of photography during high school, along with my yearbook teacher Mr. Norgren. And as I mentioned in my first artifact, So Cal has no shortage of beautiful places. Loving photography has given me such a sense of gratitude for the places I have visited and the people who have touched my life. Looking back on my photos helps me remember who I have become and who helped me along the way.

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One of my early ancestors was the head of Queen Victoria's bakery during his young adult years in England. My mother accredits this to the massive sweet tooth that my siblings and I all share. Ever since I was little, I have tried my hardest to make a mess in the kitchen to the chagrin of my parents. I have gotten a lot better (and a lot cleaner) over the years, but baking in my family means that something special is happening. Whether it's a family dinner, our annual Christmas Eve party, or someone needs to feel a little loved, you will always be able to find me, one of my two sisters, or my mom in the kitchen whipping up something delicious.

Photo is of my Strawberry Crumble Pie!

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This is my Nana. My family on my mom's side immigrated from Japan. You wouldn't know that by looking at me because I have blonde hair and blue eyes. You might suspect something if you saw me eating with chopsticks. My family and I eat just about everything from mac'n Cheese to popcorn using chopsticks.I learned how to use chopsticks at about the age of 4, about the same time I was learning how to hold a pencil. Everyone in my family was expected to be able to use chopsticks from about the same age too. Along with that, we all have been taught to have a strong respect for our elders. There isn't a lot of the Japanese culture that we have been able to upkeep, but the things that we have are very important to us because it helps define us our culture as partially Japanese living in America

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The moment I moved into my apartment my mother and sister provided me with living plants. This was not a pass at my decorating; if anything it was a pass at my personality! In Chinese culture fake plants are frowned upon as it’s correlated to you being a fake person when meeting and speaking with others. Live plants signify to others that you’re genuine in your words and actions. By keeping living plants in my front room my visitors can then determine that I am genuine in my intentions of having them there and my family name can remain in the clear.

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In Taiwanese culture we love to eat; more importantly we love to eat respectfully. Chopsticks are a common utensil throughout the continent of Asia, but there’s more behind their story than to simply help get food from the plate to the mouth. Specifically, the way we place our chopsticks when we’re not eating then determines how respectful we are towards our ancestors. I was raised to never leave my chopsticks tilting in the bowl as it would then resemble incense, which is used to respect and recognize the dead. It’s a mockery of the remembrance ceremony if you leave your chopsticks sticking up and out of your rice, this is why we lay the chopsticks across the top of our bowls and plates, as shown in my artifact. It’s all a matter of respect.

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MahJong is a traditional table game that I’ve played ever since I was little. In our culture it’s nearly shamed upon if you’re unable to sit and play a round with your elders; so, when I turned 10 my mother passed along her MahJong set to me and I too was expected to use my cunning to participate in the systematic game. Especially for females, if you’re able to participate and do well you’re deemed by your elders to have a mind worth listening to. So, it’s important to show one's experience and thought through the tiles to gain the respect of others in the Chinese culture.

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You can still see the water on the kitchen scissors because they’ve just been washed. These are used every single day in the home. Growing up my mother had a drawer full of kitchen scissors to be used for cutting meats, vegetables, and even the occasional quesadilla. No matter the food they were used in any way possible to provide convenience. These are key to our culture where efficiency is everything. There’s no wasting time or you’d simply be the waste of time. This goes to the idea that a woman, as women are the ones expected to do the cooking, must prove themselves worthy in their homes. So, the faster dinner is made the better and the less utensils you use, if you’re able to use one pair of scissors to prepare the meal, the less dishes you had to use soap and sponge to clean later.

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I was always incredibly frustrated as a child; we owned a dish washer but my mother refused to let us use it. She would always happily hand us soap and a sponge and encourage us to get to work. In Taiwan, dish washers are rare and hand washing is the custom. Due to climate they weren’t used to avoid mold and mildew, due to culture they weren’t used to avoid a household from being deemed lazy. It’s a sign of a woman being hard working, as Taiwan is still very much so stuck in the traditions of women doing house labor, that they're capable of contributing to the household. My husband and I also have a dishwasher but to this day I’m determined to hold a house of hard work and effort, so the soap and sponge remain.

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Great great great great great great great great great great great grandpa

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Great great great great great great great great great great great grandpa

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Roger Williams is my 12th great grandpa. For those of you don't know who he is, he founded that wonderful state known as Rhode Island. That was hundreds of years ago but a large part of my family still lives in Rhode Island (Probable cause it is kinda the best state). Although my family lives in Utah, we still talk a lot like we would if we were living in Rhode Island. I am always getting teased because when I say "aunt" I pronounce it "Ont" instead of what most people around here call it, "ant". This is significant in my family because it is where my roots are from. And just Like it was important to Roger Williams to stand what he believed in and worship his God, These things are still important to my family, regardless if they are LDS or Presbyterian.(Britannica.com, 2005)

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Whether it was redoing our kitchen and putting in new flooring ourselves, patching up our roof, repairing my 4runner, my family has always been the kind to do things ourselves. We've learned to be innovative and find ways to fix, or create things. this cultural aspect of my family is significant because it is important that we can work together as a team to keep our house running smoothly and happily to show that we are self reliant and capable of accomplishing great things as a family.

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If someone was to take a snapshot of my life then analyze the elements contained, a water bottle, usually my hydroflask, would definitely be included. I take my water bottle everywhere with me. It's covered in stickers that remind me of good experiences in my life and it helps me stay healthy and hydrated, which is really important in my family. My family is fairly athletic and my mom 's most commonly used phrase is "Did you drink enough water today?" We're also from Montana, and growing up I learned a lot in school about taking care of the world around us. We would often go on field trips where the focus would be an outdoor activity, and we would almost always talk about the idea of "Leave No Trace." My hydroflask reflects this education because it is something that helps me to avoid waste and to protect my environment.

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Either you'll understand my picture choice, or you won't. A jokes not good if you have to explain it. Puns have been a huge thing in my family for generations. My papa (Great grandpa) loved puns and would often send puns in letters to loved ones. That has passed down through my family and most dinner conversations are laced with them. Most bad days can be cured with a couple of puns. It is significant in my family because it is not only a ways we connect as an immediate family but I have made lots of connections with far off relatives because we share this love of puns that has passed down the family tree.

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Looking at my phone history, my most used group message is one with some of my best friends who are also Elementary Education majors. Our favorite way to stay in touch is by sending each other funny, usually education related, videos that we find on the internet. Keeping in contact in something that is really important to us. We also are very interested in the education we are getting and we discuss it a lot.We also appreciate a good sense of humor.

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A large part of my life, whether for good or for bad, is social media. It is how my family and friends stay connected. This summer, I lived with my family, away from my friends here in Provo, and our most used method of communication was to send each other random things that made us laugh on instagram. My family keeps in contact through social media as well. We are fairly spread out throughout the US and we only get together twice a year, so I keep up with my cousins through seeing their posts on social media.

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Games (Board games, card games, really any kind)

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Games (Board games, card games, really any kind)

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Like I mentioned above, my extended family is a really big part of my life. They are my best friends in the entire world and the time we spend together are the best memories I have. Our FAVORITE activity to do together is to play games. As my cousins are starting to get married, a common phrase at our family reunions is "Oh if you didn't like games before you got here, the Hubers will definitely change that." However, we're also not a quiet family and tend to talk over each other. One of the newer in-laws in my family sent this video after our last family reunion, saying that this is what we sound like when we try to teach someone a new game.

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I have never been to Disneyland, a fact that shocks most people when they meet me. This is because my family would always rather go to the beach than to an amusement park. My mom grew up in a large family and places like the beach or the lake were really the only recreational activities they could afford. This has carried over into our family because she has instilled in every single one of us a love for the water. The pool, the ocean, the lake. Anywhere where we can be in water. This influences where we travel to greatly. Our favorite place as a family is Hawaii, and these pictures are all over our house to reflect that. This not only reveals what my family values, but it reveals a significant amount about our standing in society. We are definitely upper-middle class and the way that we express our values is determined by this.

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What you wear, how you wear it and where you wear it is a BIG part of American culture. The first thing someone sees are your clothes. If you're wearing dirty shoes, pants, and a dirty shirt then I would assume you were a construction worker. Our clothes are our first impressions to other people. People make assumptions based on the clothing you wear.My friends identify me with my clothes. I was identified as fashionable, and having cute clothes because of my friends first impressions of my clothing. Because they identified me as fashionable, they started to all want to wear my clothes. It has now become part of how I shop. I ask myself not only do I like this but would others like it? How do I want to present myself?

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I served my mission in Perth, Australia. A big part of my life is centered around the Church, and the standards that I uphold. When I got to Australia I noticed that a lot of the missionaries had their scriptures painted. There was this cultural norm to get your scriptures aboriginally painted. Each painting has a different meaning. Mine represents my past, the present, and my future. The aboriginal people are the native people of Australia. Aboriginal painting shows up in everything, and is everywhere. It is a reminder of Australia's history. Having this little reminder of Australian history painted on my scriptures, helps remind me of the history of the Church.

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This is one of many “America type” T-shirts I have had over the years. I wear them to show that I love my country and that I am proud to be an American. Much more than making a political statement, people in the U.S. wear them to be festive on the 4th of July! It is fun and patriotic all at the same time. Like many families in Utah, when my kids were young, I would buy them matching t-shirts that would be worn to the family BBQ and fireworks party. Now that they are older, my boys try to wear the most over-the-top and outlandish outfits to outdo their cousins. Yes, it is totally cheesy, but that is part of the fun.

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My faith in God is a huge part of my life. Pieces of art, like this olive wood carving of a woman kneeling in prayer, serve as reminders of one’s faith. Art pieces can also be used to show others who come into your home that we are religious. This particular piece reminds me of the importance of staying humble and submissive to the will of the Lord, and that prayer is the key to having His constant guidance in my life.

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In addition to food items, I grew up with my mother always stressing the importance of stocking up on the essentials needed for everyday life when you had the money, because you never knew when the $*@# would hit the fan!(Toilet paper pun intended) These words of wisdom often came while my mother held back tears because my father had lost yet another job and there was no money coming in. It was ingrained in me through words and experience that the only thing you can control in life is your own actions, and “stocking up” in times of plenty was one way to have security.

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A big part of my family's culture is using recreational activities, particularly skiing and snow boarding, as a way to have fun together while enjoying the outdoors. It is a regular weekly activity in the winter and is also a part of our Christmas traditions—after opening presents we spend the day skiing. It influences our conversations—the weather report is a regular topic—and the social media followed (Jerry of the Day). It is so central to our way of life as a family, when my son married a girl who did not know how to ski, we paid for her equipment and lessons.

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I eat this for breakfast at least 3 days a week. It is a symbol of being conscious of what is good for me, because I would much rather be eating an ego waffle with syrup. I am careful about what I eat so I can stay thin and be as active as I want for as long as possible. Our lives and social events center around food. Food is a regular topic of conversation at home, with extended family, and with friends (basically everyone I socialize with). What should be eaten. What shouldn’t have been eaten. When it is ok to eat more. Not ruining a workout by eating junk. Fruits and vegetables. Less bread. Good fats. Lean proteins. And on and on and on.

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This is Poo-Pourri. You spray in the toilet before you go, and it eliminates the bad odor and replaces it with something more refreshing. This something that people gave to me as a white elephant gift and a wedding gift. While it is funny and works quite well, the idea of covering up something so natural and very human is a part of our society. When it comes to bad smells, poor hygiene or not look your best all the time, people are judged and criticized. In our culture we are expected to hide those things that make us human and imperfect.

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15 years ago my grandpa passed away from a heart attack. Before he died he swore that he would take his family to Disneyland every year. My family has been going to Disneyland every year since, to honor his memory. Growing up in Utah county there were many times that my family would be grouped in with the basic Utahns who go to California and Disneyland for Spring Break, because our neighbors didn't know or understand the importance to my family. To them it was just a vacation, to my family and I it was a way to keep my grandpa's memory alive. Every year I go to Disneyland I am reminded of my grandpa. This year my family wasn't able to go because of the virus, but the pictures from past trips keep us connected to happier times.

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The phrase of my makeup bag is my focus. The phrase "Help me, I'm Poor" is used in a variety of different ways in our society. Whether it is on merchandise or said among friends, it is frequently used. As a "poor" college student, I have used this phrase multiple times when joking around with other college students. I think this phrase signifies that many of us see ourselves as always being "poor." Not matter what SES you are or how many things you do or do not have, satisfaction is never reached. The majority of those in our culture will see themselves as "poor," when in reality they have much.

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I served my mission in the Ohio Columbus mission. My husband and I both served there and this flag is displayed on living room wall. It is often a topic of conversation or recognized by our friends who served with us. The culture behind this is that as members of the church there are sometimes cultural expectations. Things that you do to fit into a group or be a part of the norm of the church. As both my husband and I have served missions, it is easy to feel that we have been accepted into this cultural norm. However, we need to be aware and continue to separate the norm from the spiritual call from the Lord to serve a mission.

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My husband and I love to host friends and have double dates with them. The other night we had a picnic. In reflecting upon why we felt the need to have a picnic and play games with our friends, I realized that anytime I am participating in a social gathering, I feel the need to have food involved. This is a huge part of our culture. It seems that if food is not present at some sort of social gathering, you feel less welcome or "well-hosted."

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My husband and my family all love card games. Every time we go to visit anyone in our extending family for more than a day, card games are involved. I love that this is a part of our culture, because it is able to bring our families together in some friendly competition. This is apart of our culture, because family and relationships are very important to most people. I find that when card games are played, memories are shared, people laugh and everyone is able to be entertained while growing in their relationships.

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I usually have some form of letters, envelopes, and stamps with me. This represents my culture of snail mail. It represents snail mail because in order to send a letter it needs to be physically written on paper sealed in an envelope and have the appropriate stamps. In this culture it is a way to stay in touch with people in a more tangible way than electronic communication. Stationary allows people to participate in the culture by offering different styles of paper for people to write on, helping them express their creativity. The significance of stationary is personal to the individuals using it because it can either be simple just to have something to write on or super detailed and pretty.

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This is a smart watch created by the company Apple. This represents the Apple product culture. It represents the Apple product culture because most people who like apple products tend to purchase multiple products created by Apple (iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, AirPods). The Apple Watch represents in the Apple Product community that you as a person like Apple products so much that out of all the smart watches in the world you stayed loyal to
Apple and picked their smart watch. An Apple Watch allows people to participate in this culture by having multiple devices created by the same company they connect and share information easier. The Apple Watch is significant in the Apple product culture by being a tangible signal to others of a person's loyalty to Apple.

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This is a brand of pasta that is beloved in my home. My father is an immigrant from Italy and so the culture this represents is the Italian American culture within my home. This represents the Italian American culture because it is a popular italian food(we make often) but the packaging is in English because we live in the USA. Food (specifically pasta) bring people together in my culture. It is a time to enjoy well made food and spend time with one another. It allows people to spend time with one another because we as a family try to eat as many meals together and pasta is a dish that can be prepared quickly or more time can be taken to put it all together. The significance of this item is a food that represents time spent together and passing on traditions like different recipes.

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The Texas flag is an important part of who I am and who my family is. My grandma (my dad’s mom) grew up in Texas but after she was married she raised her family in Utah. Even though she was in Utah, she always flew the Texas flag next to her USA flag. My parents and older siblings moved to Texas before I was born so I had the opportunity to be born and raised in Texas. We call Texas our home just as my Grandma did. It is more than just home to us but it is who we are. Texas pride is based on hospitality, confidence, and representing where we came from.  We may not have a strong southern accent but we say “y’all” instead of “you all”. Whenever one of us kids leaves for college and moves away, we take a Texas flag with us to remember where we came from. It represents that we know who we are, know where we came from and we are proud of that! We carry with us our Texas spirit wherever we go. We learn to be strong, independent, and help those in need.

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A deck of cards represents my family because when we are together we are playing games. A game specifically called “Mormon Bridge”. It has been passed on throughout generations and at a young age we learn to play. We introduce this game to all who join our family. It represents family time and that we believe it’s good to have a little competition. You’ll always find a deck of cards in a Carlson’s household, in our cars, and even in our purses. We play when there is any down time, like waiting for our food at a restaurant. Anyone who joins our family, who wasn’t a card player before, becomes a card player.

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My great-grandmother grew up in Mexico where she adapted part of their culture and brought it to our family when she married my great-grandpa. They settled in Texas and raised their family on enchiladas. Not just any ordinary enchiladas but “Carlson Enchiladas”. They have this name because my great-grandma didn’t roll her tortillas but instead stacked them flat on top of each other. She shared it with anyone that came to visit and passed it on to her children that passed it on to theirs and now is at me. We don’t just make them because they taste good but because we want to share them with everyone and what our culture is. Everyone has the chance to taste the culture and experience it. We learn to make them and are expected to keep the tradition going throughout future generations. It represents welcoming everyone into our home and making sure that they feel loved and appreciated.

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This is a picture of my snapcode. Snapchat is an app that I use to communicate with my friends. Snapchat allows you to take pictures and add words that you send to your friends. It is similar to texting except there is usually a picture involved and the picture only lasts for a short amount of time. This artifact represents my culture because I am expected to have and use the app. When I meet a new person, they usually ask for my snapchat, sometimes even before asking for my phone number. It allows for communication in my culture. The cultural significance of snapchat is that it allows me to meet new people, and communicate with my friends. This allows us to stay connected even when we are far apart.

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Getting an education was never a question to be asked in my home. Since we are three/four we are in some form of school, even if that’s preschool and are expected to continue. And not just elementary or secondary education but continuing our education after we graduate high school. All of my grandparents, parents, and siblings have continued their education at a university and have graduated. We push ourselves to new limits and always expand our knowledge. It was something that was always talked about at the dinner table, family reunions, or anywhere. Education is a priority in our family and starts early to ensure that we will be able to continue our education.  Education isn’t just for personal or selfish reasons but to make the world a better place. Just as BYU’s motto is “Enter to learn. Go forth to serve”, that is what we are here for, to serve and help others through receiving an education.

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These are my airpods. I use them every day, multiple times a day. I use them to listen to music, podcasts, scriptures, to talk on the phone, etc. This artifact represents my culture because wireless headphones are crucial for many of my daily activities. When I workout, I like to blast pump up music. When I am walking home from school I like to listen to a podcast. When I am studying in the Library, I use my airpods to listen to videos and school-related material without making noise. They are also Apple brand and pretty new. This made them desirable to buy because of the hype surrounding the Apple brand name.

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These are a few of my family's favorite board games. We play games every Sunday and on every trip we go on. I also have weekly game nights with my friends. Board games represent my culture because from a young age, we are expected to learn the rules of the games and to play well. My family is very competitive so games often get very heated. We are expected to have a thick skin and to not let the heat of the game get to us or hurt our feelings. Board games allow my family and friends to bond and spend more time together. It allows us to blow off steam and laugh together. I hope to continue the tradition of playing board games with my future family!

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This is a picture of Brigham Young University that is hung up in my basement. BYU is very important in my family. My grandpa Rex E. Lee was president of BYU from 1989 to 1995. My dad is a part-time professor at the BYU Law School. My parents and all of my older siblings attended BYU. Brigham Young University represents my culture because it is part of my family's history. It is what guided me to attend BYU. It is also apart of my Church's history and culture. Brigham Young University serves as a symbol of opportunity in my culture. Getting an education at BYU will help me in this life and in the next. Getting an education is very important in my culture.

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You will always find scriptures about Jesus Christ and pictures of The Savior in our homes. Faith is just part of who we are. A lot of our faith comes from the scriptures. We read the scriptures daily as individuals and as a family. It makes us different and changes the way we do things in comparison to other families. We spend our Sundays together and throughout the week talk about spiritual experiences we have had. It is our culture and not everyone has that. We share the scriptures with anyone who is willing to listen. These items, the scriptures, help others participate in the culture as well because they are our faith and explain everything we believe in. Anyone is willing to learn and we are willing to share. This has been part of our culture since my Great-grandparents who were introduced to this new culture and accepted it.

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This is a succulent. A plant that does not require much water and lots of indirect sunlight. This succulent represents a culture of easy to take care of plants. In this culture it is an option for those who are not very good at keeping plants alive but like living plants to have. Having a succulent allows people to participate in this culture because succulents are very easy to take care of and require very little maintenance. The cultural significance of owning a succulent is a message to others that you also like low maintenance plants.

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Even though my siblings and I are all adults, we make a point to keep our childhood alive. I come from a family of five girls and one boy, and we ALL played with Barbies when we were little. Then, a few years ago, my mom got my sister, Madeline, (who works as the assistant scenic designer/concept artist at the Hale Centre Theatre) a construction Barbie for her birthday, just as a joke, and since then we've started collecting some of our family role models: Mary Poppins, Hermione Granger, Iris Apfel, and Lara Croft. Here they currently sit playing poker (although some of them don't appear to have the right cards). Even though it's a bit off-putting for a visitor to walk into the barbs', many cultural performances taking place on the mantle in our living room (including but not limited to: The Little Mermaid, Les Mis, Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd, The Lion King, and The Phantom of the Opera), they never disappoint. Barbies are created for little girls to play with their role models, and they serve the same purpose for us, but they also let us keep our childhood alive, and kind of represent our somewhat ironic but happy humor.

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Even though this licorice looks like any other black licorice, the fact that it's from the Netherlands sets it apart. The difference? Dutch licorice is salty. Usually people absolutely cannot stand the taste, but my family was raised on it. We love to make our family friends try it, sort of as a hazing ceremony for induction into the family. Interestingly enough, I've noticed that people who like it tend to stick around in my life! My mom's parents both immigrated here from the Netherlands, but once they got here they had to assimilate to American culture. My mom always wishes she had the language and I wish I were more part of the culture, but really all we have is the food, and so it means a lot to us, even though most people prefer to spit it out. Like this "dubbel zout" - or double salt licorice (the saltiest level - our favorite kind), my family likes a lot of flavor and spice in our food, and we always have it at home.

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Family time (garden patio with lawn chairs)

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Family time (garden patio with lawn chairs)

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This picture shows a scene from my backyard where my family tends to hang out. My dad built all of the chairs, and my family took a day to lay all of the rock for the patio up in our garden. Our backyard isn't so much as a play place for exercise (although we do play soccer with our dog back here), but more often it's a sanctuary where we can work, study, read, or just be. I love this patio because my family built it - my family and I all work in jobs where we tend to have some heavy labor, and that's where most of our exercise comes from, aside from some yoga at the end of the night. Family leisure for us means that we're either working on something or we're existing in something we've already made. My mom has never been too worried about a mess in the house because my family always has something going on, from quilting to building furniture to painting, building set pieces and props. This part of my house is really peaceful to me because it's something my family built for us to be at peace, even if we're outside doing or making something else.

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The two pictures here are of me and my sister as leading characters in our most recent shows: the first is a meme my friend made of me in the title role of Mary Poppins at my high school. The second is my sister, Becca, who just finished her run as Jo in the Hale Center Theatre Orem's production of Little Women last week. My family is all very artsy, each member in very different ways, but one place where we all converge interests is in theatre. We spend a lot of time watching theatre, which means we've practiced really good etiquette when seeing a performance; when we were little, my mom would always be complimented on her well-behaved girls, and part of this was credited to our time spent around the various arts. At the same time, though, we're a little crazy. Maybe we can credit this to being associated so closely with the arts, too, but another thing we're frequently complimented on are our insane facial expressions. I think a lot of this definitely comes from experience in the Humanities, which are meant to help people find humanity - my family members are all very expressive, and thereby really good at storytelling and being able to find the humor in anything, including ourselves.

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My grandma LOVED to read her whole life, so there were thousands (and having organized them alphabetically, I can confidently say thousands) of books lying around their house. So when she died a few years ago, my grandpa wanted a place to put all of her books, so we came over the Christmas break last year to build him a library. For my family, this love of reading was passed on very easily - I have 4 older sisters and a little brother, so Little Women and Pride and Prejudice are a couple of family favorites. For us, the sister relationships in these books pretty much exactly match up to our own family personalities, and that is the basis of our conversations (with Jake, our brother, acting as our honorary Laurie). Especially because of how close together we all are, our family is really tightly knit like out of a book.

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These are gel pens from a Japanese company called Muji. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. These pens represent a pen culture. In a pen culture it is common for people to have preferences about the pens they love and to become attached to a certain brand because of the style of those pens. These pens allow people to "do" the pen culture by offering a niche for those who prefer pens with a tip sized 0.5 and smaller. The cultural significance of these pens is to signal to others that you also prefer different types of pens.

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I believe that having a trim, edged, freshly cut lawn is a symbol of wealthy american culture. When one enters an affluent neighborhood with large homes and beautiful cars, it’s likely that they will also encounter a beautifully cut lawn. This aspect of wealthy american culture is learned as children see an array of perfect yards both in media and in real life. Frankly, who doesn’t like a nice yard? In order to attain landscape perfection though it requires either a lot of time or the money to pay someone to keep the lawn trim and healthy. The neatness of one’s yard can even become somewhat of a competition.

https://vetiveraromatics.com/products/fresh-cut-grass-fragrance-note

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My family is dutch. Each Christmas all of the grandchildren and parents on my dad’s side receive a chocolate letter matching the letter of their first name. This tradition was introduced and had been faithfully continued by my grandmother who is dutch and moved to the US when she was a little girl during WWII. For her, the little gift of chocolate represents the simple joys of life and her dutch heritage. Though she lives in the United States she has carried on her culture and taught us the special meanings behind the small gift. Now just like my grandmother, the chocolate letter I receive each year reminds me to be grateful for all I have. I am determined to pass this symbol down to my children and teach them as my grandma taught me.

https://www.marinamarket.com/sweets/small-chocolate-letter-65g/

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I grew up in a home with only a single mother. Dino nuggets represent the culture of my home when I was a child. They are a traditional kids' food, easy and quick to prepare, cheap, and available to buy in bulk. Because my mom worked long days and was often tired when she finally returned home we ate a lot of dino nuggets for dinner rather than the home cooked meals that I may have enjoyed if she wasn’t so busy. I still love dino nuggets and will eat them for a meal if I’m having a busy day.

https://www.kingsoopers.com/p/yummy-dino-buddies-dinosaur-shaped-chicken-breast-nuggets/0006456322693

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Owning a tv is a huge part of American culture  (and many other cultures throughout the world). Media and entertainment has become a significant part of the lives of many. To symbolize this aspect of american (and other) culture most homes have at least one TV, from the poorest of families to the richest, TV is almost an essential furnishing in the american home. Even at my apartment here in Provo I have a TV mounted on the wall. The need for a TV is learned as children are placed in front of it to watch shows from a young age and as they continue to watch beloved shows into adulthood. As Americans, we feel the need to be entertained.

https://www.target.com/p/70-wall-mounted-tv-stand-black-prepac/-/A-54325747

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As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we usually have pictures of Jesus on our walls or in our homes. Jesus Christ is the center of the lives of LDS people (or at least he should be) and therefore to show our love /devotion/ remembrance we place him on the wall for all to see. I would venture to say that even those members of the church that aren’t truly converted to the gospel have a picture of him in order to prove either to themselves or to others that they are faithful believers. This culture has been passed around by believers of many faiths and is enforced by those ultra spiritual members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose homes are covered by spiritual symbols and sayings and to whom we may compare ourselves. Hanging a picture of Jesus Christ is an outward sign of belief and a large part of LDS culture.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/jesus-christ-74e791b?lang=eng

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This is a picture of my hydroflask. It is my water bottle. You can tell in the picture that there are some dents and scratches on it. It has been through a lot. I carry this with me everywhere I go. My mom teases me that it is like my child. This artifact represents my culture because I have been taught to value my health. Part of living a healthy life to me is staying hydrated. I try to stay away from soda and other sugary beverages. When I carry my water bottle around, I am reminded to drink water. It is common in my culture to carry a water bottle around every where you go. It is popular because it limits plastic use. It is good for the environment to use reusable materials. The environment is valued in my culture.

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To me, a lanyard in our culture is symbolic of some type of ownership or power. Those that own a lanyard often have keys, ID's, or cards attached to them. This shows your position in society by your ownership or participation in things. For example, if you have a lanyard with a house key, car key, and a student ID, these are markers of your position in society.In addition, I mostly see my generation using lanyards, while those my parents and grandparents age use them less. The ownership of a lanyard and how it is used can also define your age in society. The pattern or print on the lanyard is an additional identification of who you are or who you are affiliated with.

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My family loves games. Growing up, Sunday nights were dedicated as Family Game Night. We were expected to keep Sunday nights free of other plans so we could be there. Our friends have said, “you can’t leave the Watts’s house without playing a game”, which is actually quite true. When family visits, we play a game. When we have guests over, we play a game. Even when the pandemic happened, we found a way to play board games for free over the internet with family and friends. We play games of all sorts, but one specific to my family culture is word games. We grow up figuring out how to form words quickly in Boggle using patterns, and learning those strange Scrabble words that nobody actually uses in spoken language.

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Another recurring activity in my home is singing. Every time my family is around for a holiday or family gathering somebody suggests a new or classic arrangement to sing. In particular, my mom likes to sing Finnish songs. Her mother is Finnish, so that pulls in my actual cultural heritage. Because of our exposure to Finnish heritage through song and Finnish language camp, Finnish words and phrases have worked their way into everyday vocabulary.

This is a video that my siblings and I put together as a mother's day gift for my mom. We're singing the Finnish folk song "Taivas on Sininen."

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Most of the words that come out of my mouth are not my own. Well, I mean that they are mostly quotes from movies and songs. If something somebody says friends me of some other phrase, that’s what I say. My friends and I can also go on forever quoting certain conversations from our favorite movies. This being one of them:

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Each of my siblings plays a different band instrument. There are 7 of us, so we basically have a family band. When I got to the age that I could pick an instrument to play in school, I picked one that nobody else in my family already played. Not because I was forced to, but because I felt like I needed to fit the pattern set by my siblings ahead of me.

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If I had a nickel for every local and communal product surrounding my youth, I would be a rich gal. Growing up in Southern Oregon fostered a love for the fellowship between earth and (wo)man. My people - those who agreed with me - surrounded me. Walking the streets of Ashland were connecting smiles who cherished and valued the earth, it's preservation, it's resources, and the "raw" way in which we interacted/took care of it. This here juice from a local shop "Raw", emulates such an organic community. I always felt home here, with these juices in hand, and not because of the juice. It was the love of our earth - and our shared desire to take care of it. To fill our bodies and minds and souls with it's raw ingredients.

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The video we watched for this class about culture mentioned that culture is shared patterns. When I thought about this, part of my personal daily culture is shared anything. I have a relatively large family and a lot of things are shared between my siblings and I. I have 3 sisters, so most of my clothes are hand-me-downs. My laptop is my dad’s old laptop. In high school, my older siblings shared a cell phone. I share a car with my brother now. This affects me when I buy my own things now. I love thrift stores. I don’t mind second-hand things, in fact I often prefer them.

Example of some of my hand-me-down/shared things:

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Food has always accompanied connection in my life. My middle class upbringing allowed for a variety of these foods to be incorporated, but the active lifestyle initiated by my family and friends (filled with adventure, outside activities, goals, clubs, sports, etc.) resorted such foods to be simple. We never thought too much about food. It always was sure enjoyed and looked forward to. But more importantly, it was simply always there, serving a purpose. It was there to allow me to live the flexible, laughter filled, spontaneous, and adventurous life I needed it.

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I never liked makeup. In fact, I thought it made me look weird. But, growing up with sisters and plenty of girl best friends, makeup sort of surrounded me. My sisters also loved it, and were good at applying it - like an art. And they looked great with it on. My culture was one of strong women who used makeup as a tool - to present their best. It served as an act of self care and self love. Yet, sometimes resulted in an increase in the insecurities of how one looks. Interestingly enough, when it came time for proms and dances, I would get dolled up - because I felt that was what was expected of me, from everyone. That's just what we did. Once I took a step outside to look at the culture, I wished I could go back and wear a DI dress, no makeup, and natural hair. But I am ever so grateful for the culture of dressing up due to a care for the more dainty/little beauties of life - because it opened up a window into the strength of the women around me.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central Point, Oregon Stake and later, Provo - created a culture of deep appreciation for rest to the soul WITH those you love. Family. Friends. And in those relationships: strength, building one another up, laughter, memories. A shared belief was that a love for God and others mattered most. And the societal advantage through economic stability and sociality provided me with many friends and family of friends who provided the space for these conversations/memories/moments to be made - cozy living rooms.

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Mom was a nurse, I received an excellent  education, technological information was always at my fingertips, and people were constantly interacting with me - old friends, and friends anew. Along with this constant passage of new people I was meeting and interacting with, came a tendency for perfectionism. Comparison was inevitable, especially with the age of social media. Performers were everywhere. In the classrooms, on stage, on the court, in the field. Achievers. A high school filled with people who seemed to have it all together. This little hand sanitizer is something we all carreid. A little piece of evidence of how prepared we all always were. Like a mom with a purse that had everything in it. Those few germs I might have picked up throughout the day - too bad for them. Because I was in a culture of perfectionism, in every way. Nothing would move past that, not even a little germ. And I'd apply that baby constantly, just in case. Because perfectionism was just my roots.

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In my family name calling was absolutely not tolerated. This sign is one that hangs in our home. It wasn't often we were grounded in my family, but I can remember times my older sister would call me a brat or stupid and it wasn't long before she was grounded. Where some kids in school thought swear words were bad, I thought words like stupid, brat, shut-up, and dumb were in fact swearwords. This has impacted the way I talk to people or about people. I do not put labels, particularly inconsiderate ones on people. This is significant because my family believe the best way to uphold relations is to communicate effectively and kindly to each other, because it shows the respect you have for each other.

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My backpack is a symbol of the importance of education to me, my family, and the dominant culture I was raised in.  For generations my family members have gone to college, gotten degrees, and worked professionally in the United States.  My family has always placed a great deal of importance on education, and that has become a part of our culture.  That value was also inculcated in me by my teachers, leaders, and other adults throughout my growing up years.  I was always expected to get an education, and my social and economic status held me accountable to that.  A backpack is the perfect representation of the values of hard work, continuous learning, and educational drive that are so important in our culture today.

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This is a quad set of the scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It symbolizes the prevalence of religion and the word of God in my life and the influence that has on me every day.  The scriptures have been a dominant part of my life and the life of my family for generations and they have helped create a family culture of a love for God and a love for others. Growing up in Utah I was surrounded by people who had similar values and beliefs, which helped reinforce that culture even more.  That culture helped set a standard for me to live by, and it has helped shape me into the person I am today—one who strives to live by the words of God and puts a lot of value in religious study.

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This is a bag from one of my favorite restaurants, Café Rio.  Growing up in an upper middle-class Utah suburb, I spent a lot of time eating at Café Rio. Fast food is a dominant aspect of American culture today, and takeout continues to play a leading role in food consumption.  The convenience of it is conducive to the fast-paced American life, and that’s in part why chains like this are so popular today.  Another aspect of culture it represents is the importance that people in Utah in particular place on healthy eating.  While most people still enjoy a good hamburger now and again, because of the dominant religious culture in Utah, a lot of people are more conscious about and invested in their health.  And although Café Rio is not necessarily the healthiest place, a nice pork salad always seems better than a hamburger and fries.

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This is a hat bearing the logo of the Boston Red Sox, a popular Major League Baseball team in the United States.  As long as I can remember I’ve been a fan of the Red Sox, and it all started because my dad grew up in New England near the team.  In my family I’ve always been expected to know the stats about this player or that, to know the rules of baseball, and to show my support of the team.  Going to MLB games was a regular occurrence in my family and American baseball became very much a part of my culture. But this Red Sox hat doesn’t just represent the culture within my family, it represents a broader culture found in the United States of a love for sports.  The sports, the teams, the fans, the gear, it’s all an important part of who you are as an American.

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An important aspect of my culture as an American and as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the idea of planning, goal-setting, and achieving.  The United States has always held the ideal of the “American Dream,” and the U.S. supports a culture of hard work, persistence, and following your dreams.  With this attitude, it’s presumed we can get anywhere in life.  A planner is the perfect example of what this culture represents—planning, setting goals, keeping a schedule, and accomplishing as much as possible with our time.  We like to be efficient.  This culture was also impressed upon me as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints when we would make monthly, weekly, and daily goals and plans.  Planning has always been and will most likely always continue to be an important part of my culture.

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Behind the Mask-SuperheroesMy siblings and I were raised on superheroes. Because of this our family has dozens of superhero shirts, action figures and dvd’s. My siblings and I also watched hours and hours of cartoon superhero movies (teen titans, batman, justice league, legion of superhero) growing up. We definitely “learned” this culture from my dad. As a kid he loved superheroes, because that is what his mom bought him as a kid, and that is what his friends always played with. Because of that my dad always had us watching and playing with superheroes. One of my funniest memories with this is on our road trip to California my dad quizzed us on the different superheroes of the DC Universe. He would ask us “Name the different green lanters, or who is the alter ego of superman, wonder woman, flash, etc) This influenced the culture of our family because the more we loved and knew these superheroes the more we connected with our dad and other siblings. Knowing the superheroes was an achievement and whoever could name the most had bragging rights until another person knew more than them.

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Behind the Mask-SuperheroesMy siblings and I were raised on superheroes. Because of this our family has dozens of superhero shirts, action figures and dvd’s. My siblings and I also watched hours and hours of cartoon superhero movies (teen titans, batman, justice league, legion of superhero) growing up. We definitely “learned” this culture from my dad. As a kid he loved superheroes, because that is what his mom bought him as a kid, and that is what his friends always played with. Because of that my dad always had us watching and playing with superheroes. One of my funniest memories with this is on our road trip to California my dad quizzed us on the different superheroes of the DC Universe. He would ask us “Name the different green lanters, or who is the alter ego of superman, wonder woman, flash, etc) This influenced the culture of our family because the more we loved and knew these superheroes the more we connected with our dad and other siblings. Knowing the superheroes was an achievement and whoever could name the most had bragging rights until another person knew more than them.

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Living in the neighborhood I’m in and with my family having a Pinterest like house, clothes, food is something that is praised by all. You know those houses you go into that usually have white walls, plants, aesthetic art, perfectly placed pictures-the houses that make you think “this belongs on “Pinterest.” That is how my neighborhood is. A lot of people constantly remodel to make their house more and more like Chip and Joanna in fixer upper. The culture artifact is my room, I didn’t actually decorate my room, but when I came home for my mission my family did. You can see by the different objects (lamp, blue chair, bed pillows, random pictures of herbs on the wall) that everything was placed in there to be aesthetically pleasing. Look at my sisters new house it’s the same way. This is something I learned growing up, is that if you had something that looked like it belonged on Pinterest it gave you a sense of accomplishment and helped you “fit in” and gain attention/praise from others.

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If you were to step into my house the first thing you would see is a mountain if Jordan shoes, turn to the left and you’d see Jordan coats and sweat shirts hanging on the wall. Walk a little further and there may be a few Jordan backpacks lying around. Not only were having Jordans part of my family culture but part of American culture as well. Especially for those in sports, having Jordans seems like a badge of honor. It makes it seem like you are athletic, and up-to-date on fashion trends. My last name is also Jordan so that influenced my families love of Jordans as well. This picture displays all of the pairs of Jordan shoes in our Jordan household.

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Something that effects me, and virtually every other college student is the means of transportation. Having a car gives you a sense of freedom and ability to do the things you want. Not only in the college world but in buisness, neighborhoods, everywhere cars are seen as a symbol. I don’t have the nicest car, but it gets me around. But in other places people who have those nice cars that turn heads are seen as more valuable, wealthy and cool. I think as Americans cars are a part of our culture, what you drive a lot of the time gives a little piece about who you are.

The video below shows how valuable the car is to college students through the eyes of toddlers. I think if my siblings and I were little again we would fight over having a car the same way these boys do.

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For my family, and a lot of members of the church, have homes displaying artwork of temples, Christ, Prophets, etc. It is part of our culture being a member of the church. With having those pictures comes the belief that it brings the spirit into your home, and adds a feeling of peace. That was something I was taught from my parents, and would almost subconsciously have pictures of the temple and Christ on my walls in my bedroom, college, door, phone wallpaper. Growing up surrounded by these images led me to want to cover my house/apartment with similar art.

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In my culture humor is significant because it enables me to make friends by being able to connect with the people around me.  Humor is also part of my culture because that is the language that we speak with my family.  That is how we socialize and connect with each other.   Humor is how we interpret life when things can be negative which allows us to more fully enjoy life.

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In my culture education is seen as the gateway to success.  People of my culture believe that in order to reach our full potential we must get the most education that is offered to us.  We believe that it is important to work as hard as you can to receive an education.  Education is significant to our culture because having a high education implies that you are contributing to society in its fullest.

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Playing sports and exercising are seen as very important to my culture.  We use athletics as a way to bond, socialize, and connect with each other.  My culture places significance on attaining athletic goals and it is viewed as a beneficial way to spend time.  Keeping your body healthy is a priority in my culture.

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Growing up religion was at the center of my culture.  Most everything we did was based on what we believed from our religion.  Many social activities were also based on our religion.  Religious discussions were a part of day to day life.  Family and friends shared what they believed and learned often. Writing and reading religious texts were seen as mandatory and this was done daily as well.

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In my culture, appearance including the way we dress, do our hair and how our skin looks is all very important.  We spend as much money as needed in order for these to look nice.  Going out in public looking messy or dirty is not normal and you would feel uncomfortable doing so.  In our culture we use many products every day trying to look our best and impress each other.

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Mortar and Pestle: Food plays an important role in Hispanic culture. A good meal symbolizes family, health, and love. In Hispanic culture we like to hold big gathering of family and friends to share a meal together to show our love for each other. A good appetite is associated with good health, the more you eat the better your health. Cooking is something that my family started to get me familiar with at a young age. Knowing how to cook and knowing how much to make of a certain dish was important when it comes to preparing meals for family, friends, and big gatherings. Also, making a good meal for my future husband and future children is a high demand in the culture. 

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Mortar and Pestle: Food plays an important role in Hispanic culture. A good meal symbolizes family, health, and love. In Hispanic culture we like to hold big gathering of family and friends to share a meal together to show our love for each other. A good appetite is associated with good health, the more you eat the better your health. Cooking is something that my family started to get me familiar with at a young age. Knowing how to cook and knowing how much to make of a certain dish was important when it comes to preparing meals for family, friends, and big gatherings. Also, making a good meal for my future husband and future children is a high demand in the culture. 

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Colorful Blanket: The Hispanic culture is bursting with color, from vibrant architect, to colorful foods, flamboyant patterns and textiles, and vivid/crazy art. This Mexican blanket that is displayed above is a stable in a Hispanic home. It represents the color and fun that the culture brings to a home. For example, this blanket represents the Hispanic culture in my home because it shows that my family is fun, crazy, and full of life. Another example of color used in Hispanic culture would be the clothes we wear. Each color represents something different in the culture. Red represent the blood shed of historical hero’s. Orange and yellow represents warmth that the family brings. Green represents plants and hope. Blue is a reminiscent of the sea and sky. And purple is used to highlight architectural features. 

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Colorful Blanket: The Hispanic culture is bursting with color, from vibrant architect, to colorful foods, flamboyant patterns and textiles, and vivid/crazy art. This Mexican blanket that is displayed above is a stable in a Hispanic home. It represents the color and fun that the culture brings to a home. For example, this blanket represents the Hispanic culture in my home because it shows that my family is fun, crazy, and full of life. Another example of color used in Hispanic culture would be the clothes we wear. Each color represents something different in the culture. Red represent the blood shed of historical hero’s. Orange and yellow represents warmth that the family brings. Green represents plants and hope. Blue is a reminiscent of the sea and sky. And purple is used to highlight architectural features. 

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Selena Quintanilla Peres: Besides food and color, music is a huge aspect that represents Hispanic culture. Growing up there was always music playing in my house. Music from every different genera, from Spanish music to R&B, to country, to rap, church music, even The Bee Gees. There was never a quite moment because we always had music playing. My dad is Hispanic and we grew up watching one of his favorite movies, which is “Selena”. Selena Quintanilla Peres was a famous Mexican artist. Her music was fun, creative, and powerful. She was shot and killed on March 31, 1995 in Corpus Christi Texas. She is the staple for Hispanic culture. Due to the fact that my siblings and I grew up listening to her music and watching her movie we learned what it meant to follow your dreams no matter the obstacles that you go through. She brought so much life to my family and is an important part in the family life in my house. 

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Selena Quintanilla Peres: Besides food and color, music is a huge aspect that represents Hispanic culture. Growing up there was always music playing in my house. Music from every different genera, from Spanish music to R&B, to country, to rap, church music, even The Bee Gees. There was never a quite moment because we always had music playing. My dad is Hispanic and we grew up watching one of his favorite movies, which is “Selena”. Selena Quintanilla Peres was a famous Mexican artist. Her music was fun, creative, and powerful. She was shot and killed on March 31, 1995 in Corpus Christi Texas. She is the staple for Hispanic culture. Due to the fact that my siblings and I grew up listening to her music and watching her movie we learned what it meant to follow your dreams no matter the obstacles that you go through. She brought so much life to my family and is an important part in the family life in my house. 

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The Pirate Cabinet: This cabinet belongs to my grandpa. My grandparents are huge Disney lovers. Every time they go to Disneyland my grandpa will buy a new souvenir to add to his cabinet. This cabinet is a huge symbol of my family and culture because it is about the connection between grandkids and grandpa. All of my young cousins will always ask if they can take a jewel from his cabinet and every time they do so they have huge smiles on their face because they were able to take and keep something that our grandpa cares so much about. This symbolizes the bond that our family has for each other and something that will be passed on forever. Anyone that knows him knows how much joy his grandkids bring him and how much he loves sharing the items inside with them. He is the reason our family dynamic and culture is the way it is. He is the joy and love.

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The Pirate Cabinet: This cabinet belongs to my grandpa. My grandparents are huge Disney lovers. Every time they go to Disneyland my grandpa will buy a new souvenir to add to his cabinet. This cabinet is a huge symbol of my family and culture because it is about the connection between grandkids and grandpa. All of my young cousins will always ask if they can take a jewel from his cabinet and every time they do so they have huge smiles on their face because they were able to take and keep something that our grandpa cares so much about. This symbolizes the bond that our family has for each other and something that will be passed on forever. Anyone that knows him knows how much joy his grandkids bring him and how much he loves sharing the items inside with them. He is the reason our family dynamic and culture is the way it is. He is the joy and love.

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Madison and Michael: Madison and Michael are my brother Eric and his husband Shane’s foster children. These two beautiful children represent the love we have for everyone no matter their race, heritage, background, gender, sexual orientation, or blood. My mom is white, my dad is Hispanic and together they have five extremely wild and different Hispanic children. Madison and Michael come from parents who are gypsies that didn’t show them the care and love that they needed and now they are part of our melting pot of crazies. They represent the love and diversity that my culture shows. Even thought they do not share our same DNA we love them just the same. 

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Madison and Michael: Madison and Michael are my brother Eric and his husband Shane’s foster children. These two beautiful children represent the love we have for everyone no matter their race, heritage, background, gender, sexual orientation, or blood. My mom is white, my dad is Hispanic and together they have five extremely wild and different Hispanic children. Madison and Michael come from parents who are gypsies that didn’t show them the care and love that they needed and now they are part of our melting pot of crazies. They represent the love and diversity that my culture shows. Even thought they do not share our same DNA we love them just the same. 

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I was first introduced to these amazing concoctions was at home in So Cal. After every beach trip, there was always the obligatory visit to the nearest acai shop to grab a bowl or smoothie. Then, I was blessed to have served a mission in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and try the real deal. While acai in Brazil is served in a different manner, the berry blended treat touched my heart and allowed me to remember my home while serving in my new home.

My trainer, Sister Sorenson as we enjoyed a bowl of acai!

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Very few people outside of California know about these amazing cities. While they are only miles away, San Clemente and Laguna Beach are known as the most different, but most iconic beach cities around. San Clemente is the home of some of the best surf in the OC. Trestles, Riviera, Calafia, and T-Street are packed day in and day out with surfers and beach goers alike. The waves run high, the water brisk and refreshing, and everyone leaves with a smile on their face. San Clemente is one of the most active surf spots in the state, and nearly everyone you see has a board with them at all times. The further north you go, you stumble on Laguna Beach. Home to the finest artists in the Southern California area, Laguna is renowned artistic style, summer festivals, and free flowing spirit. My summer wasn't complete without visiting the Sawdust Art Festival with my best friends and then getting gelato as we strolled through shops and museums. These places hold a very special spot in my heart, even more so since I got engaged in Laguna. You truly cannot say you've visited California if you haven't been here.

Sunset at T-Street

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Bookshelves/books: In my culture, these bookshelves are a symbol of the value that I place on education and reading. I carry a book with me at all times, which is also symbolic of the value that is placed on reading. I grew up in a family that placed a significant emphasis on reading, and I was surrounded by books at all times, and having these bookshelves in my own apartment symbolizes that I am carrying on that tradition, that I fit into the culture of my own family, and also that I place a lot of value on reading. I can’t even count the amount of times a person has seen my room and said something like, “Wow, you must really like reading”, or “Wow, you must really love books”. These bookshelves and constantly having a book with me allow me to place myself within the culture as someone who loves books and reading and values them. Additionally, being able to own all of these books signals to people that I have the financial resources to buy books, and the leisure time to enjoy them, which implies a mid to high social class.

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Personal Progress Necklace: I am from Provo, which means that the dominant religion at my high school is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This necklace serves as a symbol that whoever is wearing it is a part of the dominant culture. To be honest, in high school, it often served as a kind of status symbol, a way of telling who was a “good” Mormon, and who was not. If they were wearing the necklace, then they must’ve finished Personal Progress, which implied that they regularly attended church and had a firm testimony. It allows whoever is wearing it to fit into the dominant group, and to declare to everyone just by wearing it that they fit in. I’m sure that it was also a little rough for those who did not have it. While these are the more negative aspects of this particular symbol, it also serves as a reminder of my values when I wear it. It represents my beliefs, and the church that I am a part of.

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1.     Backpack: In a similar way to the bookshelves, in my culture, a backpack can symbolize my commitment to education. In the culture of Provo, it also puts me in the specific group of “student”. It might allow me to get student discounts at the grocery store. It symbolizes to those around me that I am probably not a permanent resident of Provo (although that’s not true in my specific case, but that’s what a student wearing a backpack often symbolizes). It symbolizes hard work and a value for education. My specific backpack also tells you a lot about who I am as a person, and the cultures that I claim as my own, but not all backpacks do that. I just like pins.

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1.     Hot sauce: This one is much more specific to my family culture. My dad is from Buffalo, New York, and in case you didn’t know, that’s where Buffalo wings were invented. (Supposedly). Anyways, a huge part of interacting in the culture of my family is liking hot sauce, and liking buffalo wings. I’m not joking. It’s also expected that you know what “good” buffalo wings are. In case you were wondering, there’s only one place in all of Utah that has really good buffalo wings, according to my dad and all of his brothers, and that Rocky Mountain Wing Shack in American Fork. When I was little I didn’t even know that there were other kinds of wings besides buffalo wings, and was completely disgusted to find out about the existence of honey glazed wings. (I still am. I hate sweet wings). Loving hot sauce and hot wings allows me to relate to my dad’s side of the family, and we have them at almost every gathering. They’re really a symbol of the family for us, and I have this hot sauce all the time in my fridge, and I use it on everything.

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1.     Mascara: This mascara is something that I have in my purse and my backpack at all times, which is funny because I hardly even ever wear mascara. I think that this mascara symbolizes the culture of femininity, that women are supposed to look pretty or be able to look pretty all the time. If I want to make a good impression, I put on some mascara. If I want to look dressed up, I put on some mascara. It symbolizes the value that we put in looking good in this culture. It symbolizes the idea that makeup is necessary.

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This is an embroidered picture of the Provo City Center Temple I have hanging on my wall. Having a picture of the temple hanging on my wall represents my religious culture. The temple is a very significant part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Religion and having a picture of the temple is something that is very common and somewhat expected when you walk into the house of another member of the church. I would say that the picture of the temple could represent a deeper level of devotion to the religion, and by showing it on your wall you are open about portraying that to others. Being able to go into the temple in person allows a person to fully immerse themselves into everything the Church has to offer. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the temple is a most sacred space. Without the temple, you are only experiencing a part of the religion.

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These are some of the hoodies I own, hanging in my closet. Owning a lot of hoodies is something I have found is not the most fashionable thing in Utah culture, but I find myself still transitioning from the local Alaskan culture that I came from before I moved here. In Alaska it is almost frowned upon if you are “too dressed up” for a normal day; being too dressed up there is as simple as wearing a cute blouse with a pair of jeans and a pair of flats. It is cold a lot of the time there, so hoodies are a year-round clothing item that people pair with anything. You are often in the woods, walking down dirt roads, and spending a decent amount of time outside where you could get dirty, so the casual clothing allows you to be okay with that. Wearing hoodies shows that you don’t care too much about your appearance, which in Alaska, helps you fit in.

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This is one of my drawers full of some of my favorite board games. Owning a lot of board games represents my family culture since being married to my husband. The board games provide a way for us to socialize with our friends without needing to go out. While some family cultures might put more emphasis on watching sports games or movies, our family culture is more centered on spending quality time at the dinner table playing these games. It helps us feel more connected to each other than we would have if we had watched a show on Netflix for a couple of hours. Playing board games allows each person to have a role in the interaction.

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Eating at a Chick-fil-a restaurant represents the Utah/American culture. There is a large fast-food culture in the United States centered around getting to where you want to go quickly and not spending much time waiting for food. There is also an emphasis on higher-quality fast food chains (better than McDonald’s or Wendy’s) in the Utah area. I believe this is because people here, including me, love the convenience but also gain satisfaction by feeling like they are “eating better.” The name recognition of Chick-fil-a around the area, allows it to become somewhat of a conversation piece with friends as well.
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