Burmese Culture by Mio

Food

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-15 02:15:17 UTC

Mohinga is a popular delicacy in Burmese culture that is usually eaten during breakfast. This street food dish is popular throughout Myanmar because it provides spiritual warmth and comfort when consumed (Craig, 2023). This Myanmar national cuisine is nutritious since it comprises items from each of the Australian Dietary Guidelines groups.

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts fish stock

• 2 pounds whitefish cut into 1 to 2-inch pieces

• 2 TBSPs coconut oil

• 1 large onion or 2 small-medium onions, diced

• 4-6 garlic cloves diced

• 3-4 inch piece ginger peeled and diced

• 2 stalks lemongrass top half (the thinner, green part) removed, bottom half cut into chunks

• 2 tsps turmeric

• 1 tsps roasted chile powder

• 1 cup chickpea flour (also called “fava” flour)

• Rice noodles cooked according to package directions

OPTIONAL SEASONINGS, TO TASTE

• Fish sauce

• Lime wedge

• Fresh cilantro chopped

• Red onions or fried onions sliced fine

• Hard or soft-boiled eggs

• Pinch chile powder

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut the lemongrass stalks in half. Discard the upper green halves. Take the lower halves chop off the end, and peel away a few of the tough outer layers. Dice the stalk into 1 inch pieces.

2. Dice the onion, garlic and ginger. Use a food processor, if needed. Heat coconut oil in a medium-sized stockpot over medium heat.

3. Add turmeric and chili powder. Mix well and saute another minute or two.

4. Add fish broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and bring to a simmer.

5. Add chickpea flour and stir until mixed well. Simmer for 10 to 15 more minutes until slightly thickened.

6. Add the fish. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until it's cooked through.

7. Prepare noodles according to package directions.

8. Add rice noodles to individual bowls. Ladle soup over the noodles. Add seasonings, to taste.

NUTRITION

Craig, F. (2023). How to make Mohinga (Burmese fish noodle soup). Fearless Eating. https://fearlesseating.net/mohinga-best-noodle-soup-ever/

Arts

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-15 02:16:05 UTC

Stucco (a wall material) is used to create decorative flower motifs. According to (Stephen 2016), this art style was popular throughout the Bagan period and may still be found at the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, where the coiled leaves and buds are still intact.

Stephen. (2016). Pantaut – Art of Making Floral Designs Using Masonry. Go Myanmar Tours. https://www.gomyanmartours.com/pantaut-art-making-floral-designs-using-masonry/

Sport

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-15 02:17:12 UTC

Chinlone is Myanmar's national sport. Instead of using their hands, they use their feet to pass the handwoven rattan ball (Gibson, 2019). This sport brings people together and improves their physical and emotional health by allowing them to socialise with friends and family.

Gibson, B. (2019). Caneball, an ancient east Asian sport, helps refugees from Myanmar feel at home in Australia. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-27/caneball-an-ancient-east-asian-sport-helping-refugees/11447842

Music

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-15 02:23:35 UTC

The orchestra known as a 'Saing' is the most frequent form of Burmese traditional and folk music. The setting comprises a Pat Waing (ပတ်ဝိုင်း), a player seated in the centre surrounded by drums. Similarly, with a Kyee waing, the player sits in a circle of gongs. This ensemble also comprises a large putt ma drum, hnè wind instruments (similar to an oboe), and the palwé (a bamboo pipe). This is usually accompanied with a ritual dance (nat pwès). This would enliven the villages (U Khin Zaw, 1958), or it is used on numerous festive occasions. Folk music would connect with the listeners, enlivening their livelihood and well-being.

U, Z. (1958). Burmese Music. A partnership in melodic sounds. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1958/02/burmese-music/306823/

Health Belief or Traditional Medicine

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-21 15:09:29 UTC

It is believed that an imbalance of harmony between the mind, spirit, and body can jeopardise one's health (eCALD, 2015). There are traditional practises that can fundamentally restore physical balance. Illness can be seen as a spirit possession by a Nat, a terrestrial spirit that influences human events, or by an ancestor. More beliefs can be attributed to poor karma, or a more conventional belief can be linked to a woman's menstrual cycle. The amount of flow might signify either good or bad mental and physical health.

eCALD. (2015). Burmese Culture. https://www.ecald.com/assets/Resources/Assets/C2-S5-Burmese.pdf

Domain 1

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-21 15:13:48 UTC

I think that domain 1.1 is an essential to keep in mind for my nursing practice. I have developed a better understanding that I need to be responsive to my patient's cultures without making assumptions to their needs and preferences. Having learned that refugees/migrants may have communication issues as they might not be fluent in English, I could act "without assumption" by remembering not to assume my patient are fluent in English which can lead to a miscommunication. If the patient isn't fluent, then I would "respond sensitively" by finding an interpreter, avoiding using complicated sentences, and speaking without medical jargon.

Competency Standards Framework for Clinicians. (2019). Culturally responsive clinical practice: Working with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. https://moodleprod.murdoch.edu.au/pluginfile.php/3573073/mod_resource/content/1/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf

WHO Social Determinants

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-21 15:15:30 UTC

Income:

Extreme economic deterioration has reduced child health in Myanmar as a result of poverty and inadequate health services. Migration can also put a lot of mental stress on those that are in refugee camps as they are exposed to harsh living conditions, this could put them in unemployment or underemployment post migration (Laurence et al., 2011)

Education: Younger children could experience academic performance pressures from family back home, the pressure being that they must be outstanding to provide for their families. Likewise, children that migrated will have their education disrupted. This can expose them to violence (Laurence et al., 2011), therefore will be involved in bullying as they have difficulties in a new language.

Social inclusion and non-discrimination:

As these Burmese refugees are away from their culture and country they will feel loneliness, prejudice from others, and homesickness. All these factors can negatively impact on their mental health, and additionally according to Raheel et al. (2014), this could slowly impact their physical wellbeing as these could potentially lead to depression.

Laurence, K., Lavanya, N., Marie, M., Meb, R., Andrew, R., Jaswant, G., Ghayda, H., Cecile, R., Kevin, P. (2011). Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care. National Library of Medicine. 10.1503/cmaj.090292

Raheel M., Sheikh S., Tabindah S., Sahil M. (2014). Relationship Between Loneliness, Psychiatric Disorders and Physical Health? A Review on the Psychological Aspects of Loneliness. National Library of Medicine. 10.7860/JCDR/2014/10077.4828

Australian refugee health practice guide

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-21 15:20:59 UTC

Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne protozoal parasite of the genus Plasmodium (Phillips & Frances, 2023). The type of malaria in Myanmar is P. falciparum, so Burmese refugees should be treated with oral quinine sulfate plus doxycycline for 7 days.

Hepatitis B

According to the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide (2023), there is a high prevalence of Hep B (10-14%) found among Burmese refugees.

Treatment for chronic Hep B includes oral tenofovir (WHO, 2023).

Schistosomiasis

This disease is primarily transmitted by contact with fresh water. This is a persistent parasitic infection caused by snails that discharge infective cercariae. Although schistosomiasis is less common in South-east Asia, it is endemic in Myanmar, with 9% of Karen adults and 4.6% of Karen children arriving in Melbourne testing positive for the parasite (Australian Refugee Health Practise Guide, 2023).

Praziquantel is administered in two doses of 20mg/kg, four hours apart, according to the Australian Refugee Health Practise Guide (2023).

Phillips, C., & Francis, J. (2023). Malaria. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/malaria/

Davis, J. S., Phillips, C., & Clifford, V. (2023). Schistosomiasis. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/schistosomiasis/

World Health Organisation. (n.d.). Hepatitis B.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b

Religion

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-25 03:09:47 UTC

Buddhism is the most common religion, accounting for 89% of the population, whereas Christianity accounts for roughly 5% (Zam, 2016, p. 45). Traditional indigenous beliefs are extensively practised in Buddhist rituals, particularly in rural areas. Burmese people worship "nat" spirits, which are earth, nature, mountains, and even houses and villages. This causes people to be very spiritual and are in touch with nature, (Zam, 2016, pp. 49).

Zam, K. (2016). Burmese Nationalism and Christianity in Myanmar: Christian Identity and Witness in Myanmar Today. Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis

Traditional dress

hello3lol3 — 2023-11-27 09:53:28 UTC

It is known as the Paso for men and the htamein for ladies. In the heat, many people in Myanmar wear this because it allows air circulation and keeps them cool. This one-of-a-kind piece of apparel can be worn casually i.e, for sports, they can "pull the front side of the longyi backwards between the legs, and tuck it up behind the waist." (Wendy, 2022). Or they can wear it for formal occasions,

Wendy, 2022, October, 26. The Longyi Traditional Dress of Myanmar. Asia Highlights. https://www.asiahighlights.com/myanmar/traditional-dress