Reading Response Essay Examples - Cultural Shock in Reverse, Kyoiku Mamas, and Bloomington Fall 1971

The three readings, Cultural Shock in Reverse, Kyoiku Mamas, and Bloomington Fall 1971, are interesting because they are tied together of the thread of education, but actually discuss there very different human relationships. Cultural Shock in Reverse specifically discusses international friendships with regard to education, Kyoiku Mamas discuss the mother-son, or mother-child relationships with regard to education, especially in the international setting, and Scoshi talk about the variations in suitable romantic relationships in international culture, and how that relates to education.
Reading through these texts, it becomes clear that certain character traits are very simply, global, or a part of human nature. Mother’s are driven to be involved in their children’s lives and education, their maternal nature makes them protective, and fundamentally, emotionally tied to their children’s success. However, it would seem that these Japanese mother’s, perhaps, take too much responsibility for their children’s success or failure. Also, successes are driven not, truly by achievement of knowledge, but rather by “winning” or success in the perceived competition for greatness.
The view of international friendships is interesting because it points out how hard it is to respect another’s decision, when you come from very different cultural backgrounds. Yoshiko limits her own future, because she obey’s her father’s wishes, and is controlled by what he is or is not willing to do. This is hard for her friend and host, the narrator of the story, to accept, because it America you make your own decisions about the future. This is based on the society she comes from’s norms. This is very similar to the couple in Bloomington, Fall of 1971, who must through off their Korean understanding’s and perceptions with regard to romantic relationships, in order to pursue their own relationship and eventual marriage.