Assignment 2:3 Shared Values
Hand-drawn lettering of an inspirational saying on old folded paper.
Read at least 6 students blog short stories about ‘home’ and make a list of BOTH the common shared assumptions, values and stories that you find and look for differences as well; look to see if you can find student peers who appear to have different values then yourself when it comes to the meaning of ‘home.’ Post this list on your blog and include commentary please.
It’s currently 1:56 am, and my nocturnal self is sitting at my computer with a hot cup of tea and a good playlist, mulling over everyone’s stories. I would be lying if I said that they don’t make me emotional; it is evident that fragments of people’s identity and souls have been embedded within their stories. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a spectator.
Special thanks to: Kirsten Boyd, J.T Bae, Simran Chalhotra, Nolan Janssens, Andrea Melton & Kevin Hatch
Home is a feeling
In all of the blogs I read, it was clear that the notion of “home” was a feeling, rather than a physically tangible home. However, the feeling of home can be found within actual structures, such as the garden that Kirsten mentions, or Simran’s mediation center. It is what is found within these structures that breathes life into a home.
Home is security
There is a reason as to why homes in literature are painted as warm and safe places. Kirsten mentions her mom’s baking, which paints the perfect picture of an inviting home space. Conversely, Kevin talks about how “home” was harder and harder to hold onto after his conventional familial model changed. For myself, I don’t know if I can truly say that home offers security. The roof over my head and food in my stomach ensures physical survival, but without the feeling of home, is that enough?
Home is subjective
Home, however, is not always a warm and fuzzy feeling. It, to some, may seem like an unachievable dream. When I was telling my own family’s story, this worldview is one that I know had initially existed, eventually morphing and manifesting itself in the form of newfound traditions and belonging. J.T’s blog expresses his distance from the belonging that comes with the orthodox concept of “home,” which is an idea that I can also resonate with. To some, home may be the feeling they get when they’re surrounded by a strong community of peers, and to others, it may be the feeling that comes with sheer self-discovery and growth.
Traditions
Tradition seems to be a large part of most people’s concept of “home.” From Nolan’s asado, to Simran’s meditational Sundays, to Andrea’s English breakfasts, traditions become routine. When shared with others, there is a sense of belonging and unspoken kinship. I noticed that food also played a large role in many blogs, tying into tradition. My blog also talked about food, as a large part of any culture is the food. Meals are usually a shared social activity, much like storytelling is. However, there are people who also eat alone; people who live fast paced lives, or perhaps people who have nowhere to be. I am curious as to what these people’s notion of “home” is.
Curious about what the internet thought about “home,” I did some research and came across this and this. The first link describes why the idea of home is so important to us and our psyche, whereas the latter brings up its repeated use of literature – something that I felt was a vital read due to the nature of this course and storytelling.
Works Cited
Fox, Michael Allen. “Why Is Home so Important to Us?” OUPblog, 23 Dec. 2016, blog.oup.com/2016/12/home-place-environment/.
Mathis, Renee. “Dulce Domum: The Longing for Home in Literature (and Our Hearts).” Circe Institute, 29 Apr. 2016, www.circeinstitute.org/blog/dulce-domum-longing-home-literature-and-our-hearts.