Monthly Archives: May 2018

Because of us, them.

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: 4-6-18
Primary Language: English
Language: French, bit of Hebrew

Nationality: American

Primary Language: English

Other language(s):  French, a bit of Hebrew

Age: 18

Occupation: Student

Residence: California

Performance Date: 4-6-18

What it is: Because of us, them. Because of them, us.

Why they know it:  Amanda also attended Santa Barbara Middle School, and like ‘putting someone’s name into the fire’, this was a thing that was said on a daily occurrence. The meaning and saying became part of her vocabulary because of her experiences at SBMS.

When is it said: This is said in any situations, especially when someone has done something that was unfavorable. The teachers would go, Because of us, them. Because of them, us.

Where did it come from: SBMS

Why it’s said: This is a remembrance proverb. It’s meant to make people remember that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The actions you put out there do not just affect you but it affects the people in the future as well. The actions of the past are what allow us to do the things we are doing now. And our actions will determine what the future people are able to do.

How they know it and what it means: The meaning is not hard to figure out and is thus not hard to communicate. It has been told so many times that is just something that you always remember that your actions have consequences, both good and bad. The best example is dress code. One year girls were wearing outfits that were not very appropriate for middle school. So, Whitney (one of the teachers) told them if they keep dressing like that we will have to issue uniforms, which would affect every student presently and for the future. If they didn’t want a uniform then they had to dress more appropriately.

Thoughts: This is one of my favorite proverbs. It makes me remember just how impactful my actions are, that I am not the only one being affected by things I do and visa versa. I believe that this message is super impactful and should be something that is taught because maybe, just maybe, situations (like the ones of current time) wouldn’t happen if we really taught people the impact of their actions.

Names

Nationality: American
Age: 16
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: 3-17-18
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish, bit of Hebrew

Nationality: American

Primary Language: English

Other language(s):  Spanish, a bit of Hebrew

Age: 16

Occupation: Student

Residence: California

Performance Date: 3-17-18

What it is: Names into the Fire

“At Santa Barbara Middle School, SBMS, we went on these outdoor trips three times a year. Every night we would have a campfire and sing songs, tell stories from the day, and discuss tomorrows activities. Before we were dismissed for bed, we would be asked if we wanted to put anyone’s name into the fire. This was a tradition from the very first campfire. You would stand up and say ‘I want to put (whoever it was) name in the fire’ and explain why. Most of the time it was a person who was encouraging or made you laugh, etc. Then at the end of the night the ash from the fire was collected and put into a jar. That very ash (that had been collected since the first fire) was then used in the fire the next day.”

Why they know it:  A tradition they partook in

When is it said: After every campfire

Where did it come from: SBMS

Why it’s said: Its done to incorporate those that came before us. All the memories, names, adventures they went on that are in so many ways similar to the ones just stated.

How they know it and what it means: Koby partook in this over four years.

Thoughts: Having also partaken in this activity, I believe its almost like having a scrapbook. We didn’t need to see the people or hear their words to understand what was being continued and conveyed. There is a deeper history that is being conveyed when this is done.

Song/Celebration

Nationality: British
Age: 25
Occupation: Product Design
Residence: Manchester/LA
Performance Date: 4/9/18
Primary Language: English

When talking to one of my brother’s good friends, who is from Manchester England, I asked if he had any songs that he knew of that he has learned from any of his friends or relatives.

 

He told me of a song that him and his friends always sing when they go out, “We like to drink with (insert name) because (name) is our mate! And when we drink with (name) he takes it down in 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”

 

 

Background Info: This song is some that Edward grew up hearing amongst people in England. When you call someone out and sing the song, they have to finish whatever drink is in their hand by the time the singers get to the end of the 8 second countdown. “It is something that is fun and gets you to finish more beer” –Edward.

 

Context: Edward told me about this song while I was at lunch with him and my brother.

 

 

Analysis: Once Edward told me about the song, he sang it but for me—it was a fun experience to say the least. Edward said that this is a very popular song in England, and is normally sang at universities at their get-togethers, next time I visit England I will be sure to ask people about this chant!

                                                                

 

For similar write-ups, and some videos of other people singing this same song, see:

 

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=down%20it%20fresher

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c02U02efg6U

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tblxOzPiNOA

Joke

Nationality: American
Age: 81
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 3/30/18
Primary Language: English

I asked my grandpa if he had any jokes that he loved. His response was that he only had Jewish jokes, because that is what his Jewish father would always tell him growing up in Brooklyn.

 

He began to tell me the joke after I asked him this question, “It was the winter Olympics, there were 3 finalists in the ski competition, one from Israel, one from Sweden, and one from Italy. The top favorite was the man from Israel, who normally finished the competition in 2 minutes 10 seconds. The man from Sweden went first and timed a 2 minutes and 46 seconds, next the man from Italy went and timed a 2 minutes and 22 seconds, finally it was the man from Israel’s turn, they waited as he went down the mountain, but the time kept ticking, it went past his normal time of 2 minutes 10 seconds, finally he crossed the finish line at 4 minutes and 20 seconds. The reporters asked him what happened and he said, “WHOEVER PUT THE MEZUZAHS ON THE GATES IS TOAST”.

 

Background Info: My grandpa is from Brooklyn and was raised in a Jewish family, he loves these types of jokes because they help explain parts of the culture. The joke is that whenever a Jewish person sees a Mezuzah, he/she has to stop and say the prayer that is inside of the Mezuzah, and remember why they are Jewish, this stalled the man from Israel’s competition as he had to stop at each Mezuzah.

 

Context: My grandpa told me this joke during Passover dinner

 

Analysis: My grandpa has been telling me jokes since I can remember, but I had not heard this one before. A lot of his jokes are about the Jewish culture, but have meaning to them in remembering the importance of certain aspects of the culture, for example this joke is meant to remind you to recognize the prayer whenever you see a Mezuzah.

Proverb

Nationality: American/Romanian
Age: 80
Residence: LA
Performance Date: 3/30/18
Primary Language: English
Language: German

I asked my grandmother if she had any slogans or proverbs that been passed down to her. A proverb that she told me about was one that was passed down to her from her mother. The proverb started during WWII, which was the first time she heard it, and she still says it today as the values still mean a lot to her.

 

She said that her mother would always say that “People are basically good, even the Nazis”.

 

Background Info: My grandmother and her mother escaped from the Nazi’s in Romania during WWII, and fled to America. My grandmother’s mother thought that all people had good hearts, even the evil Nazi’s, she just knew that they made poor life decisions, but still had the good hearted humanistic values of every person on the globe, my grandmother now says this when people seem to be mean to one another, recognizing that although people make poor and evil life decisions, they are still people.

 

Context: My grandmother told me about this proverb at our family Passover dinner.

 

Analysis: My grandmothers story of how she fled from Romania is something she has told me many times. I was too young to understand many of the things that my great grandmother told me when I was little, so this proverb, that was passed from my great grandmother was very interesting and held good values about the good in people, even if they make bad decisions.