TASK 1: YOUR SOCIAL CUSTOMS

1. Dressing appropriately for specific occasions

Attending church or important events dressed well is an important custom taught to me by my
family as it shows the host of the event and the attendees that you care and put effort into your
appearance. This has affected my behaviour regarding how I dress myself every day and what
message I am trying to convey through my outfit. (i.e., a non-revealing dress would be worn to
church, instead of ripped jeans and a cropped shirt to show respect to those attending mass).

2. Paying attention to others during meals

My family uses dinner to catch up and tell the others about their day and listen to others. When
someone talks over someone else or is not paying attention to a story as it is being told, it is
seen as rude and disrespectful to the person talking. This affects my behaviour around my
family as I aim not to disrespect anyone by ignoring what they are discussing.

3. Waiting my turn to talk when in group settings

When I am around others in a group, I wait until the person speaking is finished talking before, I
add my thoughts or begin a new conversation. This has influenced my social behaviour in a
positive way as I try to be attentive and participate in conversations as it is rude to say nothing
or very little during a conversation with others.

4. Not discussing my financial situation with others

I was raised to understand that not everyone has the same financial situation and discussing
mine with others can cause others to feel uncomfortable and unhappy.

5. Turning off my phone and making eye contact when being spoken to
Cutting out unnecessary distractions when talking to others (especially those older than myself)
and showing that I am paying attention by holding eye contact is understood to be respectful.
My family taught me that to be respectful and deserve the same respect I should treat others
the way I want to be treated. However due to frequent phone usage I sometimes struggle with
eye contact, so it has become something I am working on improving.

6. Addressing elders and important figures appropriately

Referring to my family members and teachers by their first names is disrespectful and my
family, peers, and schools have taught me to call those in positions of respect by the correct
name. For example, I would not call my French teacher “Adam” when I see him for
consultations, instead I would refer to his as “Mr. Coleman” to show respect.

7. Tipping at food establishments.

I have learnt that tipping waiters is a polite thing to do as they are often not paid enough by
their employers. Tipping based on quality of service is also important as you can show the
waiter that you appreciated the effort they put into their job. After learning this from my
family, I always leave a tip when going out to eat unless there was poor service.
8. Serving yourself with personal utensils is seen as rude and unclean
At the dinner table, it is seen as rude and unclean to serve yourself with personal utensils
during a meal as you are spreading germs with others. Instead, using a serving utensil can avoid
sharing bacteria with the people you’re eating with.

9. Keeping things such as opinions on politics, religion, and sexuality to yourself

Politics, religion, and sexuality are very sensitive topics for many people. Some people’s
opinions on such matters can vary significantly and can make for an uncomfortable or even
offensive conversation when discussed with others who do not share the same opinions as you
do.

10. Treating people with kindness

From a young age my family instilled in me that I should always be kind to others and to help
others when I can. I have always understood that you can never know what someone is going
through, so treating them with kindness and respect is a safe and good way to show them that
you care. I have seen many of my peers get treated poorly, so I often feel responsible to make
them feel better and understand that they deserve kindness.