I am a dreamer.
I am one person no one else can be.
I am from another country.
I am of the Wolf clan.
I am German.
I am learning my past.
I am the future.
I am me.
I am kind to others.
I am part of my community.
I am a soccer player.
I am bilingual.
I am talented.
I am this and more.
>> Is this kind of music
and clothing part of
Hmong people's culture?
>> Yeah, but we don't
dress this way all the time.
But it's fun to celebrate
special occasions
with these traditions.
>> It's cool to learn
about traditions
from different cultures.
>> So, is culture how you look
and where you're from?
>> Yeah, but isn't there
more to it than that?
>> Good questions!
Who can tell me
what the word "culture" means?
>> Culture has to do with people
who were born
in a foreign country.
>> I think it has to do
with the color of your skin.
>> How about the way
you celebrate your heritage?
>> Now that this great
old warehouse has been
turned into our classroom
I'd like you
to do some exploring.
See what you can discover
about cultural diversity
and your own culture!
>> So, Mr. Kelly,
I don't get it.
How do you learn about culture?
>> Well, let's start
with ethnic culture.
Lou told us about some things
that are important to her,
and that helped us learn
about Hmong culture.
The very best way
to learn about other people
is to spend time with them.
Imagine if you had a guest
come from another country
to live with you and your family
for a while.
Suppose your guest came
all the way from Brazil,
in South America.
What would that be like?
What would you share?
>> Hi, my name is Nicole.
And in my family,
there's my mom, Paula.
>> Hi!
>> My dad, J.B.
>> Hello!
>> My dog Ginger.
>> Hey, you get my good side?
>> And now, Miguel.
>> Hi, I'm Miguel.
I'm 17 years old.
I'm from Brazil.
And I have joined a family
here in America.
I came to America
to learn a new language,
a new culture
and a lot about myself.
>> I hope Miguel learns
as much about my culture
as I am about his.
>> In Brazil, you can't
drive a car until you are 18.
People ask me if I speak Spanish
in Brazil.
But actually,
we speak Portuguese.
In Brazil, we eat McDonald's
all the time.
>> Even though we are from
completely different
parts of the world,
I find that it's really great
how much we share in common.
What are the movies like
in Brazil?
Like, I mean, are they
pretty similar to here?
>> Yeah, exactly the same
movies.
>> You've seen Austin Powers
like a billion times...?
>> Yeah, I love that movie.
>> You listen to the same music?
I mean, you're always
stealing my CDs.
>> Yeah, exactly.
We're like--
We're both into soccer,
and everything.
>> It's actually a lot of fun
being able to get
his perspective on things.
>> I've never, ever, in my life
seen snow.
And I can't wait
to go snowboarding.
>> Hey, how's it going?
>> My host family
is very similar to my family.
They understand my problems.
They see what I might need.
And my sister, Nicole,
she has a lot of friends
and she introduced me to them.
That helps me to know people.
I really like to share
with Miguel the stuff that we do
with our family.
We're pretty close-knit.
And if we could share
that openness with him,
that would be great.
>> You know, it would be
really nice if you could
go to Brazil someday.
>> I'd really like that.
I want to go to Brazil.
That would be so much fun.
>> I'm anxious to go back
to my family and just share
the new culture I've learned,
from everything I've been to,
every photo I've took.
>> It's great
having Miguel around,
because my mom's Chilean
and my dad's half Guatemalan,
and half American--
big Spanish background.
And he's Brazilian.
We get the different
perspectives.
Yet, we can relate
all one in the same.
>> Nicole and Miguel
looked like they were having
a great time together.
>> Yeah, but I didn't learn
very much about Brazil.
>> You know,
they were just starting
to get to know each other.
>> Maybe it helped to think
first about what they have
in common.
>> Yeah.
And remember, Miguel could only
talk about his experience.
>> You're right!
Brazil is a fascinating country,
with lots of different
kinds of people, places
and traditions.
After Miguel and Nicole
had learned about the things
they have in common,
like being part
of a close family,
they were probably ready
to start exploring
more of their differences.
And Miguel would learn
about more ways
how life in Brazil is different
than life in America.
>> We're working
on a collage about America.
>> Hey!
You've found some great pictures
to represent
our national culture.
It's nice that Miguel
had a chance to spend time
with Nicole's family,
because family
is the first place
we begin to learn
about our own culture.
Now, I asked you to bring in
an object that tells us
something about family.
Who'd like to share?
Joseph?
>> This is a poster I made about
the life of my grandmother.
She lives with us.
And she likes to tell me stories
about my ancestors,
who I'd otherwise
know nothing about.
>> Dipti?
>> This elephant,
my grandmother gave me.
And in India,
elephants mean good luck.
>> All those stories
have to do with family culture.
>> Family culture?
>> Think about all the time
your family spends
doing things together
in your own special way.
You are creating
your own family culture.
I'd like for you
to spend some time writing
in your journals about all
the activities and traditions
your family shares.
What's up?
>> Well, Mr. Kelly,
my parents are divorced.
And I don't know how to start
writing about my family culture.
>> Families come in
all different shapes and sizes.
Lots of kids have parents
who are divorced.
You can write about
the different activities
you share with each
of your parents.
Family culture can survive
things like divorce
or a death in the family,
even if a family has to lose
their house temporarily
and move to a shelter.
>> I have a wonderful family.
I'm blessed with three kids.
I have Ryan, he's nine,
and Nya who is five.
And Raven is two.
He just turned two.
My favorite thing
about being a mother
is watching them learn and grow.
It's amazing what they can do.
We sit and talk about school,
their friends,
what they did that day,
what was the funnest,
what made them cry,
if they were sad...
Who's going to do
what chore when.
I've been having a hard time
getting them to do
their chores lately,
so they haven't been
getting their allowances.
You always get to know
a lot of people here.
And that's what I like
for my children,
knowing all different
kinds of people.
There are so many ways
that people could end up
in the shelter.
They could be evicted
from their apartment or house.
Their house could be damaged
by a fire, or other way.
Homeless people are anyone.
Women, children,
teenagers, babies, men
of all different ages,
genders, races,
just anyone.
A typical day goes--
We get up at 7:00.
We all get dressed.
We eat breakfast.
I take them to school--
Ryan and Nya to school.
And then, I come back
and I work in the daycare.
It doesn't matter what you have
or where you live.
All that's important
is that you have family,
family values
and family traditions.
>> The best thing
about my family
is there's a lot of love.
>> So, that's what
family culture is all about.
Just doing everyday stuff
together?
>> That's right!
Every family
has its own culture.
And everyday routines
are a big part of that.
One of the most important places
we can learn about culture
is in our own families.
>> Even if the family
doesn't have a place to live?
>> Not every family
who becomes homeless
is lucky enough to have
a nice shelter to go to.
But family culture
is about sharing experiences
and doing things together.
Family culture
can survive tough times.
>> Hey, what are you working on?
>> I'm trying to sort out
what we've learned
about culture.
Look, I have "Ethnic Culture,"
like the Hmong dance
Lou showed us,
and also "National Culture,"
like American
Fourth of July parades.
Here, I just added
"Family Culture."
My family
likes reading together.
>> What other kinds of culture
are there?
>> Okay, wait.
What if we try to think about
other groups of people?
>> Yeah, how about people
who have something in common?
>> Mm-hmm!
( computer beeps )
? Oh, no!
Wait a minute
? Don't go there
'Cause I ain't with it
? Oh, no!
Wait a minute
? Don't go there
'Cause I ain't with it
? Oh, no!
Wait a minute
? Don't go there
'Cause I ain't with it
? Eeny, meeny, miney, mo
We came to let you know
? 24 kids on the go
Yeah, we got your hope
? Eeny, meeny, miney, mo
We came to let you know
? 24 kids on the go
Yeah, we got your hope... ? ?
( sound fades to silence )
>> ...They have a list of names.
>> They do?
Okay, I'll give it to them.
>> Thank you.
>> Oh, You're welcome.
( shoes tapping on floor )
? Oh, no!
Wait a minute
? Don't go there
'Cause I ain't with it
? Oh, no!
Wait a minute
? Don't go there
'Cause I ain't with it
? Oh, no!
Wait a minute... ? ?
( sound fades to silence )
( rhythmic pounding )
>> ...Seven, eight,
and one,
two,
three, four...
( silence )
? Deep in my heart
I do believe
? that we shall overcome
some day... ? ?
>> I never thought about
deaf people having their own
culture before.
>> It makes sense, though.
Hearing people can't know
what that's like.
>> Still, hearing people
and deaf people have
a lot of things in common.
I like to dance, too!
>> Deaf people can have
the same talents,
hobbies and feelings
that hearing people do.
All deaf people aren't alike,
of course.
But what they have in common
can create a culture
all its own.
>> But it seemed like
those girls were part
of several different
kinds of cultures.
>> Yeah!
They were both deaf,
and both dancers,
and both African-American.
>> Good observation!
You just identified three
different cultural groups.
>> That's cool!
I'm going to start counting up
how many cultural groups
I'm part of.
I'm part of a family culture,
that's both Chinese
and American.
I'm part of a girl scout troop.
My music and dance lessons
are part of a group.
And I love sports!
>> We're members of...
>> The blacktop
basketball league.
>> And this is...
>> Our game!
>> Hey, wait a minute!
What does basketball
have to do with culture?
>> I don't get it.
>> Well, let's see
about those girls.
>> One, two, three,
Tigers!
>> I play basketball
because it keeps me
in contact with my peers,
and just the joy of the sport.
Being part of the team,
we share a common goal.
>> You've gotta be
a team player.
>> Being part of the team is,
you know, something that
everyone learns to do.
And I enjoy it.
It's something
that keeps us going.
It's a learning experience
for everyone.
We learn from each other.
And we learn from our coach.
>> If the ball comes over here,
then y'all come over here, okay?
>> I love being part
of the team.
>> Everybody's part on the team
is very important.
>> When you don't work together,
it's chaos.
Somebody has to do
somebody else's job.
When you work together,
you win and lose as a team.
You support each other
and you have more respect
for each other as a team.
>> It takes a lot of hard work
and dedication
to be part of the team.
>> And hard work and dedication!
>> And when we combine
those two things together,
we make a really big team
and it's great.
It's so much fun
to be part of the team
because you feel like
you belong to something special.
>> I love being part
of the team.
>> Sportsmanship is important
for everyone on every team,
because you are a role model
to others who are not
out on the court.
>> To win as a team,
it feels great.
You've worked as one
and you've won as one.
And now, you have
accomplished a goal
that you came on the court for.
It's one of the best
feelings in the world to know
what you tried to do,
you accomplished.
I love being part of the team.
>> Did you think about
the things those girls shared?
>> Yeah, they love basketball.
>> They work hard.
>> And they all want to win.
>> You're each right!
The girls on that basketball
team practice hard,
share experiences
and work together
for a common goal.
>> Wisconsin has a lot
of sports cultures.
>> Yeah, have you ever been
to a Packer game?
Packer fans share
a lot of traditions!
>> I'm definitely part
of that culture!
>> Hey, I'm part of a swim team.
And we share
a lot of traditions, too.
For instance, before each meet,
when we're in our swimsuits,
we dance around
by the side of the pool.
Even the seniors
get in on the tradition.
They each sort of mentor
a freshman.
I can't wait until I'm a senior
and I can be a mentor, too.
>> That's cool.
>> I used to think
culture was something
only other people had.
>> Culture has to do
with a lot more
than the color of your skin
or where you were born.
>> I think we can define culture
as a way of life.
All of us are a mix
of many cultures.
And although our personal blend
of cultures may grow and change,
culture has a lot to do
with our everyday lives.
>> It's awesome to live
in a state with so many
different kinds of people!
( all talking
and laughing at once )
>> As a team, we communicate
through pointing or shouting.
>> One, two, three, team!
>> Eye contact
is like a really big thing.
>> I come from Brazil,
in the state of San Paolo.
It's a pretty big city,
just like New York.
Lot's of people
and big buildings.
>> "Whew!" said Kip, "I can't
smell anything but my dinner.
And it's all for me!"
And he turned back...