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Social Construction of Reality

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Submitted By jarridsdad
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Checkpoint: Social Construction of Reality

I have been a chef for most of my life and now I live in an area where being a chef is seasonal. I have tried to make a living here as a chef but it is hard when you get paid really well for 5 months and get paid really bad for the rest of the year. I was forced to do other work because I have 3 children and a mortgage and was taught to always be the provider. I was taught this by my father through watching him and listening to his teachings. I have already started teaching my oldest son this same lesson.

When I first moved down to Florida from Pennsylvania it was a culture shock for me. Everyone here was nice and pleasant and where I was from was gang central. I grew up with a mix a races and a different set of rules than most people. Even in the gang I was in, family (the gang members) was the most important thing. I still have not educated my children to believe that, they fight like cats and dogs everyday. My upbringing once I left home was a variety of cultures and races. Whites, Hispanics, African Americans and Orientals were the cultures and races I grew up with. For me everyone puts their pants on the same way and we all bleed red. I do not see any difference in anyone based on race or culture. I treat people they way they treat me.

When I first met my wife and her family I felt like my social status did not even come close to theirs. I was an ex gang member and they had more money than they knew what to do with. From what I learned and the way I wanted to live, I looked at them as being no different than me and to my surprise; they did not treat me any differently. I guess in the long run, what goes around comes around and do not judge a book by its cover.

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