Human GeographyTo me, human geography is a science of physical processes combined with human behavior that determine influences and diverse cultures. With this thinking process, I believe that we are able to connect with one another on a deeper level because we can understand why people are the way they are through their decisions based on their culture and environment, and factors of their upbringing such as agriculture, language, and religion. Once we understand where people come from, that knowledge opens doors to learning about the reasoning behind their actions.
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Affect on my life:I was born in Wyoming. So I am used to cold weather. For the majority of the year, I will wear jeans, boots, and a jacket. My family lives in Texas. Whenever I visit, I am sweating from the heat and humidity. I can never drink enough water. It takes me about two days to be able to walk outside during summer without getting a headache and wanting to go to sleep. This is an example of how my environment has affected me, that is unlike my family from a warmer climate.
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PopulationThrough substantial growth, and thoughts of over population, a debate of limiting population growth has arose. My opinion? Yes. I honestly do believe this needs to happen. I constantly hear stories of people on welfare having more children just so that they can get more benefits. There are continuous rates of abortions and children being put in the system. There is also so much waste and pollution and our green and blue planet is becoming more brown and grey than anything.
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Affect on my life:According to the 2015 Wyoming demographics:
I am 1 out of 563,626 people. I am 1 out 276,189 females. I am 1 out of 11,011 female 22-24 year olds. I am 1 out of 50,231 Hispanics. I am 1 out of 23,797 female Hispanics. |
MigrationThrough patterns of human behavior, environmental problems, economy levels, and opportunities, no wonder people want to move where they think their life would be better. I also think that some people believe that "the grass is greener on the other side".
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Affect on my life:On my mom's side my great grandparents migrated to El Paso Texas from Mexico for better economic opportunities. On my dad's side, our ancestors migrated to the states from England. Through research that my grandmother has done, some of our ancestors traveled on the second trip on the Mayflower from England and eventually made their way to Texas.
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Popular Culture |
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In my opinion, popular culture is something that connects all of us around the world together. When traveling to different countries, yes everything is not at all what someone is used to. But there is some feeling of comfort when you can connect with something that is known everywhere.
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I haven't done any traveling outside of the U.S, but I do know some people, and have friends around the world. One major aspect of pop culture through technology, is facebook. I can stay connected with those people, no matter where in the world they are. I even have opportunities to speak with people that they know, and see what kind of lives they have somewhere else other than what I am familiar with.
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Language |
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Unlike pop culture, language is one thing that differs people of this world. No matter where you go, there are different languages or even just a different dialect than what you are accustomed to. There are so many differences in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation for words around the world.
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I speak English. It's part of the West Germanic branch, which is part of the Indo-European language family. However, my mother, and her family, are completely bi-lingual. My mother has taught me some spanish, but not a lot. Spanish is a group of the Romance branch, which is still a part of the Indo-European language family.
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Religion |
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Ethnicity |
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So, we're connected through race by physical traits; and through ethnicity by culture. We're all divided in categories. Our identity is based on what we look like or who our ancestors were. That's when the door is open for ethnocentrism and racism. It's what connects and divides us at the same time.
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My hair is so dark, it looks black. My eyes are just as dark. My skin is tan. When asked of my race, I am Hispanic. On important documents I am considered Hispanic. Although, I am half Mexican American. I am caucasion. I am also British, and Greek. Although my full blooded biological brother, has much lighter skin than I do. He doesn't at all look Hispanic. So in society, he is considered white. While I am not.
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Political Geography |
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I feel like the majority of people do not think much about the world until their own country is threatened. Especially when a terrorist attack hits. There's a popular saying, people want what they can't have; that they won't be satisfied until they take it. No matter what "it" is. Based on agriculture, money, land, or even just ego, whatever the reason may be, terrorism and colonialism is at a high threat.
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I was in second grade on 9/11. A day any American would remember. All I can remember other than being released from school early, is looking up at my mother who was crying. My dad was in the military, so of course the fear that he could go to war was rushing through my head.
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Development |
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I believe that people in developed countries take their resources for granted. I belive that those same type of people, are not content, and don't appreciate what they already have. I believe that it is the duty and obligation for developed countries to help those less fortunate. However, I do believe that in order to do that, they must first help their own. For example, poverty is everywhere. Disabled vets who fought for this country and now have no where to lay their head at night are homeless. Mothers and fathers who try to provide for their families but can't due to many nonharmful factors, are going without. I believe that those who have, need to help and guide those who don't.
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I have been blessed to live in a country where I have the opportunities that I do; such as to have a roof over my head, running water, and plumbing. I personally can't say that I know what it is like to be without. I have my health, medications when needed, and clean water.
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Food and Agriculture |
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Ways to process food is different around the world. The weather is different, the animals vary, and the crops are different depending on where you are, due to many factors. So with saying that, I think that has a lot to do with the culture and ways of life that people live by. When you look at the southern states in the U.S, those who harvest their own crops and kill and process their own meat, they have different ways of life compared to someone in a big city like New York, who has never seen a field a day in their life. So, with that itself being said, one way those people differentiate is that when you ask a farmer what hard work is, they'll show you sweat, tools, and tractors. When you ask the same question to a city person, they will probably say marketing and crunching numbers.
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My father has taught me to take some responsibilities upon myself when it comes to providing food. We hunt deer and elk. We also raise our own chickens to provide eggs. Outside of my own house, of course agriculture has an affect on my life. It does on everybody. We get our meat and vegetables and fruits from somewhere. Right?!
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Industry |
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Industry is obviously important. The food industry, the clothes industry, the steel industry, all of it. It's all important. But, in my opinion, it never seems to be enough. More buildings, more money being spent, more factories, more more more. And with all of this, people don't even know how to take care of themselves.
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I fear that if there ever happens to be an electromagnetic pulse, which is not as unlikely as most assume, those in developed countries, are all screwed. Those in developing countries will then have an advantage on us because we will have no clue whatsoever of how to take care of ourselves. The sad thing is, I'm being 100% honest. If it wasn't for industries, factories, and those workers, through the use of technology, we would be in desperate need.
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Services and SettlementsIts all business. It's all about the money. It's all about providing for yourself and your family. Employers hiring employees to do the hard dirty work. Busting their butts to provide for the customer as much as possible; Because without them, there is no food on the table. It's a vicious, necessary cycle.
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Affect on my life:I have been working since I was seventeen. I have worked in food service, customer service, retail, and in management at one place of work.
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Urban PatternsBright lights and big cities! I used to think that big cities were just full of chaos, obnoxious people, and neck to neck traffic. Through this course, I still have the same opinion. Only now, I realize there's many problems, homelessness, and suburbs for those who can afford that crazy amount, can get away from the hectic cities.
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Affect on my life:I've only visited Denver, CO and Ft. Worth TX. They're both crazy cities in my opinon. Way too much chaos for this town girl. I still prefer my open roads, quiet nights, and looking up to see the stars. I think that if I lived in an urban city, I would feel very claustrophobic.
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Resource Issues |
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I hear all over from those crazy hippies that we're killing our planet man. They're right. We're screwing it up. That's my opinion. Like I said in the industry column, where do we draw the line?! I feel that with all of these new advances in technology, and needing more space, and spending all this money, it is never going be enough. It'll be enough when there's nothing left. Then when there is nothing left, those same kind of people will try to control any chance to make things better. It's disgusting. Literally. Have you been to places like Salt Lake City? It smells gross.
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This problem of pollution has an affect on everybody's life. At least it should. But what I also see, is people complaining that the factories and businesses are killing our planet, but theyre doing nothing about it. I think we should do more than just make awareness of the issue. I think the government should spend less money on chopping down trees and focus on how to sustain the buildings they already have. Or, they should make more technological advancements on preserving what forests we do have left.
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