Does Natural Disaster Affect International Trade

Does Natural Disaster Affect International Trade? Introduction Nowadays, many industries are developing such as machines, technology, and other fields in the world. Therefore, experts make an accurate estimate what will happen to futures. Economists estimate rates of economic growth or impacts of crises or other economic phenomenon. However, what if natural disasters occur in somewhere, economists still can estimate economic phenomenon or prepare what they have to do? Do they expect exchange rates will fall, and their countries’ economy will crisis? For example, Japan s earthquake and tsunami. The authors expected that the volume of Japan’s exports reduced by between 0.5% and 1.6%, and the volume of imports increased between 0.4% and 1.3% (Hubert Escaith). These numbers can say strongly that the natural disaster impacted on Japan’s international trade. Furthermore, Japan has one of the largest economics in the world, and fourth largest in trades in goods and services in the world at that time (Hubert Escaith). This is an ex ample of natural disasters affecting international trade. Literature Review a. International natural disasters Author Hubert et al. (2011) examined the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In the results, Japan was impacted on both imports and exports by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. However, the impact on international trade mostly remained small. Also, another author Meng et al. (2015) studied the impact of natural disaster in China andShow MoreRelatedUnit 7-P1, M1 Essay examples1291 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War to prevent another such conflict. The organization is financed by giving its member states a substantial fee. 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Analysis Of Of Mice And Men And Macbeth - 1891 Words

For the purpose of this assignment, I will be exploring the ways women are presented in the texts ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Macbeth’. My focus will be centred on the two main female characters in both texts - ‘Curley’s wife’ in ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Lady Macbeth’ in ‘Macbeth’ - and discussing how the authors have portrayed them. As well as this, I will also be briefly looking at other female characters that feature in the texts that are equally as interesting. â€Å"She had full rouged lips and wide spaced eye’s, heavily made up.† - This is one of the ways John Steinbeck (who is the author of the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’) describes the character of ‘Curley’s Wife’. She is a complex and controversial character, who although is not referenced much throughout the book, still plays a significant role within the story. Our first impression of Curley’s wife is that she is very manipulative. The reader first hears about her in chapter two of the book, in a conversation between George, Lennie and Candy, thus giving the reader an insight into her character before she has even made her first appearance. During the discussion, Candy mentions that â€Å"She has got the eye† and describes her as being very flirtatious with the other workers on the ranch despite being married to Curley. He also refers to her as being a â€Å"Tart†, which gives the reader the impression that she is immoral and is not the stereotypical woman you would expect to see during the 1930’s. By introducing her character throughShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Of Mice And Men And Macbeth 1808 Words   |  8 PagesCoursework: How are women presented in ‘Of mice and men and ‘Macbeth ? Throughout time, society has always been prejudice towards women and their characteristics. With regards to Adam and Eve, the Biblical story in which God created two humans (Adam and Eve) and positioned them in a beautiful garden called the ‘Garden of Eden , since then people have associated the story to being sexist and prejudice towards women. When Eve disobeyed God about eating fruit from the tree of knowledge and forcedRead MoreRichard Graff s Hidden Intellectualism, By Gerald Graff1142 Words   |  5 Pagesexcited to read Macbeth by WIlliam Shakespeare and write about it like there’s no tomorrow,† it’s just uncommon. There are â€Å"more than 2.1 million students on 114 campuses,† in community colleges in California alone according to the California Community College Chancellor s Office, and we are all different, but expected to learn the same way. How does that make any sense? What one students might find interesting, the other might detest. Fo r example, I enjoyed reading Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckRead MoreHow To Write Literary Analysis4174 Words   |  17 PagesHow To Write Literary Analysis The Literary Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide When you read for pleasure, your only goal is enjoyment. You might find yourself reading to get caught up in an exciting story, to learn about an interesting time or place, or just to pass time. Maybe you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or a reflection of your own life. There are as many different, valid ways of reading a book as there are books in the world. When you read a work of literature in an English classRead MoreNon Profit Analysis Essay7109 Words   |  29 PagesNon-Profit Analysis Project Liberty University Penny LeBaron Busi 602 Carlson Hurst Part 1: Christian World View According to Del Tackett’s article on the Focus on the Family website, a person with a Biblical world view â€Å"believes his primary reason for existence is to love and serve God† (Tackett, 2012). Barna Research Group asks the following questions to determine if a person has a Biblical worldview: â€Å"Do absolute moral truths exist? Is absolute truth defined by the Bible? Did Jesus

International Finance Currency Trading Term Paper

Essays on International Finance Currency Trading Term Paper The paper "International Finance Currency Trading" is a brilliant example of a term paper on finance and accounting. The current exchange rate for EUR/USD is 1 Euro for 1.1285 US dollars, according to Google Finance. Figure 1 shows a graphical representation of changes in the value of the Euro over a period of one year. The graph shows a decreasing trend in the value of the Euro relative to the US Dollar with frequent fluctuations in between.Many factors have influenced the current value of Euro which includes purchasing power parity of the Eurozone, interest rate, and inflation. The purchasing power parity theory holds that countries have equal purchasing powers when the exchange rates between their currencies are in equilibrium (Antweiler, 2011). Differences in the inflation rate and the domestic price levels impact the exchange rate. The current value of Euro relative to the US Dollar suggests that the Euro area has been experiencing lesser inflation or price as compared to the US A. This means that the Euro has been depreciating as compared to the US Dollar. Considering another variable which is the interest rate will help explain Euro’s present value. Figure 2 shows the interest rate across the Euro area over a period of one year. The graph shows that the benchmark rate has gradually dropped over the year to 0.05 based on data provided by the European Central Bank.On the other hand, data from The World Bank shows that the real interest rate for the United States for 2013 has been 1.7 percent. The decreasing interest rate in the Euro coupled with a decreasing real interest rate in the United States explains the decrease in the value of Euro versus the US Dollar. A depreciating currency is due to a decrease in the real interest rate which means that investors are not as willing to invest because of lesser returns in the Euro area (McEachern, 2013). However, the United States also does not have a high real interest rate but is far greater than that in t he Euro area.Based on data by CME Group (n.pag.) the foreign exchange futures for Euro currency will increase over the next few years. By December 2015 the change between the prior settling value and the last value will be positive. The most important contract, in this case, is the EUR/USD currency futures contract. Liquidity plays an important role in foreign exchange futures and a EUR/USD currency future contract usually involves thousands of contracts in volume.According to an article by Oliver Wright and Ben Chu (n.pag.), Euro does not have any future especially in the wake of the European Fiscal Compact agreement which experts say is unsustainable. The recent economic crisis in Greece and poor economic performance being shown by many of the European Union countries present a dismaying story. Hence, Euro currencies' future is not as sustainable due to the economic performance of many of the EU countries including Greece, Portugal, Spain, and so on.

Comparing Religions of the World free essay sample

There are 3 different categories of religions that are still practiced in this world, Abrahamic, Dharmic, and Taoic. A lot of Religions are categorized by these, but they all have a specific meaning. Abrahamic means that the religions are monotheistic and trace to their origin of Abraham. Dharmic religions have a great importance in Indian philosophy and religions, and Taoic religions originate from the far eastern, often in China or India. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are in the Abrahamic category. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are all Dharmic religions, where Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are Taoic religions. Many of these religions are still practiced today. Many of which are very popular, and many not so much. Christianity was formed when people started believing that Christ was Gods son, even though the religion wasnt officially formed until christian and catholic churches started teaching from the Latin Bible. Judaism, on the other hand, is not very popular. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing Religions of the World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There arent any big Jewish cities or countries, besides Israel, but there are many Jews spread across the world. Islam was founded by Muhammad, in 622 CE. The people that believe in Allah (their God) are called Muslims. They also believe that Muhammad was a prophet or a messenger from God. Muslims worship the Koran (a Book) and Allah (a God). This religion is an Abrahamic religion, which means it is a monotheistic religion. Muslims pray facing Mecca, to worship Muhammads birth place. They also celebrate a world wide holiday called Ramadan, where they fast for a month. The large populations of Muslims are located in North Africa, Indonesia, and South western part of Asia. Buddhism is a Dharmic Religion, which means it is very important to Indian Philosophy. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Siddhartha, in the fifth century, in Nepal. People that believe in Buddhism are called Buddhists. Buddhists have a ritual of Meditating to find inner peace, and they read the Tripitaka, the holy book of Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate Hanamatsuri, Vesak, Band the Bodhi Day. They believe in the Four Noble Truths: life is suffering, suffering is due to attachment, attachment can be overcome, and there is a path for accomplishing this. Taoism originated in Eastern China, and was founded by Lao-Tse, which became a state religion in 440 CE. People that believe in Taoism worship the Tao Te Ching. Many people in Eastern China are Taoists. Taoists also have the ritual of meditating. Taoism and Buddhism are more beliefs than a religion. Islam, for example has rules to live by to be a Muslim, whereas Buddhism, or Taoism, only needs a persons own belief in what he wants to follow. I learned that there are many religions in existence, also, that by many you have to, both, believe, and follow the rules, but by some you just have to believe. I learned that many religions are not passed down to an offspring, though a lot are, the person, himself, has to decide on their own. There are 3 categories religions are categorized by, and they all have their own meaning. Comparing Religions of the World free essay sample There are 3 different categories of religions that are still practiced in this world, Abrahamic, Dharmic, and Taoic. A lot of Religions are categorized by these, but they all have a specific meaning. Abrahamic means that the religions are monotheistic and trace to their origin of Abraham. Dharmic religions have a great importance in Indian philosophy and religions, and Taoic religions originate from the far eastern, often in China or India. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are in the Abrahamic category. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are all Dharmic religions, where Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are Taoic religions. Many of these religions are still practiced today. Many of which are very popular, and many not so much. Christianity was formed when people started believing that Christ was Gods son, even though the religion wasnt officially formed until christian and catholic churches started teaching from the Latin Bible. Judaism, on the other hand, is not very popular. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing Religions of the World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There arent any big Jewish cities or countries, besides Israel, but there are many Jews spread across the world. Islam was founded by Muhammad, in 622 CE. The people that believe in Allah (their God) are called Muslims. They also believe that Muhammad was a prophet or a messenger from God. Muslims worship the Koran (a Book) and Allah (a God). This religion is an Abrahamic religion, which means it is a monotheistic religion. Muslims pray facing Mecca, to worship Muhammads birth place. They also celebrate a world wide holiday called Ramadan, where they fast for a month. The large populations of Muslims are located in North Africa, Indonesia, and South western part of Asia. Buddhism is a Dharmic Religion, which means it is very important to Indian Philosophy. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Siddhartha, in the fifth century, in Nepal. People that believe in Buddhism are called Buddhists. Buddhists have a ritual of Meditating to find inner peace, and they read the Tripitaka, the holy book of Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate Hanamatsuri, Vesak, Band the Bodhi Day. They believe in the Four Noble Truths: life is suffering, suffering is due to attachment, attachment can be overcome, and there is a path for accomplishing this. Taoism originated in Eastern China, and was founded by Lao-Tse, which became a state religion in 440 CE. People that believe in Taoism worship the Tao Te Ching. Many people in Eastern China are Taoists. Taoists also have the ritual of meditating. Taoism and Buddhism are more beliefs than a religion. Islam, for example has rules to live by to be a Muslim, whereas Buddhism, or Taoism, only needs a persons own belief in what he wants to follow. I learned that there are many religions in existence, also, that by many you have to, both, believe, and follow the rules, but by some you just have to believe. I learned that many religions are not passed down to an offspring, though a lot are, the person, himself, has to decide on their own. There are 3 categories religions are categorized by, and they all have their own meaning.

Tanglewood Case Study 2 Essay Example For Students

Tanglewood Case Study 2 Essay Tanglewood Case 2 Table 1. 1 Markov Analysis Information Transition probability matrix Current Year Previous year: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Exit ( 1 ) Store associate 0. 43 0. 06 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 51 ( 2 ) Shift leader 0. 00 0. 54 0. 16 0. 00 0. 00 0. 30 ( 3 ) Department manager 0. 00 0. 00 0. 64 0. 06 0. 00 0. 30 ( 4 ) Assistant store manager 0. 00 0. 00 0. 06 0. 52 0. 08 0. 34 ( 5 ) Store manager 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 66 0. 34 Forecast of availabilities Next Year (projected) 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Exit Previous year: Current Workforce ____ ( 1 ) Store associate 8,500 3655 510 0 0 0 4335 ( 2 ) Shift leader 1,200 0 648 192 0 0 360 ( 3 ) Department manager 850 0 0 544 51 0 255 ( 4 ) Assistant store manager 150 0 0 9 78 12 51 ( 5 ) Store manager 50 0 0 0 0 33 17 Gap analysis Next Year (projected) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Year end total 3655 1158 745 129 45 (column sum) External hires needed 4845 42 105 21 5 (current workforce-total) Environmental Scan Upon performing an environmental scan, we have determined that Tanglewood might have problems filling their vacancies in the future for a variety of reasons. According to the scan, there are available candidates who are ready to fill managerial positions. However, our hiring policies at Tanglewood require employees to start out as store associates and work their way up in the organization if they choose to do so and if the store needs these positions filled. We also strive to hire an exceptional workforce. We will write a custom essay on Tanglewood Case Study 2 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One way we may want to go about hiring an exceptional workforce may be to hire motivated, intelligence college graduates. However, according to the environmental scan, we have found that recent college graduates do not necessarily want to start at the bottom of an organization as a store associate in order to work their way up to a higher position. Additionally, the retail industry holds a negative (and partially accurate) image of providing low pay, requiring long hours, and of their being frequent conflicts with lower-level employees. A Prelimiary Statement of the Action Plan for Hiring for Washington Next Year According to the forecast of labor requirements found in Table 1. 1, next year we will need 4,845 store associates, 42 shift leaders, 105 department managers, 21 assistant managers, and 5 store managers. As a result of both these figures and our hiring policy of hiring internally and thus starting every employee at the lowest position, we will need to hire a large amount of store associates. We will keep most of them at the associate position and promote some of the more experienced associates into the managerial positions. We also must keep in mind our other hiring policies of developing talent and having exceptional workforce quality. In order to fulfill all of our hiring practices, we propose the following plan. We will hire at least 4,845 store associates to meet our projected needs for the next year. We will do this by attempting to dispel negative perceptions of retail store employment by providing higher pay and store discounts as well as offering flextime. We will also strive to have and to build exceptional workforce quality in a number of ways. We will work to improve job satisfaction by providing employees with task variety. We will allow store associates to work in different departments and to do different things from working the cash registers to designing and assembling in-store displays. We will also encourage teamwork by having contests between store departments and have parties to celebrate everyone’s hard work and to honor the winning team. Tanglewood’s comment system will also be stressed to show that although store associates are the lowest level position at Tanglewood, these people are one of the company’s most important assets and that their comments and suggestions are encouraged. We must keep in mind that associates are often the face of the company because they directly interact with customers. We must show them how important they are to Tanglewood. We may want to focus much of our efforts to recruiting high school students for these store associate positions. .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .postImageUrl , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:hover , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:visited , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:active { border:0!important; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:active , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Illustrations and Interpretations EssayEach store needs to have a large number of store associates and not very many managers. As a result, we do not want all of our associates to have a desire to move up into managerial positions. High school students may be the perfect match for this role because these candidates may just be looking for a part-time job to have in order to make some extra spending money and to gain some work experience. They may not want to have all the responsibility of a manager and they cannot work all of the hours required of a manager because they must go to school. We will also work toward developing talent and hiring internally. For employees, such as recent college graduates, who have expressed a desire to attain managerial positions, we will allow them to enter a management trainee program. This program will follow our policies of having everyone start at the bottom, but it will allow participants to move up quickly in the organization provided they learn what is necessary to hold these positions. Workers in this program will be paired up with exceptional workers so they can learn the culture and operations of Tanglewood quickly.

Theresa May - Speech on Cooperation Between the UK and the EU free essay sample

Narrative on Culture Essay Example

Narrative on Culture Essay Example Narrative on Culture Essay Narrative on Culture Essay Culture Crossing Do you ever look at a complete stranger and immediately categorize that person? I will be the first to admit that I have done so more than I would care to acknowledge. I was definitely raised to look down upon people, especially the Jewish, in spite of what my parents will tell you. Although I was never actually told not to like or associate with a Jewish person, the adults in my family made it known that it was unacceptable by saying unpleasant things about them. I heard the jewish would come to nice neighborhoods, take them over, and ruin them. I also heard that they killed Jesus. It was inevitable that I too would see Jewish people as inferior to me. With all the bad things I heard, it only seemed natural. I thought Jewish people were arrogant, greedy, conniving, and uneducated. I thought they should leave our country because their religion and cultural beliefs were un-American. From the time I was a little girl through my early twenties I looked down upon Jewish people until I met Joel one day while I was working. It was a typical Friday at the Department of Motor Vehicles. It was fifteen minutes until closing time and the place was packed. I was about to call my next customer when a short man dressed in black and white from head to toe with long chin-brushing curls as sideburns wearing a black hat approached my window. He was a Hasidic Jew and I was not happy. I acknowledged him. Yes? Are you going to call this ticket number? Nope. Have a seat, I said annoyed. Im sorry to have bothered you. As he was sitting back down I noticed the ticket number he had in his hands. It was a dealer ticket. We stop calling dealers at 4:30 p. m because its time consuming. I was contemplating if I was going to tell him this or let him find out the hard way. There was a big sign by the ticket machine that clearly states that we dont accept dealer paperwork after 4:30 p. m. Some of my coworkers noticed him and started making fun of his clothes, yiddish accent and, stupidity for not reading the sign. Although I tended to agree with them, I decided to be nice and help this man because I was sick and tired of hearing my coworkers ridiculing him. He was, after all, in hearing distance. I motioned the Hasidic man up to my window with my index finger. Sir, I normally would not help you because we dont accept dealers after 4:30 p. m but, I see you only have one deal so I will help you just this one time. He smiled from ear to ear and thanked me. I knew from experience that Hasidic men are not allowed to touch an object at the same time as someone from the opposite sex so, I was very surprised when he handed me the papers through the bars rather than sliding th em underneath the window barrier. I didnt know what to do. Should I let the papers fall to the desk? I did not want to be impolite so I took the papers from him. After looking at his papers I soon realized that I would be unable to process the transaction and I delivered the bad news to him. Expecting the worst, I was ready for the hostile reply I usually get from anyone I give unpleasant news to. Instead, he was polite and humble. He thanked me over and over for taking him. I was pleasantly surprised and smiled. I told him the additional papers he needed and even wished him a good evening. He was walking away when he turned and asked, What is your name? Ann I suspiciously replied. My name is Joel. Have a great weekend Ann! I will see you first thing on Monday, he said cheerfully as he walked towards the door. I wondered what was wrong with him. I had never came across a Hasidic man like him. As the metal gates lifted to the D. M. V entrance Monday morning, I noticed Joel was the first in line. He waved. Oh, geez. That was weird. My coworkers took notice of him and started to tease me. Look, theres Annies special friend, said one. Annies curly locks is here, snorted another. I chose to ignore their snide remarks and called him up to my window. Good Morning Ann! How was your weekend? Joel asked. He placed a small tin of cookies on the counter. These are for you. They are from my brothers bakery in Brooklyn, he joyfully said as he slid the tin underneath the window bars. I told him that I couldnt accept them and thanked him. You have kids? Yes? Please take them home to your children then, he insisted. I took the cookies and hid them in my desk draw. Thank you Joel, that was very kind of you. My children will love the cookies. I hoped no one noticed the exchange. I did not want to be teased my coworkers. While editing and processing his paperwork, Joel started telling me jokes. They were funny but I didnt dare laugh because they were about the Jewish. Not all Hasidics are extremists, Ann, he laughed. I didnt know how to respond. I never met a Hasidic man that was as friendly and talkative as Joel. I wondered if he was from Kiryas Joel, the village within the town of Monroe where its residents strictly observe the Torah and its commandments. If he is, Im thinking he shouldnt be talking to me like this. Hasidic men are proscribed from associating with woman who are not their wives or relatives. What if another Hasidic witnessed him talking to me? Joel, do you live in Kiryas Joel? I shyly asked. Yes, I do. Why do you ask? Um, cant you get in trouble for talking to me? I had a hard time getting the words out. I was embarrassed. I have many rules but it doesnt mean that I follow them to a T? I was intrigued. I knew little about Hasidism. I determined this would be an excellent opportunity to learn. Would you mind if I asked you questions about your religion? I quietly asked. Joel gave me permission to ask him anything. As time went on, I called him right up to my window. None of my coworkers wanted to help him anyway and, I looked forward to our conversations. I asked him questions about everything from having sex through a hole in the sheet to having a holiday that they are ordered to get drunk. Joel eagerly shared his experiences in detail leaving nothing out. He explained holidays, the importance of tradition, and beliefs. I learned the life of a Hasidic from birth through marriage. Joel educated me on why they dress all in black, what kind of education they receive, gender roles, acceptable entertainment, and any other aspect that I thought to ask him about. He explained the discipline involved to abstain mainstream American culture. When he spoke about his arranged marriage, I began to understand and respect the idea behind it. It did seem safer in the big picture because partners were picked that were good for a lifetime not short infatuations. I was amazed how open-minded I was becoming. I had gained respect for his religion and became quite fond of Joel. I saw him as a whole person rather than the Hasidic Jew I once seen. My religious and cultural upbringing fostered my ignorance. I grew up feeling superior to people outside my culture and religion because I simply didnt know any better. Meeting Joel changed my view on culture and religion. Through sharing his traditions and beliefs, I realized that other cultures interact differently and its often misconceived as rudeness, anger and, foolishness. Getting to know Joel made me see that our cultural and religious beliefs didnt make us any less or any more of a person. Based on our common humanity, I learned to respect cultural and religious diversity.