Cultural Roots

My family

Oct 16, 1973

I was born into a white working class family. My grandfather and father taught me how to do a hard days work, stand up for what you believe in and do what is right. My grandmother and mother taught me how to be kind and compassionate. I grew up in small towns between Oregon and California, Everyone knew everyone but there was not much in the way of diversity growing up. I was 10 months old in this photo.

Basic Training

Aug 21, 1991

I joined the Air Force. This was my first true taste of culture. I was on my own for the first time in my life. I met people from all over the US. On town pass, I got my first taste of San Antonio culture. We all learned a new culture called the brotherhood and sisterhood of military life. We learned how to become a family, dependent on each other to accomplish our daily tasks.

Marriage

Apr 20, 1992

I thought I had a true taste of cultural diversity but then I met the love of my life. I married into a Hispanic family. My side of the family is pretty small and doesn't usually show too much affection and we hardly ever gather together. My wife's side of the family is very large, and very affectionate, and they spend a lot of time together.

Deployment to Saudi

1993

This is my next big culture shock. I went to Dharan, Saudi Arabia in 1993, 1 year before the Khobar towers bombing. Khobar towers is where the American Military troops lived. The Arabic culture is a lot different than American culture. We had to learn which hand to shake with, not show the bottom of our feet because it is an insult, and never step in when a woman is being punished. The price of stealing was having your hand chopped off.

Moving to Japan

1995

We lived in Japan for 6 years. It was an amazing assignment. The culture was one of respect and honesty. Japanese are very respectful. They believe in honor and hard work.

Deployment to Iraq

2005

Even though this picture does not show it, the culture here is very different from Saudi Arabia. The culture here was one of distrust and dislike of Americans. Any chance they had, we were attacked. In the Islam culture, killing infidels was seen as a courageous act and would be rewarded with 72 virgins.

Moving to England

2007

This was another culture shock for me. England has a queen and everyone is considered a subject of the queen. The history through out the country is beautiful. We lived here for 4.5 years and our son's high school graduation was in a local cathedral.

Visiting Germany

2010

We spent Christmas in Germany. The culture is friendly and inviting. The Christmas markets are filled with joy and wonder. Most of what was being sold were hand-made by local people.

Visiting Scotland

2011

We took our son on a week-long vacation for his graduation. We traveled to Scotland where they are well known for their music. You could go on a musical pub tour. We toured different pubs and they different types of music at each one.

Retirement

2014

After 23 years in the military culture, it was time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life. I felt safe in this culture and now my life has been turned upside down. I did not know what it was to be a civilian after 23 years. I struggled for a few years, I did not know where I belonged or how I fit in. I felt like an outsider and I had nobody but my family on my side. I felt the culture was every person for themselves and if I fell behind, it was all on me to catch up or be left behind.