second blog

Since i've been at Ucla, their has been a slow transition from me living in New York my whole life to coming to school out in California. When i initial came to ucla, i felt like an outsider becasue where i grew up, i was very shelter. My home town was predominantly white upper to middle class families, which lacks the diveristy here at UCLA. This made it easier for me to define who i was as an individual because i was surrounded by people who shared the same interests as me, but did not prepare me for the real world. In college, is where my identity was challenge because i was surround by students of different race, ethnicity, religions, etc. I felt like an outsider, and i had to learn to make friends with people who were different then me. This was very hard for me becasue my whole life i felt like i belong.
In class discusion about identity, we figure out some of the characterstics that made up your identity, which were cultural, physical, geography, personal, and social. This exercise help me to understand the Herndon article, "Insiders, Outsiders; Knowing Our Limits, Limiting Our Knowing because i realize that no matter what, everyone will be an outsider or insider due to their identity, and that if their an outsider, they will never be a true insider. For example when Chris came to do his presenatation on the Powwow, he appear to be an insider of that particualr study because it has been something hes been doing reserach on and very knowledgeable about it. Even though he may appear as an insider to us, but to the Native Americans, where the Powwow is part of their cultural sees Chris as an outsider. Another example is me, because i am from New York, no matter how accustome i become to California way of life, i will always be an outsider because my true roots are a New Yorker.
As i relate this to my music back round, i can say i love music and its a big part of my life, but i am an outsider to the music world. My knowledge of music is not as sharp as say history, and no matter what, i know that i will never be a true insider to the music world. I may learn alot about music after taking this class but i will still appear as an outsider to the individuals that have music be part of their identity.