F eature
3 N ovember 5, 2003
T he C lackamas P rint • 5
I Annual celebration honors the dead
Isaiah Creel
T he C lackamas P rint
Mexican
and
Mexican-
American families celebrate the
lives and deaths of their ancestors
luring Los Dias de los Muertos
Days of the Dead) Oct. 31
hrough Nov. 2.
This celebration coincides
with the Christian holy days off
All Saints’ Day and All Souls*
Day, but was celebrated in
Mexico before the Spaniards
invaded. After the conquest of
Mexico, priests from Spain tried
to Christianize the holiday, since
it couldn’t be abolished outright.
The celebration itself is cen
tered around the cyclic nature of
life
and
death,
and
the
inescapable end all must face one
day. This is a time to fondly
remember the lives of parents,
grandparents, children, loved
ones and even celebrities. An
altar is made with a picture of the
deceased, flowers, cherished pos
sessions and traditional foods like
pah de muerte, the bread of the
dead.
During the celebration, families
clean up relatives’ graves and
adorn them with flowers. People
parade through the streets dressed
as skeletons and rejoice in the fact
that they are, for the moment, alive.
There is still the respect for
the dead and death, but rather
than being frightened of death
and trying vainly to avoid it, the
Mexican culture accepts it as a
friend, a brother and a fact of life.
This celebration gives joy to the
living and honor to the dead.
PHOTOS BY CORY PRICE C lackamas P rint
Los Dias de los Muertos, the Spanish name for the Day of the Dead,
is a time to honor those who have passed. Families lay out deceased
loved ones’ favorite foods and flowers, accompanied by their pic
tures. Alters are also adorned with candles and colorful blankets.
German students exchange thoughts on culture diversities
For the past three weeks, CCC has
been hosting 16 foreign exchange stu-
lents from Stadthagen in Western
Germany. These stories reflect their
•xperiences in the U.S.
Elena, Bjoern,
Sascha and Serkan
C ontributing W riters
Comparing Germany with the
Jnited States of America, we find
nany differences between both
:ultures. The biggest difference is
he way people act and communi-
:ate with each other. It appears
hat they are much friendlier and
nore open-minded in the USA.
It is not difficult to make new
contacts.
However, there are
itricter laws in many areas, such
is in parts of the environment,
>rotection of young people and
:veryone's health, for example.
For us, this system seems to be
nconsistent.
Nevertheless it is
jossible for most people to be
ntegrated in this system.
Nina, Vivien,
Neri and Fabian
C ontributing W riters
Lena, Katharina,
Silke and Oliver
C ontributing W riters
The task of both is the preparation
of the pupils for their coming job.
The first difference is the system of
the school. At our BBS, we have a
dual-system that means the German
students only attend school one or two
times a week. On the other days, they
are in the company they work for and
get their practical experience.
Many students at CCC aren't work
ing for a company like the students of
the BBS School. So they have to look
for classes for having enough practical
experience.
Also, we think the buildings here at
CCC are looking really friendly in com
parison to ours. It’s because of thè stu
dents being at CCC almost the whole
day. Here, there are more rooms where
you can be alone and the campus is big
ger too. Our school isn't as large and
there aren't the possibilities to stay in the
building after ending your lessons.
First of all, we were astonished that
the Americans are so friendly and help
ful. For example, we stayed at down
town Portland and did not know the
way. Suddenly an American asked us
if we needed some help.
Secondly, there are people, like in
the supermarket, who put the food and
other things in bags. This job could not
exist in Germany, because it is too
expensive for these companies.
Furthermore, we realized the fol
lowing differences: big cars, much
junk food, no sales tax, unorderly
households, and drinking alcohol at 21
years of age, but driving at only 16.
We can came to the conclusion that
it was very beautiful to be here in the
U.S. and we hope that some of the
Americans will come to Germany in
the next year. Then we can show them
the advantages of living in Germany
(like drinking beer at 16!!!)
EARL ENGLAND C lackamas P rint
Exchange Students Ramona Funke and Nina Tegtmeier
enjoy the student lounge in Barlow Hall with instructors
Lars Fiechel and Sandra Kuehnast. The teachers accompa
nied the students on their trip to the United States.
Free At Pogy’s Subs
1630 Beavercreek Rd. #J
Oregon City, Oregon 97045
Phone: 503-655-9070
32 oz. pop with the purchase of any
full or half sub at regular price!
Valid Only AG
This Location <
NoCashVafee- <
One Per Party-
' i-NotTo Be
Combined With Any
Other Offer-
Must be present-
Most Have Your
Student or Faculty
;
ID sard
Expires Nov. 12,
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