A wonderful walking tour in Eau Claire

This is the First Congregational Church Parsonage. It was designed and bulit by Purcell and Elmslie of Minneapolis. They also built numerous similar houses in the middle class neighbourhoods of southern Minneapolis before World War One. However, the church no longer owns this residence and its facade  has also been altered in the mid-twentieth century.

This dignified building is the First Baptist Church. It was constructed and designed by a pastor of the Baptist congregation, George Stair. This is a fine example of Gregorian Revival architecture.

Does culture define institutions or do institutions define culture?

                By definition, culture is a particular form or stage of civilization, which also represent the behaviors and beliefs of people in the society.  Institutions are well known organizations which have been established for a long time.  In my opinion, I do believe that culture define institutions.

                I would say that culture can be developed among a group of people without the existence of an institution.  Our ancestors may be originated from some remote places long time ago where literacy was impossible.  They might be hunters who lead a self-sufficient life, and generations could be carried on in this form of living.  As they were more expertise in earning their lives by hunting or growing crops, they might start to have their own activities during their leisure time.  It can be sewing, singing, dancing, creating their own language and these elements are the primitive part of a culture.  Thus, they would have better communication with others and began to form institutions like council, school, and religious site. In other words, culture act as the base of institutions.

                However, institutions also construct culture with reinforcement.  For example, the leader of a religion can claim that the God forbid them to hunt deer as deer is a sacred animal, and eventually it will become the culture of the group of people to not hunt deer as food.  This is how institution can shape culture in some extent but it does not produce a whole new culture.  In conclusion, I think that culture defines institutions more than institutions define culture.

A new chapter

  This is my forth weekend in Eau Claire, and I have indeed experience new things that I never thought I will, like writing a blog. I would like to share my opinions about the similarities and differences between students in UWEC and Malaysia here in my first blog.
  I find that students from both countries show their willingness and kindness to accept people from different races and cultures. Both students are interested to make friend with each other despite some cultural differences or language barrier. In contrast, UWEC students are more involved in school activities and class participation where students in Malaysia are mostly passive in these areas. I also think that UWEC students, or students in United States of America, are more enjoyed in their study and college life than we do in Malaysia. I hope I can enjoy my college life as much as they do too!