Personal Artifacts

The way I determined artifacts was first by determining what groups I identified with. From there, I determined some cultural aspects of each group. Here is my list of identifying groups:

Biologist/Marine life enthusiast
Married
Scuba Diver
Female
Oregonian
Student
Lab TA
American
Mormon
Miller (Surname)
Maxwell (Married name)
Upper middle class
Boater/Wakeoboarder
Rural area kid
Guard Girl (Colorguard)
Nerd

Here are a few personal artifacts that go along with some of the groups:

In the rural area I grew up in, it was uncommon to drive anywhere and not pass at least one cow pasture. This picture also represents what Oregonians mean when they love green. There isn't a brown spot to be found amongst the trees in the background. 

Being part of the married mormon culture, it is almost always assumed that you were married in an LDS temple. We were, in fact, married in the Portland temple. As part of the mormon oregonian group, I know the Portland temple is the prettiest temple of them all. 

In most western cultures, wearing a ring on your left hand signifies either engagement or marriage. 

As a Lab TA (Teacher's Assistant), part of my job and part of the culture is to know the Lab safety rules. We are required to wear gloves, closed toed shoes, and long pants. 

If you're a boating family, you wave to everyone. This advertisement shows that while in other cultures you'll get adverse reactions, you'll get a wave back if you're boating.

As a student, you always carry a backpack. If you're not wearing a backpack, you're either the teacher or you're unprepared.

Part of my Miller family culture is taking halloween pumpkin carving very seriously. We've never done the regular jack-o-lanturn face. As we've gotten older, our punpkins get more creative. 

Another Miller culture aspect is this rule that when you go to the beach, you make a sand castle/sculputre. It's not a trip to the coast if there are no sand sculptures involved. Also, everyone there is expected to help. If you're not doing anything, someone will give you a job. 

American's celebrate 4th of July as part of our culture. It would be considered un-American if you didn't find a way to celebrate the day. 

Fireworks are an expected norm for 4th of july. If you're lighting off fireworks this day, Americans should know why. 

As an Oregonian, having green around the house is a must. Everyone has at least one plant, whether they have a green thumb or they've just killed their 10th cactus. 

As a biologist and a marine enthusist, it is not uncommon for me to be touching wildlife, especially if it is one of my favorite animals. 

Another part of Oregonian culture is that tap water is always awesome. This becomes a problem for when we travel to places like Utah and are dissapointed in their low quality tap water. 

I share in the culture of celebrating birthdays. Within both the Miller and Maxwell family culture, it is typical for the birthday person to choose their favorite treat, even if it's not cake, and have candles stuck in the treat. We then sing the happy birthday song for the birthday person, and have them blow out the candles and make a wish. I didn't realize how cherished this tradition was until I spent my 21st birthday in Mexico, and cried when my host family surprised me with a cake, candles, and sang the Happy Birthday song in English.