| Convocation 2011, No. 55 |
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ContentsMiddle States Commission Reaffirms College's Accreditation Colleges Break Ground for Mount Airy College Center for Health Care Education Towson Most Popular, But Majority of Transfers Go Elsewhere One in Four Are "First Generation" College Students My Heritage: François P. Derasse
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| My Heritage: François P. Derasse | ||
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Associate Professor, Science Department, My Heritage is an exploration of the diverse backgrounds on campus through profiles of faculty, staff, and students. Presented in a question and answer format, these profiles reveal an interesting side of people on campus who share rich and diverse stories of personal heritage. Q: What is your ethnic background? A: French Q: Where did you grow up and how long were you there? A: I was born in France and lived the first ten years of my life in the west suburbs of Paris. In 1962, my parents, my brother and I moved first to Reisterstown. Two years later, we moved to Westminster. Just about every summer until I was twenty, my parents and I would spend 10 to 12 weeks in France, mostly in the south near the French Riviera, where we owned a summer home. While living in the U.S., we would speak French and live the "French" way at home. My mother would cook French cuisine — my father would not have it any other way. Q: What customs and pastimes are common in your native country? A: Being a western country, France has many similarities to the U.S. The French go skiing, play golf, go to the beach, go hiking, go to plays and movies, and watch sports, though some different ones. The French and Americans share many holidays like Christmas, New Years, and Easter. Of course, there are some different ones. They have no Thanksgiving, no Halloween, no Memorial Day, and no Labor Day. They celebrate Bastille Day, instead of the Fourth of July, and Mardi Gras, to name a few. The French have a different outlook on life. The French value time off from work more. They put more emphasis on eating and spending time with friends and family at the table. Q: Are you a speaker of your native language? A: I am fluent and speak French with no accent. Q: What is your definition of diversity? A: For me, it is the acceptance of all people, their customs, beliefs, and ethnicity. Diversity is about embracing the fact that we are all different.
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