Discussion in special education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discussion in special education - Essay Example The members of the team include parents and teachers, school-based professionals, therapists, physicians, and the community. A childs welfare is of primary concern to a parent and teacher. When confronted with a condition that will affect childs health or ability to learn-whether for a week, a month, a year, or for life—relatives immediately question whether the diagnosis is accurate, and to what extent the condition will inhibit or delay the childs growth. An assessment of childs educational abilities will be made before a school district can place child in a program. Children may be eligible to participate in programs if they meet established criteria. It is important to be familiar with all of the components of the assessment process because the outcomes dictate actions that the school may take on behalf of the child. In addition, an assessment also determines the types of related services a child may need and be entitled to receive (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy). These early intervention services may be critical to childs development. In this case, teachers and o ther professionals give suggestions on how to prepare a child for an accurate assessment and ensure that a positive test-taking environment is provided. Teachers describe what takes place when professionals meet with a parent to discuss the results of the assessment and suggest how to use the results of the assessment to access the services the child needs. A questionnaire is included to help parents rate level of satisfaction during each step of the process (Ashman and Elkins 1990). Parents seldom know much about budget lines and funding sources. However, parents have the right to know if the school district is properly disbursing the funds earmarked for special education students. Parents can feel discouraged, desperate, and angry when things are not going well. A teacher may have tapped all the resources available through normal

Use of Quick Response Codes in Health Care Research Paper

Use of Quick Response Codes in Health Care - Research Paper Example A quick response code is a matrix barcode, which can be read using a smartphone that has the right bar code reading application. In health care, the bar code is encoded with heath information or data of an individual. In order for a first respondent to access an individual’s data on the bar code during an emergency, the smartphone or other enabled devices can be used to scan the bar code (Davis, 2012). Although this technology in health care might play a big role in emergency cases, there are various concerns such as privacy and ethics concerns, raised by its use, which might discourage most health care institutions and individuals from adopting it. Body The history of the quick response codes is traced in Japan. This is where the Japan-based company ‘Denso Wave Corporation’ invented this technology in 1994. Initially, this technology was not meant for use in health care. Instead, the company invented this to help in tracking Toyota vehicles and vehicle parts, dur ing the process of manufacturing. However, in the most years, packaging companies and consumer advertisers have been responsible for the infiltration of the QR codes in the USA. Today, QR codes are found on the internet, on mails from advertisers, on books, and on billboards. In this case, the bar codes have data about the advertised products and the company, as well as the URL’s of the company. Most recently, QR codes have crossed the border from advertising and marketing industry to the health care sector (Maeder & Martin-Sanchez (2012) In health care, this technology is still new, therefore, has not been adopted by most health care institutions. Knowledge of the technology and expertise still lacks, since this technology is still in its initial stage of implementation. For instance, in the USA today, the implementation of this new technology is underway in the Marin County, in the state of California, through a partnership with Lifesquare. The health care professionals in this county are being equipped with iPhones with enabled bar code readers. On the other hand, Marin residents are encouraged to register their personal and medical information in the quick response bar codes available in CVS stores. Lifesquare requires the individuals to stick the bar code stickers to areas it recommends, such as wallets, and mobile phones, among others, where these can be accessed during an emergency (Davis, 2012). In this case, the health data read by the first respondent is directly fed into the emergency systems of the relevant health care institution. According to Garcia-Betances and Huerta (2012), the major advantage of using QR code is that it is a simple technology, which does not require special tags in its use. The QR code is a type of a 2D code, thus it is easy to generate and print the bar code on different surfaces, including paper, and plastic surfaces, among others. This does not require use of any complex equipment. Therefore, with basic training, in dividuals lacking information on how to use the QR codes can learn this within a short period. Additionally, the QR codes in health care are capable of reducing cases of erroneous reading of patient health information, leading to misdiagnosis and wrong prescriptions. This is because, QR codes are easy to read and decode since this technology is not a complex. As long as an individual has a smartphone or a device capable of decoding a bar code, they can access the health data on a patient’s bar code. Garcia-Betances and Huerta (2012) note that since the 2D-based readers are camera-based, these have a much

American River Otter in Zoo Setting Essay Example for Free

American River Otter in Zoo Setting Essay Otters are endemic to America and stay in American river systems. They can be found in all Watersheds of America. Moreover, their decrease is attributed to unregulated harvest, water pollution and habitat destruction. As a result, river otters have now become an endangered species. Nevertheless, Otters are still maintained by most people as pets, making them an interesting species. As a matter of fact, otters are the favorite animals in many zoo collections. However, they are also difficult to keep in a healthy condition and surprisingly there is very little knowledge about them. Otters are held in captivity for the purpose of breeding for likely reintroduction into the wild and for public education. This paper focuses on American river otters. Geographical, Classification and Range                  American river otters can be found in Alaska, inland waterways and coastal areas of Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Atlantic State and the Gulf of Mexico. Otters belong to the family Mustelidae, which comprises mink, badgers, skunks, martens, wolverines and weasels. They are categorized under the subfamily Lutrinae, which has a total of thirteen species in six genera. The American otter exhibit permits visitors to observe the feeding habits and swimming capabilities of the otters. Moreover, visitors can see various species of otters in different colors frolicking in the water (Becker, 2002). Habitat                  River otters are found in a variety of aquatic habitats, both in the coastal marine such as rivers, lakes, coastal shorelines, estuaries and marshes and in fresh water. The otter can tolerate a wide range of elevations and temperature. The primary needs of a river otter are a regular supply of food source and tranquil access to a body of water. They select their habitats grounded on the amount of shelter and food. It is for this reason that their habitat can change depending on the season. For example, they can move from temporarily flooded marshes to cypress swamps with permanent foods. Otters, are very sensitive to pollution, meaning that if the water is populated, the river otter will not be capable of surviving. It is for this reason that in captive setting, fresh and quality water is maintained. Growth of pollution, man-made poisons and cities destroy the otter habitat and decline their numbers (Niemuth, et al ) In most cases, river otters stay in a den or a holt, built in the burrows of other animals or in a natural hollows setting like in river banks, dens comprises of burrow dug by marmot monax, red foxes, nutria or beaver and muskrat lodges. They may also utilize logs or trees, rock creations, flood debris, undercut banks and backwater sloughs. The utilization of resting and den sites is primary opportunistic, though locations that gives seclusion and protection are highly preferred for otters. They also walk for great distances over land and through water to look for food. River otter; the weasel family hunt during the night and feed on whatever might be present. Fish are the favorite food for otters, though they also eat amphibians, crayfish and turtles. Otters love to playfully slide down snow-covered, muddy hills, or icy, which always end with a splash in the water. Pups enjoy such funs, which also demonstrates survival skills (Niemuth, et, al 2008). River otters stay in a small family group when they have a litter of pups. Nevertheless, they have strict territories, which they preserve from others otters of the same sex. Male territories can overlap with female territories, but male territories do not overlap with other male territories. When families are comprised of an adult female and her offsprings, the male also introduces their own social groups. Nevertheless, females and males usually build separate hierarchies, putting up each other, but not escorting one another. Young pups love to play through wrestling and chasing one another. However, river otters do not have territories, and distinct groups tend to avoid one another. Biological Tythms And/Or Migration, Navigation Orientation                  The river otters do go through a winter slow-down. They build ground beds or nests in hardwood swamps or dense thickets. Otters males and non-pregnant females do not appear to enter into a true hibernation. Rather, they enter a physiological state referred to as walking hibernation or denning. These otters will bed down for a few days, months or weeks, but they can be awakened on warm winter days for forage. Pregnant females go into hibernation state, especially in mid December to early January and do not awaken till late April or early May. Nevertheless, whether in a true hibernation or denning, the otters body temperature and metabolic and heart rates decline. The otters may lose up to 25percent of their body weight while hibernating (Williams et al, 2006). Reproduction                  River otters sexually mature between 2 to 3 years. In most cases, river otters mate in the fall or spring, with birth taking place the next year of mating. Nevertheless, river otters have deferred implantation cycle, which distinct them them from any other associated otter species. Though the gestation period takes around 60-63 days, the entire period of pregnancy can differ from 245-380 days.. The life cycle continues whereby the Otter pups weigh approximately 4.5ounces when born. The pup nurse for around 3 to 4 months and start to swim 2months after birth. It is natural for the young pups to swim, though the mother must lure them into the water for their first swim. The mother carries the pups on its back during the first days of swimming, thus coaxing them to swim. Usually, the pups move away from their mother when they are about 1 year old and ready to look for their own territory. Behavioral Development                  American river otters have adapted to an aquatic lifestyle just like fish. They are well fitted to dive and swim in water, just like how a dolphin fish does. However, otters have a slippery hydrodynamic nature, which exemplifies the perfect adaptation to an amphibious culture. As mentioned earlier, their webbed feet help them to swim with small dexterous front feed and large powerful hind feet. The muscular tail is somehow thick and flat at the base, tapering to a point. River otters utilize their hind limbs and undulating movement of their tail as the primary source of propulsion through the water. As a matter of fact, they also utilize their forelimbs for paddling. The common features for all otters is that they contain sleek waterproof fur, short hair, which is soft and dense. They also have perfect vision, particularly underwater, which aid them to capture their prey such as fish. Another adaptation is that they have stiff whiskers that are very sensi tive to water turbulence. (Niemuth et al, 2008) This helps them to find prey in muddy water or dark waters. Likewise, the thumbs on the front paws help them to move freely and can only be opposed when the otter is picking up, or holding small things such as when the otter is eating. Social Systems and Communication of River Otters                  River otters mostly forage in the water, where they hunt their prey, they are similarly on land because they can also run quickly. But, when they are moving on land, they bound in a sprinting fashion, with their backs bowed. Fortunately, they combine running with sliding in the mud, snow, or ice, whenever it is possible for them to do that. This makes them move fast and reach their destination, also, it has made them to be the most playful of the Mustelidae family. Nevertheless, river otters are also extremely vocal, and communicate with one another using diversity of calls such as staccato chuckles, twitters, chirps and buzzes (Niemuth et, al, 2008). When river otters develops and become solitary, they utilize scent marking to differentiate territorial boundaries. This is because, they have a pair of scent glands at the base of their tail that provides them with a heavy musky smell. Scent is very important for the otters because it gives the convey, the identity, sexual receptivity and sex of the otters. During the breeding season a male otter can utilize the sex makings of a female in estrus for beyond eight kilometers. However, though otters can be tolerant of other otters, the male otters do not contest for breeding preferences. There also slight commonality of territorial boundaries between the otters adults of similar sex. However, males exercise slight commonality of territories of various females (Esbensen, 1993). In conclusion, the river otters are one of the social carnivores in the world. It is clear because, the river otters in the zoo setting have been seen to tend to respond to human in distinct manner than do wild otters. The biggest threat to otter species is trapping excessive fur. Also, other species progresses to decline due to overfishing, destruction of the otters habitat and water pollution. Thus, the only hope for the future of the river otters is by breeding the otters in a zoo setting. Nevertheless, it is only the most perfect breeding program where the pups are brought up by their mothers on natural prey in a zoo setting, can hope to raise and breed otters than can successfully accommodate to wild status. Therefore, careful considerations should be taken when breeding the otters. Chasing of other otter species progresses worldwide, making the species become an endangered species. Today, all the otter species are now an endangered species, though the North American river otter is not considered and endangered species, but it is clear that its population has extremely decline. References Becker, J. (2002). North American river otters. San Diego, CA: Kidhaven Press. Esbensen, B., Brown, M. (1993). Playful slider: The North American river otter. Boston: Little, Brown, and. Greene, C., French, M. (1993). Reading about the river otter. Hillside, N.J., U.S.A.: Enslow. Niemuth, J., Sanders, C., Mooney, C., Olfenbuttel, C., Deperno, C., Stoskopf, M. (2008). Nephrolithiasis In Free-Ranging North American River Otter () In North Carolina, USA. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 110-117. Williams, T., Ben-David, M., Noren, S., Rutishauser, M., Mcdonald, K., Heyward, W. (2006). Running energetics of the North American river otter: Do short legs necessarily reduce efficiency on land? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular amp; Integrative Physiology, 203-212. Source document

Investigation into Human Resource Planning

Investigation into Human Resource Planning Human Resource Management Planning is not as easy as an organization might consider; it requires intensive work to come out with a programme that ease work. Commenting is complicated, but once a business start and finish it; such company have a smile because everything moves efficiently. Planning is the process that has to be launched from somewhere and completed for the purpose. It involves collecting data that would enable management to make effective decisions. Information obtained is used to make better decisions for achieving Phipps Enterprise objectives. There are many factors that Phipps Enterprise Travel Agency has to consider when choosing an HR Planning programme. HR Planning at Phipps Enterprise Travel Agency involves collecting of data, making objectives, and making effective decisions to enable Phipps’s to achieves its objectives. Unexpectedly, the HR is one of the most neglected fields. When HR Planning is applied correctly in the field, it will assist to address the following questions: How much staff does the organization have? How should the company best exploit the available resources? How can the business retain its staff? HR planning has made the organization move and succeeded in the 21st Century. Human Resources Managers at Phipps Enterprise prepare the HR Planning programme to assist the company to manage its employee strategically. The programme will helps to direct the movements of the HR department. The programme does not help the company only, but it will also facilitate career planning of the staff and assist them to achieve the objectives. This augment motivation and the business would become a safe place 4to work. Poor HR Planning and shortage of it in the company especially like Phipps Enterprise may result in enormous costs and financial losses. The augment costs and hampers effective work functioning because staffs is requested to work overtime and may not put in additional effort due to fatigue. If given additional work, it may stretch employee beyond their limit and may cause pointless disruptions to the organization production. The most important reason HR Planning is used at Phipps Enterprise is to manage and executed is the costs involved. Costs form a significant part of the Organizations budget; workforce planning enables Phipps’s to provide HR provision costs. When there is a staff shortage, the company appoints discriminately because of the costs suggestions of the other options, such as training of staff. Steps in HR Planning Action of Plan There are three essentials necessary for this step. Know where the company is heading. Acceptance and backing management for their plans. Knowledge of the all available resources. Once in action, the HR Plans become a business programs. Failure to achieve the HR Plans may be a serious constraint on the company long-range objectives. Below is an illustration of Phipps Enterprise Travel Agency HR Plan, which is linked to the corporate Plan. Forecasting HR Planning at Phipps Enterprise requires that data gathering on the organizational goals objectives. Employee should understand what the organization wants achieve and how it plans to. The need of the employees is to derive from the business objectives of the company. Inventory Once employees have an understanding of the human resources in the company, the next stage is to take stock of the present staff in the organization. The HR inventory should relate to not only data, ages, and locations, but also to analysis of individuals and skills. Audit Phipps Enterprise does not live in a Static World, and HR resources can transform dramatically. HR inventory collection of data includes HR audit, which requires systematic examination and analysis of such data. Audit looks at what has occurred in the past and present in terms of labor turnover, training costs and absence. Based on this evidence the HR manager can then predict HR in the future in the organization. HR Resource Plan Phipps Enterprise Travel Agency looks at career planning and HR plans. Employees are the greatest assets in any company. Phipps Enterprise is at liberty to develop its employees at full pace in an ideal manner to the individual capacities. The primary motive is that Phipps’s objectives should be aligned with the business strategy in order to give excellent scope for the developing potential of its staff. Therefore, career planning may be referred to as HR or succession planning. Questions that would concern Phipps Enterprise are: Is the company making use of the available talent in the business? Is Phipps Enterprise employees satisfied with the company care of their growth? Human resource planning is a method through which it anticipates future business. It also provides sufficient manpower required to perform all the business doings. HR planning is a continuous practice which starts with employee identifying HR plans, analyze manpower resources and ends with an appraisal for HR planning. The following are the steps involved in human resource planning at Phipps Enterprise Travel Agency: 1. Human Resources Assessing The valuation of HR begins with environmental analysis, both external (PEST) and internal (objectives and resources) is to analyze to the current available HR inventory. After analyzing the external and internal forces of the market, it would be easier for HR manager to discover the internal strengths and weakness of the business in one hand and the other opportunities and threats. It also includes taking inventory of the workers and skills at Phipps Enterprise Travel Agency and a comprehensive job analysis. 2. Demand Forecasting Forecasting of HR is the process of estimating the demand and supply of HR. Demand is the method of determining future needs for HR as o relates to the quantity and quality. Phipps Enterprise uses this method to meet the future requirements of the organization and in the process it achieves the company desired level of production. Future HR needs can be estimated with the assistant of the organizations current human resource and analysis of organizational plans procedures. It will be necessary to perform a yearly analysis for substantial level and type. 3. Supply Forecasting Supply is another side of HR assessment. It is concerned with the valuation of resource of manpower given the analysis of the current resource and availability of HR in the future. Supply forecast estimates the future sources of Phipps’s HR that are likely to be available. Internal source includes promotion and job development, whereas external source includes recruitment and selection. 4. Matching Demand and Supply Another step of HR planning is matching demand and supply, which is a concern with bringing the forecast of HR future demand and supply at Phipps’s. The process talks about demand and supply in a balanced position so that the organization does not have any shortage and overstaffing situation. In the case of shortages, Phipps’s has to hire a number of employees, while if the opposite, over staffing has to be use to reduce the level of current employment. Therefore, by using the matching process it will give the business information about requirements and sources of HR in the company. 5. Action Plan This step is the last phase of HR planning that is concerned with surplus and shortages of the company. Here, the HR program is implemented through the design of different HR events. The primary activity which is required to execute the HR program is a recruitment, selection, training and development, etc. Finally, the stages or steps are charged by control and evaluation of performance to evaluate the program matches the HR objectives and policies. A comparison of recruitment and selection process in two organizations will be done on McDonald’s (company A) and KFC (Company B). McDonald is one of the leading Fast food Chain in the World since 1998. The headquarter is located in Karachi and the regional head office in Lahore. The basic objective of HR Policies at the restaurant is to respect and recognition, values and leadership behaviour, learning, development and personal growth while KFC was establish in the early 1930s by kernel Senders and is a project of Mackenzie Restaurants International limited since 1997 in Pakistan. Over this organization currently employs 6000 people as at such government obtains over 10 million per month as direct taxes. The basic objective of HR Policies at the establishment is to provide coaching, leadership and operational support to employees and in the process providing an optimistic working environment. Illustrated below is a table showing the similarity in the recruitment and selection process at McDonald’s and KFC. Recruitment McDonald’s KFC Decentralized Hiring Batch Hiring Attracting qualified people for the job. Decentralized Process. Internal Based on Past Performance (Promoting from within) Jobs post www.mcdonalds2.rozee.pk Company evaluate current employee to see if they are fit for the opening position (Promoting from within) Job post at www.jobswithkfc.com External Via Internet Newspaper or Magazine ads College Recruiting Internship Contacts with universities Banners ads Newspaper Walk- In Resumes drop off Selection Initial screening McDonald’s Test Interview Background Investigation Final interview Initial screening KFC Tests Skills, behavioral and Physical Test After successfully completed examination, they then move on to the interview stage Training and Development Lectures On job training Crew leader development course Summer crash course Lectures On job training Language programs Regular Counseling and guiding Launching of development programs Recruitment and selection is a vital component in determine an organizations effectiveness and performance, when organization are able to obtain employees who already passes appropriate knowledge, skills and talents also be able to make correct guess about their future abilities. The requirement and selection of employees are fundamental to the performance of an organization. Inappropriate selection decisions decrease organizational effectiveness, cancels reward and develop strategies, are frequently unfair on the individual recruited and can be hard for the manager that has to deal with unfit employees. In order for Phipps’ to stay competitive, they need to have the best employee and them skills. McDonald’s and KFC recruitment process usually start when employee in the organization leaves and such position opens up an opportunity for another applicant to fill their position. One significant effectiveness of recruitment and selection for McDonald’s and KFC is that it help in the decision making of the high management to fill a gap; it help them to find the right candidate with the proper qualifications and skills to do the job not taking into through their race, age, gender or color. The recruitment and selection process is critical to both organizations even though the process can be expensive. It is time-consuming swell, and much thought will be needed by the manager in order to choose the right candidate. References 1. HR Policies KFC McDonalds by Ali Maan on Prezi. [ONLINE] Available at: http://prezi.com/clqamwplk7l6/hr-policies-kfc-mcdonalds/. [Accessed 13 October 2014]. 2. Human Resource Planning Process Or Steps Of HR Planning | Accounting-Management. [ONLINE] Available at:http://accountlearning.blogspot.com/2013/01/human-resource-planning-process-or.html. [Accessed 13 October 2014]. 3. Hr Planning Essay Sanka07. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.studymode.com/essays/Hr-Planning-458782.html. [Accessed 13 October 2014].

Violent Video Games Raise Aggression Essay -- Gaming

Throughout history man kind has always searched for ways to entertain himself, each time developing new activities and games. Video games have become a very popular way to spend time and have fun from the 1970’s up to now. With new developments appeared different video game genres from adventure to racing, but the violent video games appear to be the most popular ones (Shin, 2003), for example: shooters, fighting and video games where you have to eliminate, destroy, or kill your enemies. Video games have become very influential on children and adults (Stafford, 1999). With violent video games humans are more prone to act aggressively, to have aggressive thoughts and become numb towards violence (Harding, 2009). Apart from these they are prone to develop antisocial behavior, depression and addiction. This means that future generations will be more violent and less sensible towards violence. Is this type of entertainment really worth a more violent world and future? B. The IT background of the issue Back in time input devices for video games were analog this means that data was very short ranged and limited like for example movements in the x-axis only, like in â€Å"Pong†. This is one of the reasons why before there were very few and not that violent video games such as â€Å"Space Invader†. But as technology developed so did the video game industry (Reynolds, 2004) and input devices became each time more complex. With more option in the input devices people can do more actions in the video games like for example combo moves or kill enemies in many other different ways (Stafford, 1999). Another development that has caused the appearance of violent video games is the increase in quality of the output. Before, the only VDU’s were C... ...1/2008. CNN. 24/05/2010 â€Å"Insert Coin: Part 5-Violence in Video Games†. Brent Stafford. Internet. Youtube, 02/11/2006 Shaky egg. Brent Stafford. 2004. Shaky Egg Communications Inc. 24/05/2010 Red3d. Craig Reynolds. 22/07/2007. None. 24/05/2010 About.com. Jennifer Rosenberg. 2003. The New York Times Company. 24/05/2010 Gamezero. Salamander. 08-09/1992. Game Zero Magazine. 24/05/2010 Tgorski. Terence Gorski. Unknown. GORSKI-CENAPS Team. 24/05/2010

Donald Johanson :: essays research papers fc

Donald Johanson Donald Johanson was born in Chicago in 1943, the son of Swedish immigrants. His father died when he was two, and his mother moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he developed an interest in anthropology from a neighbor who taught the subject. Although he initially studied chemistry at university, he eventually switched majors to anthropology, and worked during summers on archeological digs. He transferred to Chicago to study under F. Clark Howell for his graduate studies, doing a comprehensive study on chimpanzee dentition for his doctoral thesis. In 1970 and 1971 he visited Africa to do field work at Omo in Ethiopia. In 1972, he and some colleagues went on a short exploratory expedition evaluate the Afar Triangle region of Ethiopia. They were impressed by its promise, and planned a full-scale expedition the following year. Back in the USA, Johanson completed his Ph.D. and started a teaching position at Case Western Reserve University.(Johanson) In 1973 he discovered AL 129-1, a small but humanlike knee, and the first knee known from the hominid fossil record. The following year, Johanson and Tom Gray discovered an even more spectacular find, AL 288-1, a partial skeleton of a female australopithecine better known by its nickname of Lucy. (Farah-Karls, 21). In 1975 there was yet another major find when his team found a collection of fossils at a single site that was nicknamed the First Family. In 1976, more hominid fossils were discovered, along with stone tools, which, at 2.5 million years, were the oldest in the world. After 1976, political conditions in Ethiopia prevented further expeditions for nearly 15 years.(Johanson). Johanson, who in 1974 had become a curator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, now tackled the task of analyzing the fossils with the aid of Tim White, a young but highly regarded scientist who had just finished his Ph.D. Johanson had originally thought that the Hadar fossils were a mixture of Homo and Australopithecus specimens, but White eventually convinced him that all of them belonged to just one species. In 1978 they named that species Australopithecus afarensis.(Johanson). In 1981, Johanson founded the Institute of Human Origins, a non-profit research institution devoted to the study of prehistory. In 1987, the IHO was given permission to conduct an expedition to Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, and found a partial skeleton, OH 62, which is generally attributed to Homo habilis.

Culture and Traditional Gambian Dress

A)In a paragraph, describe the acculturation process that the author experienced and explain how her cultural identity changed. Catherine Pigott came from a Western background. In Africa, she experienced a dramatically different culture. At first, it must have been very difficult. There was little about her that appealed to the Gambian sense of femininity. She was far too thin by those standards. Consequently, she could not dance as they danced, dress as they dressed, or eat with the relish and gusto becoming of a Gambian woman.Frankly, she was too thin. Her slim physique represented everything synonymous with poverty, drought and starvation. Her body was a cause of sadness for those who looked upon her. If she were to remain in Gambia, she would need to adapt to these rather foreign cultural expectations. Her new lady friends insisted she gain more weight, and made it a priority to help Catherine accomplish that goal. Pigott began to understand that â€Å"big truly is beautifulâ₠¬  in this part of Africa. Everyone looked favourably on a woman carrying weight on her hips and thighs.A woman is beautiful if she has a round stomach and heavy, swinging breasts. This was not Catherine’s cultural ideal. In fact, she had difficulty eating as they did; for her, to eat with such delight and abandon was unattractive. Nevertheless, with time she gained weight, and slowly began to believe in Africa’s beauty image. She believed she was becoming more beautiful; she let go of the panic, shame and guilt-ridden resolves regarding her weight and eating habits. One day she clothed herself in traditional Gambian dress and made her way to the shops.As she returned, she placed her newly purchased items on her head, and made her way back home, slowly, swinging her hips in the manner of the natives. She was transformed. Now, when she looked upon the skinny European tourists, she did not see an ideal; she saw something more skeletal than slim, lacking in shape and sub stance. Her ideal had changed. After only one year Catherine returned home. She was happy and comfortable with her body, but her family had nothing nice to say about her new weight.Pigott returned to a land where fat is feared and despised. Before one month had elapsed she was already back at the gym, yearning to be slimmer and more fit. She was unhappy again; she had lost her Gambian freedom. Catherine’s process of adopting the cultural traits and social patterns of Gambia was difficult, but it was genuine. By the time she left Africa, she was comfortable with her body; she had adopted an entirely new perspective. Unfortunately, she would revert to her older, less fulfilling, cultural ideals after returning home.