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"Some people believe that a person's culture is defined by their country of origin, while others believe that has only a minor influence. Give your opinion." (500 words maximum) *

"Some people believe that a person's culture is defined by their country of origin, while others believe that has only a minor influence. Give your opinion. " (500 words maximum) * YLdeQ

If we define culture as shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors, it stands to reason then that a person's country of origin impacts their culture. The question is to what degree. Is nationality the defining influence or is it just one of many factors in play? Personally speaking, I would say both arguments have validity, but I would lean towards the latter. It is easy to understand the ‘defining influence’ argument. If someone is born and raised in a place, they will be heavily affected by it. Psychologists refer to this as the ‘nurture argument’ - you are a product of your environment. For instance, if your country's cuisine uses specific ingredients, you get used to those ingredients but may cope with other less familiar tastes. If your country has a conventional style of music, say, bolero or red music, the ubiquitous of it, and, as a result, tend to enjoy it more. On the other side of the argument, we need to recognize the impacts of globalization. Most people have daily access and get exposure to other cultures. It all surrounds us- restaurants, movies, and international companies are everywhere. One of the advantages of globalization is that it offers us a choice of cultural opportunities to choose from. It is unsure that you will find any citizen of a specific country who does not have likes or preferences that come from outside of their country of origin. In addition, more and more people work, study, or travel broadly away from their home country. Inevitably, these people will be subject to new influences. My own view is that while we are influenced by our community, in this globalized world, one's country of origin is only one aspect of our common culture. We all adopt elements from other cultures on a daily basis, unconsciously or according to our preferences and experiences. To my mind, this is what makes the world such an attractive place.

If we define You use this word too often, consider replacing it withfashionartabilitysciencepracticeexperience
culture
 as shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors, it stands to reason then that a person's You use this word too often, consider replacing it withrusticbucolichomeyagrarianprovincial
country
 of origin impacts their You use this word too often, consider replacing it withfashionartabilitysciencepracticeexperience
culture
. The question is to what degree. Is nationality the defining influence or is it This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:merely
just
 one of This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:a plethora ofa number ofnumerous
many
 factors in play? Personally
 speaking, I would say both You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsquabbleclashexchangebrawldisagreementcontroversy
arguments
 have validity, This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:on the contrary
but
 I would lean towards the latter.

It is easy to understand the ‘defining influence’ You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsquabbleclashexchangebrawldisagreementcontroversy
argument
. If someone is born
 and raised in a place, they will be heavily
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :impacted
affected
 by it. Psychologists refer to this as the ‘nurture You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsquabbleclashexchangebrawldisagreementcontroversy
argument’
Consider using an m-dash if you do not want to join two words.—
-
 you are a product of your environment. For instance
, if your country's cuisine This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :exploits
uses
 specific ingredients, you This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :acquire
get
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :exploited
used
 to those ingredients This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:on the contrary
but
 may cope with You use this word too often, consider replacing it withnewalternativemore
other
 less familiar tastes. If your You use this word too often, consider replacing it withrusticbucolichomeyagrarianprovincial
country
 has a conventional style of music, say, bolero or red music, The phrase 'the ubiquitous of' is not correct. Use a noun, not an adjective, between 'the' and 'of'.
the ubiquitous of
 it, and, as a result
, tend to enjoy it more.

On the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withnewalternativemore
other
 side of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsquabbleclashexchangebrawldisagreementcontroversy
argument
, we need to recognize the impacts of globalization. Most This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :individualsnationsociety
people
 have daily access and This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :acquire
get
 exposure to You use this word too often, consider replacing it withnewalternativemore
other
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withfashionartabilitysciencepracticeexperience
cultures
. It all surrounds us- restaurants, movies, and international This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :enterprisescorporations
companies
 are everywhere. One of the advantages of globalization is that it offers us a choice of cultural opportunities to choose from. It is unsure that you will find any citizen of a specific You use this word too often, consider replacing it withrusticbucolichomeyagrarianprovincial
country
 who does not have likes or preferences that This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :approacharrive
come
 from This phrase is redundant. Consider using "outside".outside
outside of
 their You use this word too often, consider replacing it withrusticbucolichomeyagrarianprovincial
country
 of origin. In addition
, more and more This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :individualsnationsociety
people
 work, study, or travel broadly
 away from their home You use this word too often, consider replacing it withrusticbucolichomeyagrarianprovincial
country
. Inevitably
, these This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :individualsnationsociety
people
 will be subject to new influences.

My This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :possess
own
 view is that while we are influenced
 by our community, in this globalized world, one's You use this word too often, consider replacing it withrusticbucolichomeyagrarianprovincial
country
 of origin is This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :exclusively
only
 one aspect of our common You use this word too often, consider replacing it withfashionartabilitysciencepracticeexperience
culture
. We all adopt elements from You use this word too often, consider replacing it withnewalternativemore
other
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withfashionartabilitysciencepracticeexperience
cultures
 on a daily basis, unconsciously
 or according to our preferences and experiences. To my mind, this is what This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :createsconstructsmanufacturesproduces
makes
 the world such an attractive place. 