Consumer Behavior Reflection

This has got to be my favorite marketing course I have taken so far at MSU. I never realized how much I enjoyed analyzing the behaviors of consumers under various contexts and circumstances. Coming from a diverse background, I always had the urge to understand how people are alike and different. I think the most important skills I will take from this course are my improvement of written & technical communication skills, and relating in class material to real world situations. Through this course I learned about what kind of consumer I am and what I value as a human.




Prior to enrolling in this course, I found it extremely difficult to formulate ideas and express them in a technical manner. With writing being one of my weaknesses, I made a commitment to excel and improve my writing techniques through this course.

Moreover, I enjoyed the analytical aspect of this class. While most classes have a more traditional method of teaching, I felt like this course challenged me to constantly observe and relate course materials to real life situations. For example, I found it very interesting how social groups are formed and how people find ways to fit in by conforming, learning social norms, reference groups and subcultures.

Subcultures and religious harmony in Malaysia

The country of Malaysia has always been a subject of interest and inspiration for me. Growing up in a predominantly homogeneous society mainly consisting of Arabs and Persians. As a half Mexican, I found it difficult relating to other people in my society usually because I was considered the odd one out. After discovering Malaysia,I learned that it consists of mainly three races which are Malays, Chinese, and Indians. I found it very fascinating that these three cultures could live side by side under a central Malaysian culture in peace. 

Malaysia is considered one of the most developed Southeast Asian countries with highly developed cities and a very educated population. The average citizen of Malaysia would normally speak Malay (the local language), English, and your mother tongue which depends on which subculture you belong to. What is even more intriguing is the fact that these subcultures consist of five major religions which are Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Christianity and fine peace within one another. Being raised in the Middle East with a Catholic mother and a Muslim father, most people believed that people from different religious backgrounds can't and will never be able to live side by side in harmony. 

All of these religious subcultures participate in sacred consumption during their respective religious holidays. Hindus participate in sacred consumption by purchasing oil lamps lavish feasts and new clothes to signify a new year. Chinese Buddhists purchase red clothing for the Chinese new year and Muslims participate in Eid where they sacrifice an animal (usually a lamb or cow) and give money to the poor.

Desacralization and Ramadan

For the past 23 years of my life, I spend an approximate 30 days a year fasting for dawn till dusk in observance of the Holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan falls during the ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar. As for this year, I will be observing Ramadan in Bozeman because it will on June 28. While fasting, Muslims refrain from drinking, eating, and participating in any form of sexual interactions from dawn until sunset. During this time we are encouraged to humble ourselves by purifying our souls, refocus attention to Allah (God), and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than abstaining from drinking and eating. 

Unfortunately, Ramadan has been going through a process of desacralization in Islamic countries such as Kuwait. Rather than concentrate on the concept and essence of this Holy month, people started treating it as a month of social gatherings and lavish feasts. For example, when I spent my most recent Ramadan in Kuwait, Kim Karsashian visited to open the Millions of Milkshakes franchise at a local mall in Kuwait. Many people including my self felt insulted that a person who gained fame from immoral acts was going to visit Kuwait during the holiest time of the year to open a milkshake franchise.

 

Q8 CON

For the first time in history, Kuwait hosted its first Comic Con in 2014. For those who don't know, Comic Con is a large comic book and popular arts convention held annually around the world. For the past 30 years, there has been a growing microculture of comic enthusiasts in Kuwait and in the surrounding countries. 









In a highly conservative Arab/Islamic society, gaming and comic enthusiasts will be able to dress and feel like their favorite characters and not be criticized. The comic convention was filled with cosplayers who performed skits as their favorite characters. The main goal of the convention is to put Kuwait on the map for gamers, Anime, and Manga enthusiasts. 

Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Better known as the Vegetarian Festival, followers of the Tao faith celebrate a nine-day celebration beginning on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The festival mainly takes place in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Riau Islands, and Myanmar.  The main goal of the festival is to welcome good fortune to communities and drive away evil spirits.



Devotees and participants purify themselves in public in forms of self-mutilation. Prior to participating in such acts of devotion, devotees enter a state of possession by spirits and dive into a trance where they then skewer their bodies and faces with numerous objects such as guns, needles, and tools.




Throughout the festival, participants refrain from consuming any meats and strictly observe a 10 day vegetarian diet for the purpose of spiritual cleansing. In addition, pregnant women are not allowed to witness any of the rituals because they are considered impure.These holy rituals are usually performed in Tao shrines and temples where followers display forms of self-mutilation known as "Ma Song." 

Road side viewers throw firecrackers at seat carriers. It is believed that the trance which these participants experience make them fearless from pain.

WAR ON CLUTTER

Clutter. Clutter everywhere. Nowadays it seems like wherever you turn to look we are bombarded by a clutter of advertisements attacking us. I don't know about any of you, but I have learned to block out these ads and commercials. Or have I?
While brainstorming ideas for online content that will entice interaction from your target audience, why not take a couple cues from the characteristics of successful traditional advertising techniques? Although they’ve been around for decades, there’s certainly a reason why strategies such as billboard advertising, TV advertisements and PR stunts are still viable.

https://www.distilled.net/blog/standing-out-from-the-clutter-what-we-can-learn-from-traditional-advertising/

After watching The Persuaders, we learned how marketers are constantly fighting the battle to get our attention in the midst of all the clutter. Here are some examples of creative and ingenious ads that marketers have been able to produce. I haven't seen such a concept of static advertising that could be so successful. Enjoy :) 

Here is the link to the article: http://www.viralnova.com/creative-print-ads/

Music & the Extended Self

I found these two very interesting videos that really inspired me to learn more about music, and how one could identify him or herself with it. I hope everyone could learn and be inspired by the videos that are posted below! Enjoy :)

I find music to be embedded in my personality. Ever since I was a child I loved listening to different genres from different periods. My Mexican grandmother played the music of her childhood while my dad played the music he grew up listening to. In addition, my older brothers introduced me to rap and hip hop while I was a child (which probably wasn't the wisest thing to do). Music serves as a reminder of who I am and who I used to be. With music, I am able to use as a journal of the different experiences and moments I had throughout my life.

Solo Tacos Kuwait

My family recently started a small Mexican taqueria in Kuwait (Where I'm from). Growing up with a Kuwaiti father and a Mexican mother, I was raised in a highly diverse and multicultural environment. During the early 90's, Saddam Hussein and his regime invaded and took over Kuwait. Fortunately, Kuwait had a strong relationship with the United States who defeated the Iraqi army. Ever since, Kuwait was highly influenced by American culture and media. With brands such as Mcdonalds, Cheesecake Factory, GAP, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc, one can easily have access to what most would experience in the United States.

With all these changes happening to Kuwait, my family thought it would be a good idea to open a Mexican restaurant in the heart of Kuwait City. Given all the competition from the highly diverse restaurants Kuwait has to offer, we had to come up with a concept that would appeal to Kuwaitis. Our restaurant, "Solo Tacos Tijuana Style" is the only restaurant that offers authentic North Mexican style tacos in Kuwait.

The opportunity to open a Mexican restaurant allowed my family and I to show Kuwait who we are and what we are about. Through food and culture, there is strong sense of identity in my family because it was our way of identifying ourselves to who we are and where we came from.


-Feel free to click on the link and check out our website!! Solo Tacos Kuwait

Here are some recently taken pictures: