Mongolian people do not even say the names of dead people, let alone dress up as them for Halloween. It has been interesting to try to learn about where this feeling comes from, and how it is different than my American perspective. Do you know anyone who dislikes Halloween? And if so, have they told you why?
It is also good to recognize how my own perspectives are different than Mongolians'. For example, I do not eat a lot of meat, and try to stay healthy by eating a lot of vegetables. While Mongolians do eat vegetables, they also expect everyone to eat lots of meat all winter. Since winters here are very cold, people think eating lots of red meat like beef will make you warmer. I have had several people tell me that if I do not eat beef, I will be too cold and get sick! When people say this to me, I like to just smile and thank them for the advice. Although I may disagree inside, who knows, maybe they are right?! The point is: you should always be able to question your own perspectives when you learn about a new culture. This is the only way to truly understand yourself or other people.
Anywhere you go, there will be people who see the world differently than you do. Even in the U.S.A. itself, people believe many different things and have many different perspectives. Remember, just because someone lives their life a little differently than you does not mean they are bad or wrong. In fact, this difference is really just a great opportunity to ask them questions and learn about their culture! We can all learn something from one another, and the best way to get to know someone is to try to understand their perspective.
