Allegheny College Study Abroad Fall 2007

I never really thought too much about the diversity of Spain until I began to hear my host father tell me how diverse the county was. I thought "you call this diverse? You need to walk down a New York City Street." Spain, particularly southern Spain, is very much the same. When we talk about diversity, the first think we consider is the color of our skin, and Spain certainly lacks diversity in this respect. However, I think Spainards define diversity along different lines than the average American. Here there are many Romanian, gypsies, South Americans, and TONS of tourists. This is Spain's diversity. Even more, even the Spanish people are not all alike Spain is about the size of Texas, but it has huge regional dialects, different languages, and many different types of people. This past weekend I traveled to Barcelona, and this was the most culturally diverse city I have seen here in Spain. It was very cosmopolitan, and it reminded me very much of the US. I have a Spanish Civilization class, and through this class, I have learned that Spainards are just as diverse as Americans, perhaps even more so. There are several federally recognized languages, and for this there is a great separatist movement in several different parts of the country, especially in Pais Vasco, Galecia, and Catalunya. I think that if Americans stopped defining diversity by the color of people's skin, we would create a totally different perspective on diversity. Perhaps a majority of Allegheny students would even begin to classify our campus as diverse. The thing that I have learned most about diversity from Spain is that diversity exists in how each person defines themselves,not in the perspectives of others.

Posted by Brandon Tirpak at 3:16 PM | Permalink

Diversity for me is a variety of people, ideas, desires, beliefs, and goals. In the United States diversity is constantly on the news and on people's minds. We are always searching for obtaining greater diversity and looking for new points of view. When I first came to Spain I expected to see this diversity, but the reality was the opposite. Here in Andalucia most people have similar fashion and looks. If you are blond you can expect to receive comments on the streets. People easily pick you out of crowds as American, and it is interesting to find yourself outside the norm. The term they coin for foreigners is guiri. They also have a stereotypical image of what a guiri is. There is little diversity in what you are allowed to study as a student. When I speak to adults here and I tell them that Im a biochemistry major and spanish minor, they are shocked. The ability to combine two drastically different studies here is impossible. In this way I have really learned to value the diversity that exists in the United States. We are allowed to study a wide range of topics, and also are exposed to diverse groups of ideas and people.
The small amount of diversity here is brought about by the younger crowd. They are interested in new cultures, foods, and entertainment. In this way you can start to see Spain diversifying. New restaurants, shops, and bars are available. This change in diversity has been a shock to me. It has made me value greatly what diversity we have, and also helped me to understand the situation here.

Posted by Thomas Rodgers at 1:52 PM | Permalink

Diversity is more than differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, abilities, or beliefs. To me, diversity encompasses celebrating, accepting, and respecting those differences. I was surprised to find that Australia does not respect differences in people. In the past two weeks the newspapers have had headlines about leading politicians saying, “Women can’t do the job better than men.” Australia’s Prime Minister, John Howard, recently reduced the number of African refugees allowed into the country by 70%. Why? One simple word: race. The starkest example of diversity, or lack of, is the relationship between Aboriginal people and westernized Australians. Aboriginals in Australia are being treated much like African Americans were treated in the 1960’s. In Townsville, people with Aboriginal features are still refused service in petrol stations, racially targeted by law enforcement, and given different treatment. Though this is not legally sanctioned, it is definitely considered socially acceptable in the westernized community. Though I know racism still exists, I never encountered it so blatantly at home, nor was it a common place occurrence. Living in Australia has made me realize how important it is that everyone is treated equally and with respect, no matter how they appear, what they believe, or how they act. I’ve been given a unique opportunity to get to know an Aboriginal man named Rusty Butler and hear his perspectives on current treatment of minorities in Australia, particularly those with black skin and Aboriginal features. I think it has become all too clear to me how when respect is not given, divisions quickly rise and people quickly become aggressive. If Australia isn’t quick to learn the value of diversity I think it will have an uprising of people who have been disrespected for far too long.

Posted by Erin Horning at 9:15 AM | Permalink

At my host family, I live with two other people; one is German and the other is from Mexico. Friday night, my German housemates parents were visiting from Germany. We all ate a traditional french meal together and as I sat at dinner with his parents, him,myself and my host parents I realized I was the only person whose native language was english. It was the most incredible experience to be listening to German, French and English being spoken to try to communicate with everyone in the room at the same time. With this experience, I have come to a new definition for diversity which is walking into a room where not everyone speaks english because english might not be the main language spoken in peoples respective countries,contrary to what most english speaking countries sometimes believe. I, as an International student and as an American have now realiwed that fact and instead of shying away from it will bask in it because instances like Friday night might not happen again. For the first time in my life, I am living in a place where I am the foreigner and I dont speak the language natively. I now realize how hard it is to not only learn another language but use it in a place that is foreign to them. I am now grateful that for once I am the one with the different clothes, accent and culture. I am the one struggling with the language barrier and trying to fit into a culture that I am not accustomed to. Diversity, I now believe is the celebration of having to communicate in another language with someone from a different country. To speak to someone in another language other than english is not only a great experience but also a challenge and I now relish that said challenge.

Posted by Kristin Isabelli at 8:21 AM | Permalink

As a society and culture, Seville and Andalusia is not very diverse. The majority of Sevilla's population is dark skinned people originally from the Moors, including Morocco and Africa. The majority is Catholic some practicing more than others and most people come from a similar socio-economic level. As American students because of the differences in our physical appearances, it is difficult to blend into Sevilla’s culture. We look and tend to dress American, and most of the Spanish citizens can tell we are American students because of the way we act, dress and look. Although it is not the diversity that I was used to this summer in inner city Boston, I do see Asian shops and restaurants. When I visited Cordoba I saw an ancient Islam Mosque. It was very interesting learning about the Arabic influence on Andalusia. This past weekend I went to Barcelona which is in the north of Spain. As a larger city and a city with a seaport, the cultural population was very mixed and diverse, including people of all skin types. For the first time this semester in Barcelona I felt as if I fit in and belonged there.

I can only imagine through my experience here how it must feel for minorities in our country. A part of us all want to blend in, and we forget that during these travels sometimes we can’t. But I have learned to accept my new role here. I enjoy practicing Spanish and English with a lot of my Spanish friends. I am different as an American here in Spain and as much as I wanted and hoped to become Spanish I realize this is impossible and very naïve. Instead I am enjoying their culture and trying to stop judging and critiquing our differences. I may not personally believe in some of the politics and customs here but experiencing them does not mean I support them; I am just taking every opportunity. Sevilla’s lack of diversity has helped me understand one of the wonderful aspects of the United States which is that we are a melting pot of many different people from different cultures. These past two months abroad have helped me understanding this culture but it has also made me appreciate my own.

Posted by Alexandra Papa at 7:00 AM | Permalink

I would begin by defining diversity as unique, different, variety, and in this case a variety of different cultures and races. I do believe that Townsville, Australia is more diverse than my hometown in Ohio or Allegheny College. There are many more Asian inspired restaurants and populations, being closer to Asia. Aboriginals, natives to the land, are another common ethnic group. On campus at James Cook, you can find students studying from all over the world. Much different from Allegheny where I know many more people who are sent overseas to study than who have come there to study. I have become friends with people from Mexico, Germany, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, and the U.S. since being here. However, I think my biggest realization after being in Australia is not so much how diverse the population is, but how the culture views diversity. The area of Townsville is much like going in a time warp back into the United States in the 1960’s. The general, white, western population is openly racist towards the Aborigines. On a bus ride with another American woman from Oregon who moved over here three years ago with her husband, she began talking to me about my experiences over here and race was a major issue she brought up. We both talked about how hurtful it is for us to hear people openly saying racist remarks or jokes about the black population. Every time I hear some of my friends say racist remarks I cringe and instantly think, “you aren’t allowed to say that!” I was told by an Australian at my college that the reason the United States has more crime is because we have more black people and they are the reason for crime and violence. We have come so far past all of that racial segregation in the United States that it hurts me to hear these things. It made me appreciate that while although there are still racial divides in the U.S., we are much more accepting of it. I do sometimes think that whenever I hear these remarks, it would be like living in the U.S. in the 60’s. And it is sad that these are the only mentalities that these people have ever learned. It made me proud to think that we are not so closed minded, and it was one time I was really happy to be American.

Posted by Theresa Clem at 2:11 AM | Permalink

Before arriving in Australia, I had the notion in my mind that I would be "that American" on campus, that my accent would stand out and I'd be a subject of interest due to my different cultural background. I was very surprised to arrive at JCU to be surrounded by hundreds of Americans just like me. At first, I felt a bit disappointed in the number of Americans on the campus, but after a few weeks I realized how great it was to meet not only heaps of Australians, but also Americans from all over the States that brought all sorts of diversity to the table. I define diversity as not only a racial, religious or geographical descriptor, but also as a descriptor of personal history and experiences. Apart from the differences in cultural I've become accustomed to with life in Australia, I've grown close with Americans across the US who have taught me things about myself through our shared experience here in Australia. I've learned much about my personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as my limits and how far I can push them. So, although JCU doesn't deliver diversity in the traditional sense, the kind of diversity it does bring to the table is just as life changing and it can serve as a fantastic tool for self-discovery.

Posted by Bethany Perkins at 8:02 PM | Permalink

There are 15 of us in this program, yet it is one of the most diverse group of people I have ever been part of us. Everyone is from different parts of the United States and we all definitely have different things about us. The most obvious difference between groups of people here is the way that we all approach school. Some people are very relaxed and laid back about classes here. For example, it is not unusual, infact it is the norm, to see everyone drinking every night and spending every night drinking. And if there is studying going on, a beer is always in hand. Then there are some people who study until the late hours of the morning. It really is cut about ½ and ½.
The lab is really laid back; classes aren’t nearly as demanding as Allegheny. Yet I am still learning a ton of information I would never get to experience back at Allegheny. That relaxed feeling is definitely brought back to the undergrads, and it makes it a whole new experience for us.
I’ve learned that I work way too hard sometimes. I realized that if I am relaxed about learning and absorb the information while I’m in the class, I would be fine. At Allegheny I usually just copy notes down and don’t really think about them until it’s time to study. Here, the professors force you to pay attention and think about what you’re learning while you’re hearing it. I’m hoping that I can bring this learning skill back with me to Allegheny so maybe I won’t be so stressed out about classes.

Posted by Katherine Kump at 4:22 PM | Permalink

Rarely does one find much extensive diversity in any given town in America. Most of the diversity seems to come from the large cities, where people of other nationalities, races, cultures, and religions seem to collect. The U.S. is so vast and pretty isolated except for the southern Mexican bottom and the northern Canadian top, which still only provides for two major diversities. However, even though Great Britain is quite isolated (as it is an island), it is still so close to all the different parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
True, Allegheny college and most small or little-known cities in America offer some diversity, what with individuals' lifestyles, religious beliefs, cultures and backgrounds but it doesn't seem to offer the same diversity that even this small town of Lancaster, England offers. Diversity is the norm here -- walking to class I will usually hear several conversations each spoken in a different language. There are social clubs and groups dedicated to a vast array of different hobbies, talents, religious beliefs, cultural activities, etc. I have met people at Lancaster University from all over the world, from California to Australia, that have offered me an insight to diversity.
Coming from a small town in the U.S., I don't get to see much diversity. Sure, I see many races - caucasian, Asian, African American, etc. But simply race does not account for diversity. America is known as "the melting pot", so while we may all be different races, we are all still Americans. However, over here, you will meet people that live in Asia, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe that have come here to study and that bring with them their culture, beliefs, and lifestyles. It is not all melted into one nation with differences amongst it, but it is many different nations that come together to share with eachother while gaining a good education.
Diversity to me is the ability to have many differences (other than the color of your skin) among others that you exist with while maintaining your identity, and to accept everyone's differences in a large mutual relationship of learning and understanding and enjoying.

Posted by Ashton Kohler at 2:19 PM | Permalink

When I read the prompt for this blog, my first thought was that diversity meant race. So, I immediately started writing:
Coming from the hugely diverse (hahaha) Allegheny College, being at James Cook University feels just like home. During orientation, we were told that there were international students here from over 50 countries; except for a German girl and two Japanese girls I see in the dining hall sometimes, the only people I ever see are Aussies and Americans. One of my housemates is from Ohio and is dating a girl who's here from Pitt; my closest friends here are from Wisconsin, California, and Brisbane. It's not exactly unfamiliar territory.

But then I thought about some more recent experiences with diversity:
Last week, I participated in a focus group discussion with just over a dozen other international students. The first question our group leader asked was where we were from, and I was surprised: we were all from either New York, the northern Midwest, the west coast, or Germany. I wasn't expecting such a narrow sample of locations, but we each came to JCU with different expectations and histories. Some people were bored out of their minds here in Townsville; others were having the time of their life. Some of us couldn't stand the humidity; some were here purely because it's the complete opposite of what they're used to. Over the course of an hour, we all got to know a little bit about each other and what brought us to JCU, and it was a really neat experience.

So I suppose my definition of diversity would involve personal histories: what brought international (and local!) students here, and what made them stay. Regarding what I've learned about myself...I made the right decision in coming here. I was really unsure about that for a while, but I've had an incredible experience here and I'm not ready to go home next month.

Posted by Rachel Clark at 9:03 AM | Permalink

I used to always complain with my friends in high school about how white our school was. They all ended up going to large universities and have had more contact with people from different countries, backgrounds, races, religions, and other cultural differences (how I define diversity) than I thought I would ever experience. Then I came to Angers. There are people from over 20 countries at CIDEF this semester, all in one place for the same period of time, which makes it the most diverse place I have ever been.
Friday, my professor was asking us about our home country’s policy on welfare. I looked around the room and realized that I’m the only American in my class. There’s a girl from Croatia, a Canadian, and the rest are Asian. It was the most amazing and exhilarating realization I have ever had in my life. Of course, I’m not just a minority when I’m in class. Just being an American in France gives me that classification.
I never expected to want to be a minority before—after all, I hate when I’m the only girl in a place filled with guys. Being a part of a minority usually translates to discrimination, isolation, and loss of voice. However, during my time here, I have discovered that sometimes being in the majority can mean the exact same thing. When you’re one of a billion Americans in a group of a billion and one, your voice becomes a whisper. People assume that your observations, attitude, even personal background are the same as every other American. Though most people don’t succumb to thinking as narrow-minded as all that, I have experienced it on a couple of occasions, and it’s not fun, to say the least.
Experiencing such diversity means coming to terms with possibly having to be a minority. I now better understand what it’s like to actually be a minority, and can use this experience as a vantage point to reach out to others.

Posted by Susannah Bender at 12:22 PM | Permalink

I woke up one day about a week ago feeling sick and decided not to go to classes. Although it was not a huge deal to me (I had expected to get sick at some point during my stay in this country), my host mom worried a great deal over me. She spent the entire day doting on me and giving me remedies such as oregano tea. This was weird for me because I am not used to living at home and therefore do not usually have someone to take care of me when I am sick. At times I only wanted to be left alone; I felt like I was being treated like a child. However, my host sister (who is 30 and lives with us along with her 2 children) had been sick the week before and received the same treatment from our mother.
I realized from this that in this country and many others in the world children are considered children until they are married and have their own families, and sometimes even after that. My host mom always talks about how strange it is that all the students she has had don't live with their parents in the United States. Here young people almost always live at home because they typically don't have enough money to live on their own and it makes more sense to stay with their parents until they get married. Furthermore, neither the children nor the parents seem to mind it. In the United States people of our generation feel such a strong necessity to be independent from their parents and create their own lives far away from their roots. I had never thought about this as being unique to our culture or about why young Americans have a completely different attitude about independence and the value of family than young people in other countries.

Posted by Nikki Cash at 2:38 PM | Permalink

In the context of Kenya, I would define diversity as a multiplicity of ethnic and political differences. Within its colonial borders, Kenya contains 42 different ethnic groups; this is the true diversity within the country. I find the diversity here much richer than at home. People are always proud to tell you that they come from Western or Yanza Province. I will use the term diversity in this light. I have learned so much from the deep engrained cultural divides in Kenya. People put their tribe first, and their country second. If you ask someone what they are, they will not say Kenyan, but rather Luo, or Kikuyu. I came to realize that this seems to be a lot of the problem with voting and issues of government in Kenya. People will always vote along these tribal lines and very rarely break out of this mold. The problem then is clear, issues are not considered, but rather minds are made up before candidates are chosen. This diversity has truly allowed me to go from being the muzungu (white person) to an actual Kenyan. What I mean is that you can always talk to a native about politics or where he/she is from because they love to tell a foreigner of their rich background. It is a great conversation starter and once you ask about the upcoming election, good luck ending the conversation. Other than the obvious race issue, the rich cultural diversity within Kenya has taught me so much. I now truly appreciate my own culture and especially the ability to hold an election and not have to worry about tribal violence. In the areas of the country where the votes seem to be split, there has been violence and it is getting worse. I now appreciate my own system more than ever. I have also learned to be more critical of my politicians and what they have to say, this comes from living with my host family. My parents are Luo and support the Luo opposition candidate Raila Odinga in the upcoming December general elections. I listen to my host-Dad sit and talk about this candidate like he is some sort of god and savior for Kenya. I now feel that when thinking about politicians, you have to take everything with a grain of salt. My parents think that Raila Odinga will be able to deliver Kenya a new de-centralized form of government, eradicate poverty and lower the unemployment rate in just fiver years if he is elected. I have seen enough to realize that this cannot be done in such a short time span. People here are quite progressive and want to fix their country, but they want to do it overnight. This is not possible. The diversity here has been eye-opening and really allowed me to immerse myself.

Posted by Michael Rooney at 8:19 AM | Permalink

For one of my classes I have a language learning project which is to attend Catholic Mass. Catholicism is Spain's national religion and the purpose of our project is to engage ourselves in experiences that expose us to Spanish culture. I will attend Mass weekly, researching its history and current importance, and question locals about their religious opinions. Last night my roommate and I were the only two foreigners in the local church. Although we stood out our fellow worshipers recognized our desire to learn and experience their culture. I could understand most of the prayers and was getting into the rhythm and routine of the service, when all the sudden I fainted. It was so hot and very crowded in the small capilla (chapel). My roommate caught me and right away a medico (doctor) was giving instructions to all the people around me. They lifted my legs, set me in a chair; women were fanning me on both sides and told me to take off my sweater. Congregants offered to buy me food and a soda. The doctor wanted to take me to the hospital. I was fine and walked home shortly after but their kindness was not forgotten. They could have been angry and upset at an outsider disrupting their sacred Mass. Instead they all stopped their prayers to help me. Their compassion reminded me why I am studying abroad and learning a new culture.
Many Americans are content with their individual ways and do not want to learn new things. These Spaniards saw my interest and were there to help someone in need. Sometimes on more difficult days, such as this one, I forget that even people very different from myself can also be so similar by being caring and compassionate. This experience helped me
understand that I don't believe the world should learn English and accommodate to American standards. I broke the stereotype as do a lot of the students studying abroad, I attended Mass to learn more about them and their culture. The people in church also broke my stereotype of Spanish people, they were caring and not expecting me to understand every word, phrase, custom and routine action that is very unfamiliar to me but second nature to them. Although to many this experience may seem insignificant, I saw understanding and compassion in their eyes and acceptance of me, someone from another country. They saw a person just like themselves, a person in need. We exchanged a lot in this single moment and this experience alone makes this semester worthwhile it is something I will always remember.

Posted by Alexandra Papa at 5:03 AM | Permalink

This past weekend I had my homestay. It was only two days, one night, but it was absolutely amazing!!!! I left wishing that my homestay was a week longer. I had a typical Costa Rican family, Roxanna the wife, Daniel the husband, and their 16-year-old son Carlos. It was my first time that I was forced to use only Spanish, because the only Spanish they knew was the small bit that Carlos learned in school, which wasn't all that much. It was exhilarating! I was so proud of myself that I was capable of carrying on a meaningful conversation with these people in Spanish. Being with them gave me the "inside scoop" on the average Costa Rican life. To them, the entire neighborhood was family. Neighbors from nearby houses came and went like the house was theirs, and likewise with their houses. Each meal was at a different person's house, with everyone helping make each meal. The neighborhood children all hung out with each other, regardless of age. Even though Carlos, my host "brother" was only 16, he had friends who came over ranging from age 13 to 28. It was a completely new experience for me, but fabulous!! Ticos, what Costa Ricans typically call themselves, are so accepting. They're in general, the nicest people I have ever met. They all took me in as one of them, and were interested in my family, my hometown, the US, my friends, everything about me. Just as I wanted to know everything about them. They took me to "Bella Vista", a local hangout with an absolutely gorgeous pool, and tennis courts, and soccer fields, which was only a 5-minute walk from my school, but I never knew existed, where ticos hang out in their spare time. They taught me Costa Rican slang, and I taught them various words and customs from my home. I was very sad when I was over, but I definitely plan on visiting them in my spare time. I only wish that I had met them sooner, so I could have more time to spend with them. This was an amazing experience, that I will treasure forever!!!

Describe an encounter with someone from your host culture that you feel reflected what you would describe as a meaningful and reciprocal cultural trade. What did you learn about your culture as well as the host culture from this exchange, that you were unaware of before.

I want you to obviously select an experience that would not be part of the stereotypical tourist exchange.

Pictures of your own would be great. Please size them and upload them before you begin to type in text.

Posted by Eliza Czolowski at 9:26 PM | Permalink

This past weekend I had my homestay. It was only two days, one night, but it was absolutely amazing!!!! I left wishing that my homestay was a week longer. I had a typical Costa Rican family, Roxanna the wife, Daniel the husband, and their 16-year-old son Carlos. It was my first time that I was forced to use only Spanish, because the only Spanish they knew was the small bit that Carlos learned in school, which wasn't all that much. It was exhilarating! I was so proud of myself that I was capable of carrying on a meaningful conversation with these people in Spanish. Being with them gave me the "inside scoop" on the average Costa Rican life. To them, the entire neighborhood was family. Neighbors from nearby houses came and went like the house was theirs, and likewise with their houses. Each meal was at a different person's house, with everyone helping make each meal. The neighborhood children all hung out with each other, regardless of age. Even though Carlos, my host "brother" was only 16, he had friends who came over ranging from age 13 to 28. It was a completely new experience for me, but fabulous!! Ticos, what Costa Ricans typically call themselves, are so accepting. They're in general, the nicest people I have ever met. They all took me in as one of them, and were interested in my family, my hometown, the US, my friends, everything about me. Just as I wanted to know everything about them. They took me to "Bella Vista", a local hangout with an absolutely gorgeous pool, and tennis courts, and soccer fields, which was only a 5-minute walk from my school, but I never knew existed, where ticos hang out in their spare time. They taught me Costa Rican slang, and I taught them various words and customs from my home. I was very sad when I was over, but I definitely plan on visiting them in my spare time. I only wish that I had met them sooner, so I could have more time to spend with them. This was an amazing experience, that I will treasure forever!!!

Posted by Eliza Czolowski at 9:26 PM | Permalink

I think diversity is the same anywhere; no matter where you go things and people are different than what is normal for yourself. For me, diversity is the opposite of who and what I am. Living in Germany has given me a greater appreciation of myself. Through recognizing the differences in others, I have come to see myself in a new light, especially in terms of beliefs. Living in Cologne especially has given me the diversity of living in a city of millions of people, something that until now was outside of my comfort zone. If someone would have asked me before I left what I thought of city life, a majority of my reply would have been negative. But since I moved here, my opinion of city life has changed. I still wouldn't want to spend my whole life here, but as a student it is not half bad!

Posted by Meghan Fatzinger at 1:16 PM | Permalink

Image Source: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/.../div2.htm

Defining Diversity

How would you characterize diversity in your new space? What have you learned about yourself through this awareness of diversity that you were not appreciative of before? Please make sure you define how you are using the term diversity before you venture deeper into the blog :)

Photos are appreciated as always.

DUE DATE: NOV.4, 2007

Posted by Ishita Sinha Roy at 12:00 PM | Permalink

My English friend Adam and I were recently talking about the cultural differences between the States and England. He studied abroad at UCLA last year recalled how he was popular in his hall at school because he was English. And it’s true, Americans really like English accents and culture. And I was a bit jealous of his situation, because as an American in England, I am a bit intimidated when speaking to English strangers because I feel that I have to do everything in my power to reverse the stereotype that Americans are loud, obnoxious, and ignorant. Although Adam occasionally teases me about being an unrefined American, he assured me that most English individuals think of Americans in a fond light, even if they don’t appreciate our government’s policies. I thanked him for reassuring me, and said, “Well, I can’t be too bad, you’re my friend, and Pip too…I have convinced at least two English individuals that Americans aren't so bad.” As I said two, I held up my index and middle finger, in the typical way Americans do in order to indicate the number two. Adam told me to put my hand down. One day maybe I will remember to stop unintentionally flicking him off.

Posted by Erin O'Boyle at 10:21 AM | Permalink

Last week I went to the “Today” Show at the NBC studio in New York to interview one of the co-anchors, Hoda Kotb. This notion that Americans live an extremely fast paced lifestyle was attested as soon as I walked through those studio doors. The studio, to my surprise, was a lot smaller then I thought and was filled to capacity with producers, cameramen, make-up people and assistants. The atmosphere was chaotic. Everyone was constantly running around shouting directions, not stopping once the whole morning to catch their breaths. Kotb, who hosts the eleventh hour of the “Today” show and is a Dateline NBC correspondent, ran from floor to floor all morning, rushing to get to her segments. One minute she was interviewing a celebrity stylist about her new book and the next minute she was introducing an up-and-coming singer. Right before a segment, one of the producers would shove a script and bio of the person into her hand and she would have all of thirty seconds to skim over the material before sitting down with her interviewee. However, from a viewers’ perspective, all you would see is a composed and conversant host talking with their guest; very impressive. I was fortunate enough to sit down with Kotb after the show to talk with her about her crazy lifestyle. Kotb is at the studio every weekday from 5 am to 4 pm, and sometimes longer, to host the show and prepare for future segments. When she is not doing the “Today” show she is on assignments oversees in places like Afghanistan and the West Bank, reporting for Dateline NBC. One of her biggest challenges, she says, is prioritizing her time between work and family. As a bystander, you could tell that everyone in that studio was running on a high energized battery that was constantly going and going. The last time I visited Germany, the one thing that surprised me the most was how many adults went to happy hour after work during the week. Even at 10 pm, you would see people out with their coworkers, friends or families enjoying the evening together, laughing and talking over a few drinks or dinner. People over there were just a lot more at ease and allowed themselves to unwind after work. One thing I have noticed in my time in Washington and New York is how long people stay at work. I still cannot believe people here get to work at 8 in the morning and stay at the office until 8 or 9 pm—this is quite alarming to me. People in the states are just so fast paced and wanting to work their way up their career ladder that they do not take a step back to slow down and breathe. I just wonder how long Americans can keep living like this. Now I know why there are so many people with high blood pressure and stress-related illnesses.

Posted by Elizabeth Andrews at 10:05 AM | Permalink

Here in Spain I have an intercambio, which is conversation exchange partner. My intercambio is a 22-year-old girl from another part of Spain, but she is a student at the University of Seville. This is great because we already have something in common because of our current education, and I´ve learned a lot about the education system in Spain as compared to the US. Overall, I´ve learned that one of the biggest differences between the education system of Spain and that of the US is that before they can enter the university, students here have to take an exam that determines what they are allowed to study. Unlike Allegheny, they don´t have the option to try out different majors and change their minds several times before declaring. They also don´t really have the option of changing careers later in life; it just isn´t done here. This is so different from the US, where people can decide to change their careers as many times as they want in life until they are happy. Learning about this difference has opened my eyes and made me realize that I shouldn´t take my freedom in education for granted.

Posted by Wendy Paddock at 2:37 PM | Permalink

I was fortuante to be able to hang out with some kids my age here in Spain. My roommate here has what we call an intercambio, who practices Spanish with you and in turn you help them with their English. Her intercambio invited us to a carnival, where the traditional aspects of Spain would be represented.

I sat in a tent at this fair for about 3 hours, just chatting and having food and drinks. I saw the beautiful flamenco dresses and all of the dancing that the natives of Spain did. It was so amazing, and I had a great time. I chatted with a big group of Spaniards and it was great because we were the only Americans at this fair, so we had to rely on our language ability. I felt like I was given a great gift by being invited to something that most Americans will never even know happens in the smaller towns of Spain.

I learned a lot about cultural norms at this excursion, such as dress, dance and food. I learned about the ferias of Spain and how everyone goes to them, skips work, and generally has a good time. They are such a big part of their culture, that no matter what the cost of the dress or the food, it is important and really fun to go to these types of events.

I learned that America can be just like Spain. We have our barbeques, the Forth of July, and things that everyone participates in as well as Spain. It seemed that maybe America and Spain weren´t so far away from eachother, maybe I could put a little more effort into drawing some commonalities instead of concentrating on how they were so different and how that frustrated me. I felt realy comfortable and at home at this fair because it was just so much fun. I hope to experience more of this while I am here.

Posted by Margaret Hiestand at 1:47 PM | Permalink

One night I was talking to my host father about what I want to do in my future and we got onto the concept of marriage. He was shocked at how I, and most people in the United States, am going about marriage. I explained to him the typical man proposes with a diamond ring, and either the girl’s family or the couple pays for the wedding. He explained to me how it works in Kenya. The husband-to-be has to pay a dowry of however much the girl’s father says. It is usually 13 cows that is paid and the father can ask for up to 50,000 US dollars in addition to the cows. The man’s whole community comes together to help his raise the needed funds and he goes to the girl’s father’s house to present the dowry. The father has the right to accept the man and allow is daughter to get married, or to reject him. I learned from this how traditional a culture this was, and how the family plays a very large part in someone’s life. I also realized in my own culture how independent people are, and how an individual in the United States has absolute control over their lives. One reason this conversation was so special and enlightening was because we were not supposed to talk about it. Significant others are a very controversial matter, and most families are not willing to talk openly about relationships. So through this I learned about the host culture, but also about the effect of westernization. If westernization had not taken place in Kenya I probably would have never had that conversation because it would be considered too taboo especially for a girl and her father to talk about.

Posted by Caroline Lewis at 10:07 AM | Permalink

Over fall holiday I had an opportunity to travel home with my friend, Buggy, to Dimbulah. Never heard of it? That’s because it is a tiny town in Queensland that is at least 1 hour away from any other town, where cows wander freely across the road, where there is one gas station, one grocery, and one hair salon. Most of the people in the area are farmers and they’re either related or close to it. Buggy and introduced me to her entire family (which was most of the town) and half of them still spoke Italian because they are first generation Australians. Her family is fiercely strong and independent. For example, they told me about flood season when they are completely penned in on all sides by rising water. I was warned about snake bites because if you get bit, you probably won’t survive to see a hospital with anti- venom because they are simply too far away. Buggy’s family showed me what it is like – the beauty and the hardships to live on a farm in the Queensland outback. I think Buggy’s family reminded me of what I loved about people in Nicaragua: by focusing on the important things in life such as family and health, keeping track of who makes the most money or, in the case of Australians, who drives the best Ute doesn’t really matter. Buggy’s family in Dimbulah has very small town Australia culture and it definitely reminded me of what I value most in my own.

Posted by Erin Horning at 5:08 AM | Permalink

I and a dozen other exchange students had the opportunity to go to a high school in the area and converse with students who were in 9th grade. The objective was to give us an opportunity to see how the education system works in France, and also at the same time-share our experiences as exchange students, and answer their questions about our country. The atmosphere in the classrooms was vivified. The talking, the laughing, the professor begging for silence, weren’t any different from what I have experienced in the United States, typical 14 and 15 years old. Well, except that these 14 and 15 years old were, what we would consider in United States, “overdressed” for typical 9th graders. After presenting ourselves, we took questions from them. At first their questions were the kind I was expected: what kind of sport do you play? What is your favorite movie? Why? How does American people perceive the French people? After a short silence, a student on my right asked me: what is your opinion on the current situation of the real estate market in the United States? Seeing the confusion in our eyes, he explained to us of what situation he was referring to: There are a lot of foreclosures in the United States because Americans are buying houses they cannot afford. The banks in return are obliged to borrow money from international banks to meet with the demands. That was when I remembered I saw a documentary about this issue. But since I didn’t pay much attention to it, I didn’t know more than that 14 years old who live thousand of miles away from the United States. Therefore I couldn’t really say anything, except “it is really a sad thing. The U.S. government is adopting measures to prevent too many foreclosures in the future.” Was that last sentence true? Maybe, I don’t know. I had to make up something not to feel embarrassed. The rest of the class started to ask us question on political issue: where do you stand on the war in Iraq? How is the United States fighting global warming? Etc. In the midst of all the questions, the bell rang; it was time for them to go to “récreation”.
That day I learned a couple things: First, never underestimate someone, even if that person is years younger than you. Second, besides the “Hollywoodienne” culture, French teenagers do care about other issues related to America.

Posted by Emerson Leroy at 5:07 AM | Permalink

Well it is kind of hard to have a culture trade when you are still in the United States, however I just got back from Panama and that allows for some culture trades. I was in Bocas del Toro for 10 days taking a tropical marine ecology class. It was by far the most pretty place I have been. It's a unique tropical place, because when you are on the beach you don't see the vast ocean, you see dense rainforests and breath taking landscape.
Aside from doing research on crab orientation, we got the chance to go into town quite a bit and go shopping, go to bars etc. I have never taken spanish before, and in Bocas, no one really speaks english. A couple of store owners and bar tenders here and there, but for the most part I had a really hard time trying to communicate. I picked up on the language a little but definitely not enough to let me have a conversation with a local. One day I was in a store buying a t-shirt for my dad. I was trying to talk to the sales owner because he asked what I was looking for (I think). And then he noticed I didn't speak spanish very well. And he went on to tell me how much he appreciated me trying to speak spanish and how a lot of tourist come in and are snotty and disrespectful towards him. He talked about how certain nationalities have different ways of treating him and how some were more rude than others-I wont mention which ones just because it is really prejudice. But he was just saying that most tourists just come in for what they want, buy it, and then leave, not speaking a word. He said he likes to talk to people, hear where they are from, what they're doing here etc. Now it took us about 20-30 minutes to actually understand what eachother were saying, but we just laughed at eachother trying to understand one another. After I left that store I realized how much the people of Bocas and I'm sure other places in the world, appreciate us just trying to speak their language. I think sometimes Americans just speak english because they think everyone should speak it, or at least be able to hold a conversation in it. A lot of places I have visited do speak english, but I was proud of Bocas for sticking to spanish! They should! Why should they have to speak english so us tourists can have a better time understanding them. Throughout the trip I found that people were much more receptive to me when I tried to speak spanish. I even spoke spanish to the US customs guy on the way back into the country because I was so used to trying and figure out how to speak the language. whoops! So my advice, which I'm sure most of you guys abroad know, is try and speak the language, even if its just saying hi or thank you; it'll get you a lot further!

Posted by Katherine Kump at 8:40 PM | Permalink

In my two + months in England, I've found that my most meaningful exchanges have been as simple as conversation. One of the best parts about living on Lancaster's campus with all the British undergraduates and other international students is that you're constantly surrounded with other students who come from different backgrounds and have different experiences than you. And though it's a bit hard at first, I've found that some of my best experiences have come from just talking to my classmates, flat mates, people in the pubs, etc. I actually became pretty good friends with a British bloke (Rich) for this very reason. During freshers' week, I decided to go on my college pub crawl to try and get to know some new people. While most of the freshers (new to campus and the drinking scene) spent most of their time (and money) drinking the night away, I noticed that one of the freshers' reps was pretty quiet, mostly staying by himself, and without a drink in his hand. Also sober, I went up and started talking to him, starting by asking why he wasn't drinking. He easily countered my question by pointing out my lack of drink, and we fell into easy conversation. Responsible for the safe transport of the first years, he wasn't supposed to be drinking. I explained my year as an RA and offered my sympathy for being one of the only sober people around sometimes. What began with small talks and jokes turned into a pretty intellectual conversation about the difference between the social atmosphere at American vs. British Universities, specifically with respect to attitudes about drinking. Most of their first year social events focus around, or certainly include drinking, while most of our events try to promote alternatives. It was at this point that I had to admit, of course, that underage drinking still went on despite this. It was interesting both to him and to me, that the drinking scene was such a prominent part of University life for both of our cultures, even though we came at them from completely different angles. Since that night, I hang out with Rich and his mates on a regular basis, and we've found many other subtle differences between our similar cultures. It's amazing what you learn, sometimes, just talking to people, over something so common place as a drink. Or as the case may be, the lack thereof.

Posted by Angela Ames at 7:28 PM | Permalink

My Anthropology tutorial (aka small discussion group to cover lecture material in depth) consists of several young American students, several young Australian students, a few older Australian students, and an older Scottish student. Needless to say, we have a multitude of opinions and perspectives during discussions. Toward the beginning of the semester, we were discussing fieldwork and how our own cultural biases can influence the way we view and study other cultures different from our own. Although I can't remember the exact conversation (it was ten weeks ago), it was really neat to get an idea of where everyone in that class comes from, and how we see other cultures compared to our own. Rereading the prompt, I realize that this exchange didn't describe how I learned about my own and other cultures, but it really helped me gain a greater understanding of the sheer number of other cultural perspectives and ideals I would face while studying here.

Posted by Rachel Clark at 9:43 AM | Permalink

Although I didn't experience this culture trade in a single encounter, it has become increasingly apparent over the past two months. The most stand-out culture trade I've noticed has to do with views regarding education and the education system. In America, it has become almost implicitly understood that kids go to elementary, middle and high school and then continue on to study undergraduate, and perhaps even post graduate education. For me, there was never any question about whether or not I'd go to college, and now there's no question about whether or not I'm going to pursue my master's degree, and getting high marks and maintaining a strong GPA by spending hours on my schoolwork are quite important to me.
This strong focus on education is different in Australia. High school graduates do not necessarily go on to universities, and it is even less likely to assume that college graduates go on to complete postgraduate work. Although education is encouraged and appreciated here, it doesn't receive the same, almost obsession, it does in the states. Here, students make the most of their youthful years and travel around, enjoying being young and taking as much time as necessary to complete any post-high school studies, while in the states, we spend all of our youth firmly in the education system, trying to get our various degrees as fast as possible. This difference mirrors the difference between the societies and cultures of these two countries; the states is much more money- and prestige-driven, while Australia is more laid-back and relaxed, going with the flow.

Posted by Bethany Perkins at 5:46 AM | Permalink

On my recent spring break trip to Sydney, myself and a group of my American girlfriends went out on the town. All of us have become obsessed with Australian fashion and each of us was wearing an outfit bought in an Australian boutique. As we were leaving a club down an escalator, a group of Australian men were entering the club and yelled out to us, “Americans! Where are you girls going?” Each of us looked at each other dumbfounded. None of us had even opened our mouths to say a word, all of us were dressed in Australian clothing, and we were leaving a popular Australian hangout. How in the world did they know we were Americans? When arriving back to my Uni in Townsville, I asked a group of my male Australian friends if they could tell just by looking at me that I was American. Their instant answer was yes. As our conversation continued on, I learned a lot about body image in the Australian culture. While both America and Australia are westernized societies, there is large difference in how we view beauty. For me personally, when looking around during my walk to class, I could not tell the difference between an Australian and an American just by looking. But my friends’ responses were that Americans have bigger eyes, rosy cheeks, and perfect teeth. As my one friend pointed out to me, I have the same smile in every single picture, something I never paid any attention too. They said that American girls exercise and are skinny because they work-out. They told me that Australian girls are only skinny because they would rather not eat then exercise. Australian girls are usually pale and strive to be tan like Americans. After this discussion, I had a Communications class on body image in the media. When we were discussing the ideal Australian female body I was shocked to hear the same things that my friends were telling me. The ideal female would be tan, skinny but not muscular, have a sense of humor, etc. It really opened my eyes to the fact that in a society that is so similar, our ideas of perfection could be so different. I still don’t really see these differences for myself to this day. In my opinion, it is just a stereotype that is based off of a small group of people. I guess no matter how immersed you become into another culture, you always carry a part of your home culture with you that sets you apart in a crowd.

Posted by Theresa Clem at 1:11 AM | Permalink

In Spain, we have someone that is called our intercambio. They are a person around our age, from Spain that has an interest in learning English. I am lucky enough to have two intercambios, one 22 and the other 20. My experience in culture trade occurred with my intercambio Ana who is 20 years old. Now age is what is of key importance in this. While talking to my intercambio in a bar, I used the phrase "Cuando yo era muy joven...." which translates in enlgish to "when I was very young. She immediately and without doubt corrected me, stating that this was not appropriate since I am indeed still very young. For a good 20 minutes we talked about what it meant to be young. Also how each culture treats us and how that treatment is different.
In Spain the truth is that 20 years old, is very young. In my opinion 20 in Spain equals 15 in the United States. You are still babied by your parents, teachers give you slack, and there is a general thought that you are going to make stupid mistakes. In my host home my host mom constantly advises my roommate and I about childish things. Also it is not uncommon for kids to stay with their parents till past 30! My host brother for example is 26 and still lives with us. He sleeps in late and has little responsibility. It is not to say that one side is better than the other, just that they are very different.
This conversation with my intercambio, in a way shook that ground I was on. It challenged a view of myself and it did the same for her. I always thought something such as age was universal, but like many things I am learning that is not the case.

Posted by Thomas Rodgers at 3:26 PM | Permalink

Taking that first step out of Gatwick International Airport, I was amazed at how much England resembled the United States. People were briskly walking along the sidewalks, traffic was lurching along on the roads, and street vendors lined up to offer delicious snacks and reading materials. It was almost as if I had flown 8 hours only to arrive in an exact duplicate of America. As time went on, however, I began to recognize the obvious cultural differences, such as the currency and food. Despite the fact that the people had remarkable accents and drove on the wrong side of the road, everything had a feeling of familiarity about it.

What I failed to see in those first few weeks, however, were the subtle differences in behavior and manner that existed between me and the Brits. Numerous attempts to be polite and orderly, either in offering myapologies to someone I knocked into on the sidewalk or queuing up to place an order at the bar, were greeted with disdain and shock. The cold, indifferent responses of the people I encountered made me feel unwelcome and alone. I could not understand why everyone was so taken aback by my offers of common courtesy. For a while, I believed it to be a response to my being an American.

As term progressed, I began asking my flat mates and friends why these things were happening. I just could not understand it. The townspeople seemed friendly enough and were glad to help out. Some were even eager to hear more about life in America and spoke to me as if they had known me for years, providing details about their families, careers, and life experiences. Finally, I realized that the majority of the “cold” and indifferent” behavior I had experienced had occurred on campus. The students at the University were truly the people making me feel awkward and isolated.

The fact of the matter is, the exchanges between random students are much more formal here. Strangers simply do not converse with one another, even to say ‘Bless you’ or ‘Excuse me’. Of course, people become familiarized in the setting of the classroom and living arrangements. It is a seemingly different story for the international students on campus though. The English students are friendly, but too preoccupied in their own lives to make many efforts towards knowing you. The task of blending into the tightly woven community of English students is difficult, particularly because no one encourages you to make the effort.

Such experiences have taught me to love the connection and familiarity that I experience in the states. I used to cringe when a stranger would attempt to make small talk with me in the doctor’s office or on the train. Now I yearn for contact with others, even strangers. The ability to talk comfortably to the person beside you or to compliment an individual is vital to our sense of self. That brief bond between people feeds our need or recognition and gives us an indication that we do in fact exist. Living in a new environment, without any close contacts, I have come to appreciate even the slightest bit of recognition from a stranger, in hopes that they might help me establish my identity here in the United Kingdom.

Posted by Caroline Hilty at 11:14 AM | Permalink

My most memorable cultural trade during my time here occured two weeks ago when my host sister came home from University with her boyfriend Mathias. We ended up hitting it off and going to my host brothers first "going away to college" party. Amidst the drinking and multiple fumbling, half-drunken German conversations I attempted, I found Mathias again. We began to speak in half English, half German about the problems of the world, as two young people, both American and German. When he spoke about his time in San Francisco and in turn I about my time here in Cologne, I began to form clearer ideas of what the differences between us really meant. I realized that Germany gives its people the opportunity as children to explore the world, and that we are very unaccommodating in the States towards this kind of learning. When he was speaking in fluent English his opinion of the world, I realized that that was the exact thing I want to do with my German education here. Even though I started later than he did and it can be kind of discouraging to live among a heavily bilingual populous, now is my chance and so I must take it now. This one conversation changed my outlook drastically on my learning here and I mean to follow through on my goal.

Posted by Andrew Busch at 10:24 AM | Permalink

I don't think that I could really say that I've had only one interesting interaction with other people while I've been here, but one does stand out among the others. One evening, I went to dinner with a few friends, one of them from America and the other two from Germany. We ran into a man who was a native speaker, but also of middle eastern decent. We thought nothing of it, of course, but he decided to approach us. My German friend, being the joker that he is, decided to act as though he was American and that I was German. The man said to him, “Oh! You are from America! I would love to go see America, but I am afraid!” When my friend asked why, he replied, “Americans don’t like people like me and I don’t think I would be welcome there.” This comment made me think a lot about the way that America is handling middle eastern affairs. It is quite sad to think that this man might literally be afraid to come to a country which claims itself to be free.

Posted by Crystal Swesey at 10:07 AM | Permalink

While studying in France for the past month and a half, I have had LOTS of cultural trades with many people though I have to say that one experience has stood out in my mind. During September, I was taking about six hours of french classes every day, and then I had to go back to my host family and speak french at dinner for about 1.5 hours. Needless to say, I was literally exhausted at the end of each day! So whenever I got together with my American friends, (sorry Dauta, but..) we would speak English together because our brains were so overworked from all the french all day long. After the first few weeks, we started to notice that a lot of people stared at us a lot. Which I thought was odd at first, but eventually I got used to it. Though I have to say that I did not understand at all why people stared at us. None of us did, we just figured it was because either we looked different or they could hear our English from across the four lane street...
So I was talking to my host mother and she asked me why I don’t speak French all the time with my American friends and my American housemate. I tried to explain to her how hard it is to speak French all day long, so when I’m with my friends, I want a break from French, so we speak English. And she still didn’t seem to understand, saying that we should speak French all the time, which made me very frustrated! I was so frustrated with her because I had been working so hard to try to understand her culture and her customs, along with her language at the same time, all while I am about 3,000 miles away from my family and friends!
And then it dawned on me, I realized that all my life I had always done what she was doing to me right now. I had always judged anyone that came to the US and didn’t speak English 100% of the time. I always thought that it was so rude when people from any other country spoke their native tongue together instead of English. I didn’t even pause to think that maybe they had been speaking English all day and were just tired and wanted to do something remotely ‘normal’, like speak their own language. But now, I am in their place, working so hard all day to become the best French speaker I can be, and when I finally get an hour to relax with my friends at dinner, all I want to do it speak English.
So I realized how two cultures that during my first few weeks in France, I was sure would have nothing in common, I find have something really big in common. I realized how these two cultures can both judge outsiders no matter what. I realized that the French people were staring at me the same way that I had stared at all of the immigrants, speaking their native tongues, that I served food to during my summers of waitressing. They were starting the same way that I had at the study abroad kids at my school, with their ‘funny’ clothes, ‘different’ habits, and ‘strange’ language. But now I am the funny foreign exchange student with the horrible French accent, who after living here for a month and a half, still has to look at the numbers on the euro coins, because I still don’t know what each one is worth. But alas, now I am the foreigner who after this experience will not judge another foreigner in my home culture ever again. But I will try to go out of my way to be more understanding and helpful, because now I can say first hand I know what its like to walk in their shoes.

Posted by Erin Geiser at 9:35 AM | Permalink

After having read the prompt for this blog a couple of times, it really got me thinking as to what a “culture trade” could be. What have I experienced as a cultural trade? Has it been humorous, sad, frustrating, weird, all the above? The only thing I can think of consists of exchanges in my classes with my professors. I am taking a couple classes (social-culture and social-economy) that I feel I have had somewhat of a meaningful exchange. The other day in my social-culture class, my professor asked three people to go up to the board and draw what a French person seemed like to them. Doesn’t seem that hard, right? Just draw a person on a bike with a baguette, a beret, and a cigarette. And what do you know, that’s exactly what all three of them drew. Its amazing how every time there is a group of foreigners asked by French people, “What do you think French people are like?” they always seem to describe a similar caricature, and it’s funny how this description never seems to get old. What was really innovative, I thought was how after the 3 students had finished their drawings, the professor then proceeded to challenge us to come up with evidence in history that can justify why these French stereotypes (or stereotypes of any nation) have become common culture. Never having really thought about it before, it was pretty cool to see why certain customs have evolved into clichés. What I also thought was interesting is the fact that because we’re learning about French culture, customs, stereotypes, you name it, it makes us more interested in discovering our own culture as well, so in a way we get to learn not just about France, but about ourselves. I feel like I will learn a great deal about the US from this “French” class, because you can be from somewhere and not necessarily know all the customs and traditions, and even if you do, you may not necessarily know where they originated. Something one of my friends pointed out the other day is how similar France and the US are. I never really thought about it, I guess because I’ve lived abroad so long, but it’s true. Both French and American people go out to restaurants, go see movies, go to bars, enjoy family meals, celebrate holidays, complain about gas prices, etc. The points is, is that France and the US are two countries 3,000 miles apart, with different languages, religions, cultures, and demographics, and yet are we really all that different?

Posted by Carolyn Kuzell at 3:11 AM | Permalink

At the beginning of the MSID Kenya program, the students are taken to Nakuru National Park (about 4 hours on bad roads from Nairobi) for orientation. While there, we are allowed to do some safaris, mingle with each other and really get a crash course in Kenyan culture. While this may be defined as a more touristy experience, the people who run the MSID Kenya program are locals who have so much knowledge to give. I became close with one of the advisors named Gumba. Gumba is the type of guy that you have to break down a little bit before you can really get to know him. He is Luo (from the Western Province) and quite knowledgeable on anything from Kenyan wildlife to American politics. Before coming to Kenya I was trying to follow the elections as best I could from the states, but found it quite difficult to understand the Kenyan newspapers without a substantial background in Kenyan politics. Gumba essentially broke it down for me; he said that even though all of these presidential candidates do not really have good track records or ideas, if a candidate is from your tribe, you vote for him. He said that the incumbent President Moi Kibaki ran on a platform of reform five years ago, and looking at his term, he has not lived up to the promises. Gumba said if a politician runs on reform, and change is not implemented, there is no reason to re-elect or trust that politician. This simple comment made me really think about the tribal differences within Kenya and also the politics at home. I learned that maybe politics is a lot easier than people make it out to be. You examine a candidate, judge what he/she has done and promised, then make an informed decision. He made it seem so easy to understand my own domestic political situation. I also quickly learned that in Kenya, deeply engrained tribal cleavages wreck politics. No matter what Kibaki has done in the past five years, his own tribe (Kikuyu) will vote for him because it is better to have one of your own in power than someone else. People do not vote on issues, rather along tribal lines. Gumba also told me that politics in the third world are dangerous because the poor (56% of Kenyans <1$/day) will always support the opposition. The opposition Raila Odinga is receiving heavy support from the slum dwellers and things have started to get violent. This concept has also helped me understand how people like Hitler come to power. Gumba has so much information to give, and I have learned the most from our conversations around the dinner table in Nakuru.

Posted by Michael Rooney at 3:34 AM | Permalink

After catching a rare Americanized bite to eat at Domino’s, a friend and I began the arduous process of selecting a rickshaw. We narrowed our options down to a cycle rickshaw, as the air felt pleasant and neither of us were in a rush, and wandered over to an older, eager-looking man sitting separately from the rest of the drivers. He immediately asked where we were going once he recognized the interest in our eyes, so we told him Adarsh Nagar, which he acknowledged. We agreed on Rs. 25 for the trip, which we were both satisfied with, but the man continued. “If I not get you there in 10 minute, free!” We smiled at each other and nodded. Seventeen minutes later, we arrived at our destination. Fully intending to pay the entire time, we hopped out and started to hand him his money, but the man began peddling away. We urged him to stop and take the money, but he rejected it, saying over and over “No, we agree, no 10 minute.” Eventually, we convinced him to take the money, which he responded to with great gratitude, asking our names and shaking our hands.

In this case, our rickshaw driver was clearly a man of lower class. He was a bit older, in his 50s, I would guess, and certainly very willing to work for his pay. He expected no handouts from us, apparent in the offer he made us from the beginning without our encouraging such a wager. Needless to say, we were both baffled. Perhaps we were just too disillusioned by rickshaw drivers who tried to squeeze every last rupee out of us to see the pride that many people take in their work here, regardless of their social or economic status. We walked the rest of the way home smiling.

Posted by Brandi Shaffer at 4:45 AM | Permalink

My host mother bought her first computer the Saturday I arrived. She also, therefore, just got internet. However, the internet was not so easy to come by—the company screwed up her phone line and didn’t send her the modem—we were without internet AND phone for over half a month. She’d called them over 9 times and they still didn’t fix anything. I was completely appalled—I couldn’t imagine a company like that lasting more than 5 seconds in the US, especially since apparently it’s a problem that a lot of people experience with this particular company. Customer service in France, I have discovered, is barely existent. I have the sneaking suspicion that whoever came up with the motto that the customer is always right was killed in France.
I thought that getting internet at my home here would be the biggest relief in the world. It has been the exact opposite; now that my host mom has internet, she won’t let me use it. She insists that switching out her ethernet cord with mine will break her modem, and she refuses to use the wireless because she’s convinced that someone will steal confidential information off her computer. This is all very frustrating for me, seeing as I know better, but no matter what I say, she will not budge. However, it’s also a little amusing—I’m not the only student who’s had this problem. The French, it seems, are afraid of technology. I find this comical because it’s something I would expect from a third world country, but this is France we’re talking about. This is the country that developed the civil code that is used throughout most of Europe and has one of the best health care systems in the world. They’re no more third world than the States.
Through this whole ordeal, I have begun to realize how used to technology Americans are compared to the rest of the world. I hadn’t expected to come to that realization. I thought that dependency and familiarity with technology was pretty much the same in all developed countries. Obviously I was mistaken. I also have realized that what I previously thought of as crummy customer service back home is nowhere near what crummy can be.
I realize that France is still probably way up there on both scales in terms of technology and customer service, but they’re still certainly a lot lower than I previously imagined. Guess they’re more of sliding scales than anything else.

Posted by Susannah Bender at 12:35 PM | Permalink

"Would you like a bag for these?" asks the store clerk as I plop my snacks, bottled water, and sandwich onto the counter at the campus convenience store. I reply with an unsure "yes" and wonder how they could even ask. I mean, it's not like I have to carry my week's worth of groceries home, but juggling a handful of things on the walk across campus to my dorm does not sound appealing to me. As I frequent the store, I always get the same question, whether I'm buying one thing or a slew of items. "Would you like a bag for these?"
Nearing on two months here in Lancaster, England, I have begun to understand why this question is always asked. Everywhere I look there is a wrapper here, a broken bottle there, a plastic bag in the bush, an empty juice box on the sidewalk. There is pollution everywhere. Not to say there aren't janitors and street cleaners everywhere either! It seems there is constant cleaning going on, yet there is constant pollution. Then I notice the density of people in such a small city. It must be hard to regulate pollution when there are so many people in a small area of space.
They are very big on conservation here. Use as little as possible and only when it is necessary. That's why I understand that even one plastic bag makes a difference - probably because I'll likely see it in a bush later on instead of being reused or recycled. Although they are big on this cause, it is still fairly new, andwill probably take awhile to catch on to most people that they need to start really conserving the environment. England is such a small country with a very dense population -- there are a lot of environmental concerns arising and ideas sparking about alternative energy sources etc. However, this has been a country that has been established and inhabited for ages, unlike the U.S. which is a baby compared to most Eastern countries.
Seeing the approaches England is taking to clean its act up and become a healthier country that is more environmentally safe, I look at the U.S. and hope that we can follow in their footsteps before we begin to have problems like the immense pollution this country has. We are such a young country with so much to learn, and we can begin to take steps now to ensure that we don't have environmental problems that are out of control in the future. We are big on recycling, but at the same time we waste so much. Here, they have reusable bags that you bring back every time you buy something. A lot of the plastic bags are becoming biodegradable, and only using plastic bags or anything like that is done when absolutely necessary! We can really start to take these measures into hand now, while we have the opportunity and means, instead of becoming more populated, older, and realizing only then that we could have done more to prevent waste and pollution before it's too late.

Posted by Ashton Kohler at 10:20 AM | Permalink

I think it is particularly hilarious when speaking with native Germans and they have no idea that the person they are talking to is an American. Because I have the ability to speak German, however limited, people that I speak to often don't realize that I am not from Germany or at least somewhere in Europe because I am pretty sure I have an atrocious accent. But if they begin talking about Americans or just America in passing, it gives a really interesting look into the way others view our country. For example, I went to a store to buy a sweatshirt with a friend. She was buying the shirt for her boyfriend at home and we were really having difficulty deciding what size to get him. The large looked too small but the extra large looked to big. So in an attempt to make a decision, we asked the shopkeeper in German. He said the sweatshirts were based on American sizes and because Americans are bigger around here (and he made a circling motion around his stomach) the large should fit her boyfriend just fine. After leaving the store, I couldn't stop laughing! If he only knew..
Another time I was sitting at the bus stop when a young mother and her daughter came up and sat down next to me. The mother asked me for directions to Frechen and I provided a rough answer. She started talking to me then about herself and how much she liked Jennifer Lopez. She continued on to say that she was planning on moving to America one day because she was determined to meet J.Lo and become a dancer for her. She said everyone in America has met J.Lo and she thought it would be easy to get a job with her; she was even going to move to the Bronx. I had no idea what to say to her. I didn't want to burst her bubble so I just nodded, smiled and wished her luck.
These people are just two of the more amusing that I have met while being and American disguised as a German here. Hearing another's perspective on our own native country is really eye opening. I've learned through these experiences what people think of America and our culture but also that the way we are perceived is not always correct. In turn these experiences have also taught me that the way other countries are perceived can also be incorrect as well as the extensive influence American culture has a the culture overseas.

Posted by Angela Couse at 12:31 PM | Permalink

Since I´ve been in Cologne, I´ve had many "Culture Trades". Whether it be talking with the locals in a bar or having dinner with my host family, there is always something to be learned, something to be shared from both cultures. In fact, even just learning how to eat with my host family has been a huge cultural experience.

The German eating culture is very important. Depending upon the setting and the audience, certain aspects of the meal may change, but usually mealtime is ritualistic. Within my guest family, and most German families, for that matter, dinner is the most important meal of the day. At the dinner table, everyone has his assigned seat, and as soon as everyone is seated, we pray. Then, my host father serves the food, always serving me or a guest, if there is one present, first. Once everyone has been served, and before we begin to eat, it is very important to say "Guten Apetit" or "Mahlzeit"

Throughout the course of the meal, we converse about daily events, such as school and work. However, this simple conversation always leads into a more complex discussion, recently "the seperation of the church and state in America vs. Germany, and how it affects the teaching of evolution in public schools." Dinner is often the only time that every member of the family is together, and since spending time with one another is very important, we often remain seated at the table until well after we have finished eating, talking, reading or playing a board or card game. Mealtime has proven to be one of the more important Culture Trades, because of not only the way we eat and what we eat, but also because of what we talk about and the time that we spend together.

Posted by Brandon Goeller at 8:00 AM | Permalink

After first reading this question I had to go back through and read it a few more times, and then really think about my six weeks in Germany. I am not sure if I can answer this question quite the way the prompt suggests because I don’t think I have had one specific encounter with someone that has really stood out as a particularly significant “cultural trade”. For me every day has been filled with moments, many of which are quite trivial, that could fall under this category. Most of these moments have happened when I have been with my host family, often when we are cooking dinner together in the evening. It is during that time that we talk about what happened during our day, plans for the next few days, and anything else that might come up. Just last week when we were making pumpkin soup we started talking about Halloween. I then tried to explain the concept of trick-or-treating and what exactly the word means. As it turns out, in Germany (well East Germany anyway) they do have something similar. The children dress up, go to their neighbors’ doors, sing a song, and receive food. As silly as this “cultural trade” may be, it is a conversation that really sticks out in my mind. It is moments like this that help form the relationship I have with my Germany family; it is times like this that we realize that maybe our countries, cultures, and even childhood experiences are not all that different. Personally, I think this realization is the most valuable cultural trade that could happen during my time here in Germany.

Posted by Lauren W at 11:20 AM | Permalink

The past month I have learned a lot about German relationships especially marriage, mostly from conversations with a friend I met here as well as my experiences with my host family. In Germany it isn't at all abnormal to not get married in a church. In fact most marriages here take place in an institution similar to that or our town hall. For many Germans, marriage is the next step after having lived with someone for quite some time. It's a logical progression for many Germans. It is also not uncommon to have children before one gets married. Both of my older host sisters had children before they got married. One of whom has a daughter from one man, yet lives with another with no plans of marriage. Here this is completely normal, but for us at home this would be quite different. Religion plays a large part in marriage in the USA. We get married in churches after a long engagement, then move in together and plan to start a family. At least traditionally that is how it has been.
In comparison to the United States, Germany is a much more morally liberal and not as dependant on religion for guidelines concerning relationships and marriage.

Posted by Meghan Fatzinger at 8:51 AM | Permalink

Just relax. That's my lesson.

Stop worrying that you're going to get sick, that you're going to get robbed, that you didn't pack the right clothes, that you're not takig enough pictures or that you won't have enough time to see EVERYTHING. No matter what you are going to get so much out of this experience, so just be here and soak everything in. You won't learn anything if you are running around frantic all the time, worrying about a million different imaginary dangers. The point is to take risks and expand your horizons!

You can even brush your teeth with tap water and order ice in drinks....you won't die, I promise.

Also...if you're coming to Quito, bring sweaters! Despite being less than an hour's drive from the equator, it's COLD here!

Posted by Nikki Cash at 9:53 AM | Permalink

Always remember who you are and why you chose to study abroad. This is important for me, because I tend to get sucked into the moment. When I'm feeling homesick and am wondering why I ever thought this was such a good idea, i think about why i was so motivated to come and study in Costa Rica, and it helps me realize that yes, this is where i need to be right now. Everything's so different here from what I'm used to. I'm around all these new people and new places and new culture, it's easy to get lost in it all. Sometimes it's pretty overwhelming, such as when you're trekking through the rain forest, or getting soaked under towering waterfalls, or watching Costa Ricans proudly celebrate their country in their Independence Day Parade. Among this, I have to remember who I am, what I stand for, and how I fit into this picture. Or late at night, when I get wrapped up in my schoolwork, and start overstressing about tests, or hours more worth of readings, then I take a step back, breathe, and realize that it's OK. I'm in Costa Rica, and when I'm old I'll always look back on this experience as one of the best most fulfilling times of my life.

Posted by Eliza Czolowski at 9:34 AM | Permalink

I think that the biggest lesson that I’ve learned while studying abroad is that you must make yourself vulnerable to the culture that you enter. Not vulnerable in the sense that you put yourself in danger, but in the sense that you are willing to experience something new, to put yourself in a potentially uncomfortable situation for the sake of integrating into the culture. Many times it doesn’t matter if you enter a shop and speak the native language improperly. At least you’ve attempted to do so and each time you do so, you will make fewer mistakes and feel more comfortable with speaking. The worst thing that you can do is enter a new environment with the mentality that you already know everything that there is to know about the culture, environment, or even the language. There are many things that will happen that will not be expected, good and bad. However, you must be open to the positive experiences and arm yourself for the bad experience, but face both. Without such vulnerability, you will never fully experience the culture around you, nor will you grow as a person.

Posted by Crystal Swesey at 9:52 AM | Permalink

The main thing I've learned from being here is that the Australian lifestyle really is what the stereotypes say: it's laid-back and relaxed. However, what they neglect to mention is how tough is it to adjust to that lifestyle. Back at Allegheny, I was used to nonstop stress, working my butt off 24/7...and I'm really enjoying the relaxed environment and reduced courseload. I'm not saying we can always believe stereotypes, by any means, just that maybe sometimes they might actually be valid.

Posted by Rachel Clark at 12:45 AM | Permalink

After being in Australia for over two months now, the biggest lesson I've learned is about perspective. This part of Queensland is gorgeous - palm trees, beaches with blindingly white sand and azure water, and beautiful sunny weather 360 days a year. Plus, everyone speaks with the lovely Australian accent, and the whole world moves just a little bit slower. The result of this other-worldly feel caused my perspective about this trip vs. life in the states to take on a "vacation life"/"real life" element. I fell into the habit of viewing the friends I've made here, and my overall experience here, as part of a four-month-long vacation. I mentioned this feeling to one of my closest Australian friends, and he immediately set me straight. He told me how every semester, a new group of Americans arrives and they form close friendships with all of the Australians, only to fly back to the other side of the world four months later. So, every four months, the Australians bond with the Americans and form great friendships, knowing that the odds of them seeing us again are very slim. When he heard me refer to my time here as "vacation life," he told me not to think of it that way. This is his real life and the friendships and experiences here are true and real. He definitely helped me put my mind back into a real life perspective, and therefore helping me respect the friendships I've formed here even more.

Posted by Bethany Perkins at 5:19 PM | Permalink

There's nothing easy about pushing yourself outside of the environment you're familiar with, leaving behind everyone you know for a semester. When you finally arrive at the strange new place you're going to be living, it's guarenteed that you're going to have moments when you regret being there, at least at the beginning, when you're getting settled in. Or you'll wish you had a few of your best friends around you, because that would make everything so much better. Or you'll second guess the reasons that you chose to study there, and you'll ask yourself what you were thinking.
The transition to DC was rougher than I had expected. I honestly hadn't thought much about the people from school and home that I would miss, and who I took for granted as always being available when I needed them. And then I got here - and the first few nights was rough. During the day I'd be fine, I met a lot of people and started exploring the city. At night, when I wasn't being distracted by everything going on around me, I actually had the time to realize how much my life had changed in the last few days.
The lesson I learned after the first week or so of my "cultural entry" in DC was this: Practically everything about this city is still strange to me, my routine is completely shaken up, it seems like there's nothing here that connects me to the people I care about -- so get over it. I'm going to be here this entire semester, besides the three weeks in Europe, so I need to just accept that everything's going to be different. I'll have new friends, new places to hang out, a completely different routine and lifestyle - different, but not worse. I need to not compare things or people with how they are at Allegheny or home, but just enjoy the changes in my life.

Posted by Rachel Jurkowski at 4:23 PM | Permalink

Culture Trade

Describe an encounter with someone from your host culture that you feel reflected what you would describe as a meaningful and reciprocal cultural trade. What did you learn about your culture as well as the host culture from this exchange, that you were unaware of before.

I want you to obviously select an experience that would not be part of the stereotypical tourist exchange.

Pictures of your own would be great. Please size them and upload them before you begin to type in text.

DUE DATE: OCT. 20, 2007

Posted by Ishita Sinha Roy at 12:00 PM | Permalink

The transition into England was bumpy, but not rough. Going to an English speaking country did make it much easier to move in and adjust to. I learned to look for trouser hangers instead of pant hangers, toilets instead of restrooms, order chips instead of fries, etc. I learned the the correct way to pronounce the names of the surrounding streets, how to address my professors, etc. What I took for granted was the fact that there are many other ways to communicate other than through speech. My one big lesson, after this morning, is LEARN WHAT SYMBOLS IN YOUR COUNTRY ACTUALLY STAND FOR. In the U.S. if a picture (usually universally symbolizing an object or action) is surrounded by a circle with a dash it is understood to be forbidden. If the dash isn't there then no problem, carrying on. This, however, is not necessarily the case everywhere. For example, a no bike zone in England is simply marked by a sign with a bike surrounded by a red circle. Don't wait until you are pulled over by a policeman and fined 30 pounds (roughly $63) to take the time to double check on the meaning of street signs and other symbols!

Posted by Katherine Bensel at 11:38 AM | Permalink

I would have to say that the biggest lesson I have learned while here in Deutschland is not to blindly believe the stereotypes of people. Everyone is a different person, their own individuals, and stereotypes between and within countries do not at all depict who the people as a whole are. For example, while in the United States, people always told me how Germans are heavy people because of all the beer and sausage and unhealthy food. However, I have found that most Germans are thin ( thinner than most Americans) and are actually quite conscious of what they eat. Alot of their food does not contain chemicals and while it doesnt always looks as appetizing as our food, it sure makes up for that in the way it tastes. Delicious. Another stereotype that people in America had of Germans was that they are incredibly punctutal. Always on time for every appointment. That is just silly though. I don't think my host mother has been on time for one thing since I arrived here 6 weeks ago. In addition, the trains are always running; sometimes they decide not even to come at all. I hope that by being here, I have also helped to shatter some stereotypes of Americans. When first meeting my host mother she told me that I was the opposite of what she expected. She thought Americans were loud and I am quiet and that I would be overweight, wearing sweat pants and tennis shoes. Point one for America. So I would have to say that the most valuable lesson I have learned from being here is one that I can use for the rest of my life. Don't judge people by stereotypes or what you hear. Every person is truly an indivdual, no matter where you live.

Posted by Angela Couse at 9:33 AM | Permalink

In Spain, I have had many Spanairds tell me, ¨americanos vivir para trabajar y los españoles trabajar para vivir¨ or in English, we live to work and they work to live. The more that I am here, the more I believe it. No matter what occupation people have, they spend their money on diversions, mostly wine and good food. Many of the people I know in Spain don´t have great jobs, but they never worry about money as long as they have thier ¨copa¨ and their friends around them. For me, I think it is a good lesson to take away from the Spaniards, why spend so much time at a job that you don´t like if you could be with the people that you love. To me the difference in attitude between a street in Manhattan and a street in Sevilla is worlds apart, here if you walk quickly everyone looks at you like your crazy. At first, it was odd to me to walk so slowly, but now I have just gained the insight of Spaniard and grown to realize that where I am going this teeny tiny moment in my life is not all that important, and seriously just this change alone has aleviated so much stress from my life. Its true that Spaniards smoke and drink a lot, but it also true that they live longer, and that is something to think about.

Posted by Jessica Johnson at 11:30 AM | Permalink

6:00 AM Swim Practice
8:00 AM Class
10:00 Am Class
12:00 Lunch
1:30 PM Class
2:30 PM Swim Practice
Dinner????
7:00 PM Lifeguard at Mellon Pool

Does this look familiar to anyone?

It does to me, and if you are an Allegheny student, you probably recognize this type of grueling schedule. From the months of October to February, this is basically my typical day, perhaps with a few more or a few less activities. One big lesson that I have learned here is that I can take things a little slower, get things done, but also take time to "chill out." And even if I don't, no matter, no pasa nada, as they say here in Spain.

I have learned here that you will save yourself a lot of stress if you just take some time to relax during the day, you feel a lot better. In Spain, things go a lot slower. You take time to walk to school instead of driving to get there faster. Everything closes to take a break during lunchtime. Meals are slower, and the food is not eaten while going somewhere, unless its absolutely necessay. Not everything starts right on time all the time. There is a little bit of slack that I feel is not present in the U.S.

Establishing a routine is a little difficult here, but getting out of the routine has been good for me. Taking my time, not running everywhere, not feeling like I have to get everything done for everyone else and myself has been something that I have learned to do. Sure, there have been about a million other cultural lessons that I have learned, and I couldn't even begin to spit them off at this moment. But the one that has meant a lot to me personally, and that I feel has affected my personal growth during my semester abroad is learning to relax. Ironically enough, I have learned to make time in my schedule...............to relax.

Posted by Margaret Hiestand at 11:02 AM | Permalink

I’ve been in Germany for about a month now, and looking back at various papers and journal entries that I’ve written over the past few weeks, I can see how much my German has improved. It is true, that I’ve expanded my vocabulary and learned a few new grammatical tricks, but it is more than these things alone that have improved my language skills. For me, the one big lesson that has ultimately led to my increased communication ability has been learning to not fear mistakes. Learning to push through my doubts and uncertainties has paid off big time, not only in speaking German, but also in trying new things and making myself a more independent person. Although I am legally an adult and I have all of the rights in the United States accordingly, it has been very refreshing for me to live in another country, where I can exercise more control over what I can do. Whether it’s hopping on my bike to explore a different part of the city or searching for a new grocery store to buy a different kind of Kölsch, I am able to accomplish more, both linguistically and otherwise due to a growing sense of confidence in my abilities. Living in Germany has been a catalyst for me to learn a little bit more about myself, who I am and what I value.

Posted by Brandon Goeller at 8:50 AM | Permalink

I have learned that even though I may not notice race much, other people do. It is no big deal for me to meet someone who is black (I am in Africa after all) but many people are surprised when a mzungu walks up to them. But because of my color many people are surprised to see me (and don’t hide it). In the US people are taught to not comment on race, it is a subject that is taboo to talk about. But here is Kenya there are people who assume just because I am white I am rich (due to the stigma left by British colonialization) and little kids will come up to me to touch me because I am a different color and they don’t know any better. This is usually not meant in a derogatory way (especially by the little kids) but more of a curiosity of why I am different. I think the most important thing is to not be bothered by not being able to blend in. In order to be comfortable in a culture you have to be comfortable with who you are first. I can’t change how I look, so I might as well be comfortable with the fact that it is impossible to blend it and I will be noticed wherever I go. But I realize that probably one of the main reasons I can do this is that in two and a half months when I go back home I will be able to blend in again, I will be back in a culture where I can be understood wherever I go, and I will not have to concentrate to understand broken English or ask people to speak slower so I can understand their Kiswahili. One example of this is our field trip to a pineapple plantation to observe how native people are being hurt by foreign plantations on stolen land. On the way back we stopped by 14 falls in Thika. There were people there who helped the group across the river before the waterfalls to the other side. Before they starting helping anyone our professor gave them money. Once they had helped our group to cross back over the river and we were safely on solid ground, they started asking for money, saying that they hadn’t been paid. We knew this was obviously not true, but some people paid them anyways. Simply because of the color of my skin people will try and take advantage of me and charge me more. The lesson is just to be careful and try to remember sina mtalii, nina mwanafunzi (I am not a tourist, I am a student) so as to not fall into any traps meant for tourists.

Posted by Caroline Lewis at 7:45 AM | Permalink

We are not as different as we all seem, you just have to look for the connections. We have this intercambio program at school that forms connections with Spaniards who want to learn English and us students who want to practice our Spanish. My friend’s intercambio was having a birthday party. It was really unusual to be in a room packed with thirty people all of whom spoke another language. I am used to being with my American friends and our host families. This was the first time in a month my environment had solely native speakers and no Americans. Everyone was really outgoing and friendly. As I sat being overwhelmed in this room, we had to start picking topics that we could all relate too. I discovered after all of the differences our cultures have, how was it possible that we could connect? To my surprise it was not that hard. My one big lesson I would like to share with people at home is that even though you may feel very alone and scared about entering another country where you do not know the language, relax and realize we are all human beings in this world together. I found out they were learning languages like English, German and Italian. And my Spanish friend Angela wants to learn English for her career in the same way I want to learn Spanish.
Cultural differences may frighten us because we are so vulnerable during this time. But do your best to ignore them, you are creating your own connections here. Adapt, find the positive in the Siesta, in the slow pace of life here, there is no rush, love the importance of family; and accept that professions do not define who you are as a person. Embrace the culture because it is so different. Often times I think we complain a lot, but we need to realize that through all the rain and the fog there is this amazing sunrise of a culture that we are getting to experience. My three friends and I proved to this room of Spaniards that we are not your stereotypical Americans and we found out we liked a lot of the same bands and we all wanted to know what the same words meant. Understand that you will have good days and bad but also know what connects us is stronger than our differences.

Posted by Alexandra Papa at 6:59 AM | Permalink

I never realized how international Washington D.C. was until I came here. I meet, see, and hear so many foreigners in this city that sometimes I forget I am still living in the United States. What I love about Washington is that everyone is so accepting of other cultures. In my home town, foreigners simply stand out. When you hear a family speaking another language at a grocery store it is common for people to stop and stare at them—as if they are aliens or something. I for one hate this behavior because my family is German and often speaks German in public. But here in Washington, people do not think twice about the number of international families and people living here. People always say that America is one big melting pot. Well, Washington is the flame of that melting pot and is thriving with culture. Since 9/11 there has been a lot of discrimination against Middle Eastern ethnicities. Recently, I went to the Washington Islam Center, the largest mosque in Washington, to interview and Islamic scholar for an article I was writing. I will admit I was nervous at first because I did not know what to expect and was uncertain about common protocol. How much of my body was suppose to be covered? Was I supposed to take my shoes off when I entered the mosque? Despite my initial uncertainties, I ended up having a great interview with a man named Dallo, an Islamic scholar from Senegal, Africa. He talked a lot about how Islam is really a peaceful religion. It is the people, he says, that have abused their religion for political purposes. Although Islamic extremists have given the entire Islamic population a bad name, the average Muslim does not want to kill you. The Muslim population living in Washington simply wants to live a normal life, just like everyone else, and be accepted for who they are. To be respected in any country or city you have to adapt to that specific culture. Well in Washington, a city with a large ethnic and foreign population, you have to be willing to overcome your stereotypes and be open to other cultures, or you simply will not be able to enjoy yourself. For example, Washington has some great ethnic restaurants! The other day I ate at an Ethiopian restaurant and while I cannot say I loved it, I can say that it is an experience and taste I will never forget. So just be open to trying new things—it will make you better-rounded and more cultured!

Posted by Elizabeth Andrews at 10:20 PM | Permalink

One big lesson for me was something that I never thought would be a problem. This lesson is specifically applicable to those studying in a country where the primary language is not English. My lesson is be ready for misunderstandings, and be ready to be laugh about them. I've been here a month, and at times I feel like I've made every mistake in the book with my host family. The misunderstandings between us have been great. So far I have violated dinner rules, greetings, and I'm sure countless language/culture rules. Along with this I was unsure about asking my host family if I had done something wrong or if they understood exactly what I was trying to say. Also with a foreign language this can be a very difficult task. I guess I thought that good intent and smiles would get me by. Within the first two weeks my family and I most likely had very distorted views of each other.
With time though I realized what I had to do. Number 1 I had to stop taking myself seriously. Number two I had to admit that at many times I didn't know what to do, or how to act, and finally number 3, it's okay to ask. I guess that my advise is to not take things for granted. That the culture WILL be very different, and at times you WILL fall flat on your face. But all you can do is laugh and try again. The misunderstandings will end up being funny, and in my case now, you will have a better relationship with your family or friends.

Posted by Thomas Rodgers at 5:26 PM | Permalink

I guess Mike and I have had similar experiences here in East Africa. There is no doubt that the biggest and most consistent problem I have had in Kenya, is the fact that I am a minority. There is no escape. Some people run after you as if you are a celebrity, while others treat you like a money tree. As a tall skinny whte boy I cannot hide on the streets of Nairobi, nor would I want to. Honestly it is nice to see a white person here and there, but I have tried to enjoy and embrace this opportunity of being an extreme minority. You cannot get these types of feelings in many other cities. Frequently I am the only "mzungu" out of hundreds of people and it can feel as if every set of eyes are following you down the street. Being white in Nairobi cannot be compared to being African American in America. The ratios are quite different. The best way for me in dealing with this unavoidable situation has been accepting the facts and becoming as comfortable as possible in Nairobi. I know I stand out and you can get beggars on every street corner, but if I am at a bus stand or in a shopping area by myself, I try and converse with the locals, starting with a greeting in sheng (used by most locals, a mix between english and swahili). I find that when I am with local friends or talking casually with locals in public places, the beggars and followers will leave you alone. This gives many people the perception that you have been in Nairobi for some time and understand the day to day routine. I also assume all the staring is out of curiosity, like the staring in India. This breaks a lot of the stress of constantly being watched. "Oh my, he is eating," "Oh my, he is smoking a cigarette," "Oh my he is wearing shorts." This is basically what it feels like. Greeting with "sema" at most vendors will likely provide me a local price on cigarettes, fruit or a coca cola instead of the getting the tourist prices, which are usually double. The minority status actually came in handy today at a local burger joint. About once a week we go to a burger place that has 2-for-1 burgers. Today we were drinking cokes and two people approached us saying, "YOU WON!" Mike, our friend matt and I won coca-cola prizes, had our pictures taken and were put on a local radio station. It was pretty surprising and awesome, but there is no way we would have been chosen out of the many people drinking cokes if it were not for being a "mzungu." Anyways, come visit Kenya. Its a cool place.

Posted by Matt Spriegel at 12:23 PM | Permalink

Something I have noticed more and more since studying abroad is how complaining could be America's national sport. Everyday at lunch I would find myself surrounded by Americans complaining about one thing or another. No matter what the food was, no matter how it was prepared, no matter what the quantity, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that they had to complain about something, so they complained about the food day in and day out. I can only imagine it is like this everywhere. Something I find rather ironic, is how France is supposed to be the gourmet capital of the world, right? Then why are these people constantly complaining about the food? I eat the food, and I have no problem with it. Occasionally there would be something not particularly appetizing, but I ate it anyways. What I do not understand is how students can make the decision to study abroad and then devote the time, energy, and money to get a passport, a visa, a plane ticket, then say goodbye to their country and loved ones, get on a plane, and finally reach foreign soil, if all they intended on doing was to complain.
Of all the people I have met so far at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, I would have to say that I am most impressed with all the international students. They are very down to earth, polite, interesting, and I have never heard any of them complain about anything (especially the food!) My advice to anyone considering study abroad is to really make a genuine effort to adapt to their new environment, and to try new things as much as possible. Don’t be scared to taste new dishes, hear new sounds, or sniff new smells. The only way to truly experience a new country is to dive right in and not let anything hold you back (except of course if there is a safety issue). Give your new country a chance, and see what it has to offer.

Posted by Carolyn Kuzell at 10:57 AM | Permalink

Haggling is one skill everyone living in China needs to be able to do. Even though everything is already dirt cheap here--at least in comparison with US prices--one can still get it for cheaper. One thing I have learned watching friends haggle (my haggling skills have yet to mastered) is that you need to have no shame in whatever price you want the item for. For example, if the salesperson asks for 50 kuai (roughly $6 US) for a shirt, tell him you want it for 5 kuai (that's probably about 70 cents US). Even though the salesperson will complain, you have at least gained his interest, and you can work up to a reasonable price from there. Keep in mind though, if the salesperson gives in to whatever price you offer too easily, the item is probably not worth that much.
If all else fails, walk away. If the salesperson has had poor business that day, or he finds your price to be reasonable after all, he (although, it is mostly the women that do this) will grab your arm in a pincer grip or shout your price at you down the corridor. He will basically do anything it takes to stop you from moving on to another vendor, even if it means making a scene. I learned the hard way that you should not walk back. If you walk back, the salesperson will already have your purchase in a plastic bag, and you will have to pay the lowest price he gave you.
Even though I am not that good at haggling yet, there are a few strategies I have picked up in my experiences thus far. First, it never hurts to use the "I am a poor college student" card. Second, pretending not to know Chinese at all can get the salespeople so frustrated that they may just lower the price just to get you to shut up. And last but not least, don't have any shame in batting your eyelashes from time to time (for the ladies), or sporting cute smiley pins that will have young salesladies throwing themselves at you (for the guys). Jia you!

Posted by Tiffany Truong at 2:06 AM | Permalink

I would definately say that this experience of living in another country is certainly a huge life lesson in itself and I will learn so much about myself, my country, germany, and how essential communication skills. I would say that the biggest lesson I have learned so far is to be open to other people and not afraid to talk and make mistakes. In the beginning I hardly said anything and was afraid to make mistakes or that people would not understand what I am saying or that I would say something totally inappropriate. However, I have learned that you have to be willing to take these risks in order to develop the proper language and communication skills.After only a month I feel much more confident in my ability to speak German and it certainly would not of come if I was still afraid to make mistakes. It is through the mistakes made that I am able to learn how to better my language skills and by being open to others I can absorb what they are saying and imitate their actions. Speaking without fear of mistakes is by far the best lesson that I have so far, and I am sure there are many more lessons to come.

Posted by Alaina Smith at 8:23 AM | Permalink

My lesson is by no means profound, but is perhaps the truest thing I can come up with: Absolutely nothing—no pre-departure readings, no personal accounts, no warnings—can prepare you for what you will experience. Reading statistics about the staggering number of people living below the poverty line is rather forgettable, especially in a country on the other side of the world. You can pretend to understand it, pretend to care; but it’s not until you see the little girl with matted braids, tugging at your shirt, holding her pinched fingers to her lips, repeating over and over the only English word she knows, “hungry,” that it hits you. This is how the majority of the world lives—not necessarily begging tourists for a few extra rupees or biscuits, but certainly struggling to survive, reaching out to the nearest, most affluent-looking hand. This is poverty.

Of course, not all unexpected experiences are bad or depressing. I suppose another lesson would be that things aren’t always what they seem (yet another cliché, I apologize). After exiting the airport in Delhi, I felt overwhelmed by Indian traffic—it’s all a flurry of car horns, incessant merging without any semblance of a turn signal, and straddling both the white and yellow lines painted on the streets. I often expected to hear curse words and yelling, or even to see a few people flipping each other off, but no one takes the rush of traffic personally. Things often look or seem unfriendly around here, but most Indians will jump at the opportunity to help out anyone who looks lost or confused (even if they don’t know the direction in which you’re going). If I had been acting as a regular tourist, zipping around from town to town, I don’t know if I would have come to this realization and it has been quite possibly the most important one.

Posted by Brandi Shaffer at 5:33 AM | Permalink

The main difference between Duke Marine Lab and Allegheny, is that almost all of my classes focus more on making learning interesting instead of deadlines. At Allegheny I would study hours on end, saving relaxing time for the weekend. My life revolved around tests and assignments. Here, while the work can be rigorous, it is much more laid back. Yes I do go out in the field a lo,. sometimes until 12:30 in the morning but it's fun. It's fun to see what you're learning in the classroom applied to real life.
I have learned how to relax, how to learn the material and not memorize it. This is mostly because the work load isn't as heavy as Allegheny, but I think that a lot of the techniques I am learning here can be applied to use in Allegheny.
Even though DUML is in the United States and I am not abroad, it is a completely different atmosphere down here. Life is slowed down and time is taken to converse with other people. Even the staff down here takes the time to talk to you and hear about your day etc. I think the main lesson I will take back to PA with me, is to slow down a little, not stress too much about my grades, and enjoy learning. We will see how long that holds up when the assignments start to pile up! But I am sure I will find some time to relax.

Posted by Katherine Kump at 12:28 PM | Permalink

One lesson that I would like to share with everyone at home would be the issue of minorities. While this may not apply to those of you that are minorities in the States, it comes as a shock to me. I am a middle class white male American who never had to worry about people looking at me funny, or questioning my motives and or background based on the color of my skin. In coming here I knew that I would be a minority and was somewhat ready for this, or so I thought. I figured that I would be like an African American in the States, and there would be enough muzungus (white people) to relate to. I was completely wrong. In some of the touristy areas, they are used to white tourists, but I am not there often. In my host family’s neighborhood I am the only white kid, and this brings with it stares and comments every day as I walk to and from school, the store, or wherever else. My background at home never allowed me to experience the kind of paranoia or un-easiness that comes with being a minority. This feeling comes and goes and certain looks from locals can really rattle you. In a city like Nairobi that is extremely high in crime and violence, I find myself constantly watching who I talk to and where I go. This brings with it a feeling of obsession about who is following or looking at you. Up to this point, this is one thing that I wish to send home, being a minority is not easy, whether I like it or not my skin tone carries a connotation of money. Everyone thinks that because I am white I have money to give to them, and it also makes for an uncomfortable experience at points. One great example of this is when I was returning from white water rafting the Nile River in Uganda, I was crossing the Kenyan border and waiting for the bust to go through security. As I stood on the Kenyan side, street kids, older men, and vendors continually harassed me and called me “muzungu.” As many times as I tried to tell them in my broken Kiswahili, “mimi ni mwanafunzi,” I am a student, not a rich whiter person, they continued to ask for money and donations. I am trying to cope with this extreme difference, and the uncomfortable feeling that it carries is not necessarily a negative one because I am learning so much about myself and others from it, but it’s a challenge. Another example is on the way to Uganda, we stopped at a rest stop to use the bathroom, and I was off of the bus for about 3 to 5 minutes, and when I came back my camera had been stolen. At first you react with anger, but then you realize that when 10 white kids get off of a bus, a poor black guy sees this as an opportunity to improve his own situation. It is sad because no one here can help that guy, so this is what he resorts to. The sense of hopelessness within this country and third world nations like it personified through a feeling of paranoia that accompanies being a minority. I used to laugh at my friends at home who are black when they would say it is different for them because of skin color, now I get it.

Posted by Michael Rooney at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Bread. Bread, bread, and more bread. That’s what I eat here—white bread, nonetheless. The French love of baguettes is not an exaggeration. However, I’ve also tried many different meals—I’ve had black pasta from Italy made from squid ink (hence the black color). I’ve eaten from a fish plopped on the table, complete with skin and bones, eyes staring and mouth flopping open; I’ve tried pears from Anjou, grapes from Nantes, and even olives and mushrooms, two things I already know I detest. But I tried them, and that’s what counts. As much as I miss peanut butter and my Coldstone ice cream, I realize that this is not America. This is France. It’s a completely different country, on a completely different continent, with a completely different language and a completely different culture. I’ve found that my number one pet peeve is not about the French—it’s about other students in our program refusing to leave American food behind. They complain every day about what we eat/don’t get to eat, and insist on smothering everything in ketchup and salt. The people at my table don’t try anything we’re served until I try it first, waiting to see if it tastes okay. When you vacation to another land and refuse to eat the cuisine, you’re missing out on a large part of that culture and way of life. What’s the point in going to France if you want to eat McDonalds the entire time? You might as well just stay in the States and speak French to your dog.
Not only does complaining about the cuisine harm your experience, it harms how others (read: natives) view you. It’s rude to go to someone’s home and turn up your nose at what they offer you, thinking that because it’s not familiar, it’s not good enough. Same line of reasoning goes for traveling in another country. These people are being hospitable and trying their best to make this our new, albeit temporary, home. To refuse food or insist on changing it to eat it “your way” is doing nothing to help the conception of Americans as arrogant and rude. Quite frankly, it’s beginning to make ME detest Americans!
Bottom line: try new things. Don’t take America on vacation with you. Experience other cultures fully, and don’t be afraid. There’s a time to jump in with both feet and vacationing to another country is one of them.

Posted by Susannah Bender at 10:35 AM | Permalink