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I consider myself lucky to be of a Costa Rican family. More so, having family over there all my life has served with the advantage of living in their household while we visited, instead of a hotel meant for tourists. I consider that a blessing because, even for a little while, you live like they do, realizing the blessings one has as do they have. There are pros and cons to everything, of course, and I’d have to say at times sleeping with a mosquito net was rather hard to get used to.
With that being said, I feel that the advantage of learning of different cultures at Fairfield is that one is exposed to so many different people. To be fair, most institutions would offer the same circumstances, but I mainly realized and appreciated that people at Fairfield each had a story to tell in his or her special way. And likewise, I’d like to feel that I have something to offer to others.
The overall general direction that the U.S. is moving in is one of being more open, myself included. I more than ever just try to listen to other’s experiences, and realize that “culture” does not just mean myself coming from Costa Rica versus people I have met coming from El Salvador, or Germany, etc., but it also means acceptance of people’s choices.
In my opinion, I think it goes without saying, but the new overall “struggle” like the Civil Rights in the 60s is for the more acceptance of the homosexual community. While I have never been against the culture, I feel that I have grown a bit in that area of acceptance because I have learned that the attitude “don’t ask, don’t tell” may not necessarily be enough, given there are injustices still going on. And there is, unfortunately, yet to be total equality in race, gender, and other issues as well.
But I suppose the best is to do what one most can.
Overall, I feel that what will help the most is to be exposed and meeting many people. Again, each has a story to tell. Fairfield, as with all other institutions, really has nothing to do with the improvements or drawbacks in accepting different cultures, it’s all up to individuals themselves. And there is plenty of opportunity, made possible by people’s owns action, and I find myself appreciating different foreign cultures as well. Again, not that I was against, but my appreciation has just improved.
Have you been in a situation that involved cultural differences? Share your thoughts by leaving a response below.
I definitly agree with Gabriel in his appreciation for learning and understanding different cultures at Fairfield. Though I’m only an incoming freshman and have yet to actually live on campus, I do have to say that in February when I stood for the Prospect weekend I experienced something that I never did at any of the 6 other Universities that I had visited that month.
I met people of all ethnicities and cultures and religions that weekend and I have to say that I was so impressed and I felt like fairfield was definitly a place where I could learn out the classroom as well as in. Besides the basic math, english, and science tools I knew I would be able to learn new life tools that can’t otherwise be taught in the classroom. I would learn to accept, understand, and adapt to new people and what they have to offer.
In about a week I am going to move in and I cannot wait to begin a new chapter in my life that will be full of people of all kinds.
I am also lucky to have family in another country. This provided me with a similar opportunity to stay in a few foreign households, as well as at hotels. This provided me with hospitality from both family and hotel staff. It was interesting to have the different perspectives. I was able to see how visiting another country would be when staying at an average home or at a hotel meant for tourists. It was a unique experience. I hope to be able to visit not just my family in other parts of the world, but also any other places of various cultures. Part of this appreciation for culture comes from my family. Not just having close family members living in foreign lands, but also having parents who travel for business or pleasure and instill in me a curiosity for cultural differences. I have learned to accept, appreciate, and observe cultures different from my own.
Unlike Gabriel, I unfortunately do not have family in another country, and I have not had the opportunity to travel much throughout my life. However, because of those circumstances, I am extremely excited to attend Fairfield University. I am looking forward to breaking out of the little bubble on the Jersey Shore and becoming a part of a community of diversity - a melting pot of people, places, and stories. Most of all, I am eager to learn from the experiences of others, eager to take pieces of my new friends and professors with me wherever I go.
I mentioned this previously in another post but I will briefly touch on it again. Moving here from another country has to be one of the biggest cultural changes one can ever experience.
I moved from Nigeria to the US at the age of seven and even now when I’m used to the American culture, there are times where I may do things that someone may raise an eyebrow at. One of the simple ones is sometimes being unable to call someone older than me by their first names. Some may not see it as a big deal but I grew up saying Mr. or Mrs. or even Sir or Ma’am to anyone that is my elder.
After a few e-mails back and forth with my adviser Professor Jim Mayzik, he told me to just call him Jim and not Professor or Mister. Even now, I still find that a bit hard. Even little things like this are major differences in other cultures.