Meet the Team
Fruits and Failures of Drive without Perspective
The language barrier is oftentimes thrown around as some nebulous factor in American discourse – an item to be aware of but in the same consideration set as navigating terrains of new cities. Rarely is the barrier’s full height taken into account when traveling perhaps because the standard American trip to Europe rides through touristic areas wherein sojourners can speak English for the majority of the time. Locals must be kind enough to switch to a non-native tongue in order for a traveler to engage a culture. Moreover, the traveler must be fortunate enough to have plethora English speaking people around. In an age where travel is short, oftentimes culturally sterilized by tourism, and structured to with Anglophone guides to prevent frustration, it becomes easier to understand misperceptions on the challenge of language. Undervaluing the language barrier was one of many underestimations made before my exchange semester. Similarly, the full scope of cultural immersion and the capacity to move along the Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity were not adequately appreciated. Therefore, my reflection will depart from its original purpose to touch on the gravity of intercultural immersion in the hopes of being informative and then ending with personal experiences and thoughts going forward.
When planning for a cultural immersion, even a domestic one, format as much time as possible to be in touch with the community. Near constant contact with that group is necessary. Learning the different spheres of meaning, beliefs, values, and norms of a group requires significant exposure time and enough successful demonstration to be considered for inclusion by the group. Semester exchanges are great opportunities for Adaptation – the fifth stage in the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) – especially with residing with a host family. Witnessing authentic traditions as well as receiving accurate accounts of a culture are just a couple of benefits derived from a host family. Conversely, semester exchanges while being placed in an international dormitory is not conducive to immersion within the host nation. Much time is spent with fellow international travelers as they oftentimes speak English, are curious about other people(s), and are friendly – a combination which disposes one to interaction with exchange students over locals with unknown interest in foreigners. Moreover, exploring new countries on the weekend is the norm for these students. Unfortunately, this norm conflicts with further engagement in the host nation because of its time and physical placement demands.
Immersion is oftentimes a monumental task. Not only does one have to gain proficiency in another language but he or she must gain swaths of historical, group knowledge. Knowledge of key terms is necessary in order to traverse a new discourse community. Perhaps even some rites of passage may be needed such as graduation or training. Simply the acquisition and demonstration of knowledge is often not enough for entrance. Rather, the correct usage and development of tact specific to that culture is usually required. The imperative of stating the high barriers to immersion is to not dilute any culture’s value. Granted, some cultures may be easier to join if they match the nationality of the person seeking admittance, but to not pay adequate deference to the difficulties of entering would seemingly open membership up to many who are ineligible. Fearing cultural appropriation, illegitimate claims to membership which undermine a culture’s distinctiveness and worth, and a lessened consideration for the sensitivity levels appropriate for addressing complex cultures, it becomes negligent to not discuss the challenges of immersion. Believing, as I had, to be able to tap into a culture in four months’ time positions the culture as simple enough for an outsider to be immersed through inconsistent engagement.
One should not be dissuaded from the task of cultural sensitivity simply by the difficulty of full immersion. Moving towards “Adaptation” is conquerable for most people and generates value even for the modern traveler. Recognizing nonverbal cues, employing the appropriate form of greeting (handshake, kisses to the side of the check, etc.), and grasping key terms used within a culture are within the reach of the non-sedentary. Moreover, within the framework of modern travel, one could easily develop various intercultural identities as the Cross-Cultural Adaption Theory would attest to. Rather than sacrificing a person’s identity, people build multiple personas to be demonstrated in the appropriate context. Management research would attest to this phenomenon as an unchanging personality that expresses itself in different ways according to salient stimuli. What is more encouraging is the ability to progress in Adaptation without inconvenient time demands. Although notably less enabling or beneficial than second language fluency, one can gain standard social cues and claim progression. Developing heightened awareness to different communication norms and strengthening poise to stop gut reactions to nonverbal messages that would might be offensive in one’s home culture are additional areas for progress. It is along these lines that most of my cultural sensitivity occurred: with traveling to new cities near every weekend and with living among students of various nationalities, the environment was conducive to developing skills to adapt to new cultures quickly.
Communication began the activity in intercultural sensitivity. Perhaps one of the most valuable intercultural experiences was speaking in English to fellow international students at Johannes Kepler University. Communication required constant attention as the non-native speaker oftentimes didn’t have the vocabulary to express themselves which thus required observation of all messages sent (key words that could highlight the crux of the message, voice inflection, eye contact, etc.). Speaking in a foreign language at a rudimentary level required mental effort that would otherwise be diverted to observing the other parties’ communication. Conversing in English freed up a certain degree of attention to be used to learn while talking; to be aware of my messages that may be misunderstood as well as gathering all data from the other’s communication to form a clear thought.
Another persona to recognize and adopt is that of the ambassador. Without fully immersing in another culture, a person will be recognized as a member of his or her nation thereby establishing the role of representative. All actions a person takes become reflective of his or her native culture. Granted, not everything will be considered and applied, but they will paint a picture of what an American, Cincinnatian, German, etc. might look like. Superficially, becoming aware of one’s role doesn’t seem to advance him or her towards adaptation but the awareness of self is key to keeping progression in line with perception of progression. In other words, practice as an ambassador helps to create habit out of recognizing one’s intercultural place and its movement over time. Moreover, it places information drawn from various people into a framework: interactions with others can help inform positive stereotypes but they are not fully representative of all in their culture just as the traveler is not an ambassador without qualification.
The Intercultural Communication course was one of the best trainings for adaptation. First, it provided the tools to categorize and navigate new experiences. Practicing with terms like “Finnish silence” (long periods of silence between responses), “indirect communication” (conveying meaning through story rather than outright declaration), and “power distance” (degrees of formality and hierarchies) gave data points to compare new information against. When entering new situations, these concepts serve to categorize information and prepare for matching communication styles. Discussions on cultural systems like the French department on language (a body representing French high regards for their language) helped to decode the various institutions and the values and/or norms they represented. Exploring the cultural practices of those from the East/Middle East was beneficial on two fronts: they contextualize seemingly bizarre phenomena which then helped to reduce visceral reactions to such stimuli. For example, recognizing that wearing a Burka was liberating for many women and that it traces back to historical responsibilities to keeping women safe alleviated tension that much of American media would build. Further adding context by outlining Pakistan as more oppressive in their mandates for female body covering as opposed to the more liberal Saudi Arabia displayed nuance to what is traditionally portrayed as a uniformly applied law in the Middle East. Studying intercultural norms helps remove implicit and explicit bias while outfitting the student with terms and examples to make sense of new cultural information.
Erasmus is a European program which offers scholarship to students with EU membership to travel within the union for exchange semesters. Living with many Erasumus students along others from three other continents provided near constant opportunity to engage with a new culture. In many ways, it paralleled the international experience of many travelers: encountering a new culture without adequate time to learn substantially on the particular group/location and therefore being unable to have major adaptation to that culture. Nonetheless, certain habits may be formed in such a fluid environment that aid in adapting generically instead of to one specific target. Matching social cues – or “monkey see, monkey do” for intercultural communication – is key in progressing with any individual. Appropriately paralleling eye contact, pauses between words, voice inflection, and many other aspects of communication present an overall sense of familiarity to the other person. Instinctively, people are cautious around foreign things; therefore, to put forth what is familiar allows the other person to relax safeguards. Making gestures of good will is another tactic for adaptation. For example, demonstrating a knowledge/curiosity about a person’s home country positions you to engage in discussion on those cultural topics. As with attempting to use another language, the extent of knowledge demonstration should pair with proficiency on the topic; attempts to show more than known may come across as inconsiderate or even pompous.
Although I could not immerse into the Austrian culture, gaining a worldview on European cultures was at least somewhat obtained. Regular dinners with a French friend shed light on their eating rituals, numerous conversations with a Dutchman on “not standing out” highlighted collectivistic norms, and inquiries while traveling with an Irish friend set the scene for how a starkly Catholic country legalized gay marriage. It was in conversations that most of the information was drawn. Reading articles on European countries’ admittance of thousands or millions of refugees would undoubtedly show feelings of openness but it is in asking why that the beliefs, norms, and values shine through. Perhaps one of the stronger lessons on culture is that actions or events in another country can be interpreted in numerous ways leading to conjectures and speculation. But by gathering more evidence by inquiring, we are able to identify causes, reasoning as to why certain events may have unfolded.
My reflection on the semester at Johannes Kepler University could have been a ramble on the various transformational moments: discussing Russian aggression with representatives from within and without, observing emigrational trends from eastern to western Europe for jobs and the resulting political situations, grappling with a staunch disbeliever in climate change, or meeting a Syrian refugee studying at JKU and grasping the terrors he ran from. But these are memories that are with me and continue to transform me. Instead, my skill set and platform allow for me to educate with my reflections which will hopefully have a greater effect than documenting alone would. It is my hope that this piece has provided insight from research and personal testimonial/example on how to progress in adaptation through normal travel methods.
The language barrier is oftentimes thrown around as some nebulous factor in American discourse – an item to be aware of but in the same consideration set as navigating terrains of new cities. Rarely is the barrier’s full height taken into account when traveling perhaps because the standard American trip to Europe rides through touristic areas wherein sojourners can speak English for the majority of the time. Locals must be kind enough to switch to a non-native tongue in order for a traveler to engage a culture. Moreover, the traveler must be fortunate enough to have plethora English speaking people around. In an age where travel is short, oftentimes culturally sterilized by tourism, and structured to with Anglophone guides to prevent frustration, it becomes easier to understand misperceptions on the challenge of language. Undervaluing the language barrier was one of many underestimations made before my exchange semester. Similarly, the full scope of cultural immersion and the capacity to move along the Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity were not adequately appreciated. Therefore, my reflection will depart from its original purpose to touch on the gravity of intercultural immersion in the hopes of being informative and then ending with personal experiences and thoughts going forward.
When planning for a cultural immersion, even a domestic one, format as much time as possible to be in touch with the community. Near constant contact with that group is necessary. Learning the different spheres of meaning, beliefs, values, and norms of a group requires significant exposure time and enough successful demonstration to be considered for inclusion by the group. Semester exchanges are great opportunities for Adaptation – the fifth stage in the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) – especially with residing with a host family. Witnessing authentic traditions as well as receiving accurate accounts of a culture are just a couple of benefits derived from a host family. Conversely, semester exchanges while being placed in an international dormitory is not conducive to immersion within the host nation. Much time is spent with fellow international travelers as they oftentimes speak English, are curious about other people(s), and are friendly – a combination which disposes one to interaction with exchange students over locals with unknown interest in foreigners. Moreover, exploring new countries on the weekend is the norm for these students. Unfortunately, this norm conflicts with further engagement in the host nation because of its time and physical placement demands.
Immersion is oftentimes a monumental task. Not only does one have to gain proficiency in another language but he or she must gain swaths of historical, group knowledge. Knowledge of key terms is necessary in order to traverse a new discourse community. Perhaps even some rites of passage may be needed such as graduation or training. Simply the acquisition and demonstration of knowledge is often not enough for entrance. Rather, the correct usage and development of tact specific to that culture is usually required. The imperative of stating the high barriers to immersion is to not dilute any culture’s value. Granted, some cultures may be easier to join if they match the nationality of the person seeking admittance, but to not pay adequate deference to the difficulties of entering would seemingly open membership up to many who are ineligible. Fearing cultural appropriation, illegitimate claims to membership which undermine a culture’s distinctiveness and worth, and a lessened consideration for the sensitivity levels appropriate for addressing complex cultures, it becomes negligent to not discuss the challenges of immersion. Believing, as I had, to be able to tap into a culture in four months’ time positions the culture as simple enough for an outsider to be immersed through inconsistent engagement.
One should not be dissuaded from the task of cultural sensitivity simply by the difficulty of full immersion. Moving towards “Adaptation” is conquerable for most people and generates value even for the modern traveler. Recognizing nonverbal cues, employing the appropriate form of greeting (handshake, kisses to the side of the check, etc.), and grasping key terms used within a culture are within the reach of the non-sedentary. Moreover, within the framework of modern travel, one could easily develop various intercultural identities as the Cross-Cultural Adaption Theory would attest to. Rather than sacrificing a person’s identity, people build multiple personas to be demonstrated in the appropriate context. Management research would attest to this phenomenon as an unchanging personality that expresses itself in different ways according to salient stimuli. What is more encouraging is the ability to progress in Adaptation without inconvenient time demands. Although notably less enabling or beneficial than second language fluency, one can gain standard social cues and claim progression. Developing heightened awareness to different communication norms and strengthening poise to stop gut reactions to nonverbal messages that would might be offensive in one’s home culture are additional areas for progress. It is along these lines that most of my cultural sensitivity occurred: with traveling to new cities near every weekend and with living among students of various nationalities, the environment was conducive to developing skills to adapt to new cultures quickly.
Communication began the activity in intercultural sensitivity. Perhaps one of the most valuable intercultural experiences was speaking in English to fellow international students at Johannes Kepler University. Communication required constant attention as the non-native speaker oftentimes didn’t have the vocabulary to express themselves which thus required observation of all messages sent (key words that could highlight the crux of the message, voice inflection, eye contact, etc.). Speaking in a foreign language at a rudimentary level required mental effort that would otherwise be diverted to observing the other parties’ communication. Conversing in English freed up a certain degree of attention to be used to learn while talking; to be aware of my messages that may be misunderstood as well as gathering all data from the other’s communication to form a clear thought.
Another persona to recognize and adopt is that of the ambassador. Without fully immersing in another culture, a person will be recognized as a member of his or her nation thereby establishing the role of representative. All actions a person takes become reflective of his or her native culture. Granted, not everything will be considered and applied, but they will paint a picture of what an American, Cincinnatian, German, etc. might look like. Superficially, becoming aware of one’s role doesn’t seem to advance him or her towards adaptation but the awareness of self is key to keeping progression in line with perception of progression. In other words, practice as an ambassador helps to create habit out of recognizing one’s intercultural place and its movement over time. Moreover, it places information drawn from various people into a framework: interactions with others can help inform positive stereotypes but they are not fully representative of all in their culture just as the traveler is not an ambassador without qualification.
The Intercultural Communication course was one of the best trainings for adaptation. First, it provided the tools to categorize and navigate new experiences. Practicing with terms like “Finnish silence” (long periods of silence between responses), “indirect communication” (conveying meaning through story rather than outright declaration), and “power distance” (degrees of formality and hierarchies) gave data points to compare new information against. When entering new situations, these concepts serve to categorize information and prepare for matching communication styles. Discussions on cultural systems like the French department on language (a body representing French high regards for their language) helped to decode the various institutions and the values and/or norms they represented. Exploring the cultural practices of those from the East/Middle East was beneficial on two fronts: they contextualize seemingly bizarre phenomena which then helped to reduce visceral reactions to such stimuli. For example, recognizing that wearing a Burka was liberating for many women and that it traces back to historical responsibilities to keeping women safe alleviated tension that much of American media would build. Further adding context by outlining Pakistan as more oppressive in their mandates for female body covering as opposed to the more liberal Saudi Arabia displayed nuance to what is traditionally portrayed as a uniformly applied law in the Middle East. Studying intercultural norms helps remove implicit and explicit bias while outfitting the student with terms and examples to make sense of new cultural information.
Erasmus is a European program which offers scholarship to students with EU membership to travel within the union for exchange semesters. Living with many Erasumus students along others from three other continents provided near constant opportunity to engage with a new culture. In many ways, it paralleled the international experience of many travelers: encountering a new culture without adequate time to learn substantially on the particular group/location and therefore being unable to have major adaptation to that culture. Nonetheless, certain habits may be formed in such a fluid environment that aid in adapting generically instead of to one specific target. Matching social cues – or “monkey see, monkey do” for intercultural communication – is key in progressing with any individual. Appropriately paralleling eye contact, pauses between words, voice inflection, and many other aspects of communication present an overall sense of familiarity to the other person. Instinctively, people are cautious around foreign things; therefore, to put forth what is familiar allows the other person to relax safeguards. Making gestures of good will is another tactic for adaptation. For example, demonstrating a knowledge/curiosity about a person’s home country positions you to engage in discussion on those cultural topics. As with attempting to use another language, the extent of knowledge demonstration should pair with proficiency on the topic; attempts to show more than known may come across as inconsiderate or even pompous.
Although I could not immerse into the Austrian culture, gaining a worldview on European cultures was at least somewhat obtained. Regular dinners with a French friend shed light on their eating rituals, numerous conversations with a Dutchman on “not standing out” highlighted collectivistic norms, and inquiries while traveling with an Irish friend set the scene for how a starkly Catholic country legalized gay marriage. It was in conversations that most of the information was drawn. Reading articles on European countries’ admittance of thousands or millions of refugees would undoubtedly show feelings of openness but it is in asking why that the beliefs, norms, and values shine through. Perhaps one of the stronger lessons on culture is that actions or events in another country can be interpreted in numerous ways leading to conjectures and speculation. But by gathering more evidence by inquiring, we are able to identify causes, reasoning as to why certain events may have unfolded.
My reflection on the semester at Johannes Kepler University could have been a ramble on the various transformational moments: discussing Russian aggression with representatives from within and without, observing emigrational trends from eastern to western Europe for jobs and the resulting political situations, grappling with a staunch disbeliever in climate change, or meeting a Syrian refugee studying at JKU and grasping the terrors he ran from. But these are memories that are with me and continue to transform me. Instead, my skill set and platform allow for me to educate with my reflections which will hopefully have a greater effect than documenting alone would. It is my hope that this piece has provided insight from research and personal testimonial/example on how to progress in adaptation through normal travel methods.