Cross-cultural Learning

699 Words2 Pages

I was lucky enough to be raised in a family that strongly felt its Irish and Celtic heritage should be celebrated. From them, I learned the beauty of my own culture, and an appreciation to learn the cultures of others. I brought that appreciation with me through life, and found it to make all the difference.

My earliest cross-cultural experience that I can remember with clarity was the Spanish exchange student who was hosted by one of my aunts. Mai not only taught me about her culture, which in turn piqued an interest in the Spanish/Latino culture that continues to this day, but she also helped me to appreciate many small, seemingly insignificant aspects of my own culture.

I built upon my cross-cultural experiences as I befriended exchange students from Belgium, Japan, and Korea. Each time, the friendships enriched my appreciation and understanding of not only my own culture, but the very concept of culture. What falls under the cultural blanket can vary from person to person, and I found it to be very interesting that while one person could claim lan...

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