“Where are you from?” A light-hearted question that to the average human would seem uncomplicated, requiring a maximum of thirty-seconds to respond has always been inexplicably dreadful to me. Especially since I have never been able to find the right words to describe exactly where I come from at a given time. Being torn between saying the previous country in which I lived in or the country in which I was actually born has forever been a part of my life. Although I am proud to say that I grew up in an unconventionally global environment, the idea of explaining my concoction of cultural backgrounds sends a rush of panic through my body because no matter how hard I try, there will never be a straightforward answer. Of course I could always say that I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, as it would most definitely satisfy the curiosity of just about anyone asking, however it has never seemed an honest or even convincing answer to me. Although I do, in fact, consider myself a true Colombian, I recognize myself as much more than that. I consider myself to be the epitome of what has come to be known as a “third-culture kid”. …show more content…
As the daughter of an expatriate I was raised in Colombia, Spain, Canada, and the United States with a mixture of culture and diversity that most can only dream of. From learning English in Calgary and understanding the meaning of diversity in Bogotá to discovering a passion for adventure in Madrid and hopefully establishing my academic dreams in Houston, each new location has undeniably contributed a key ingredient to the concoction that is my current
The republic of Colombia has been fighting an internal war for over 50 years. On April 9th 1948, 1:00P.M. The leader of the Liberal Party Jorger Eliecer Gaitan walked out of his office in the downtown area, got shot 3 times and died once he got to the hospital. This day went down in Colombian history as the Bogotazo. Gaitan was a moderate socialist congressman that gave a voice to the middle and lower classes in Colombia. He gave hope to those that had nothing under the right wing elitist government. In 1948 after his death, the era of the Violencia started. A civil war between the Colombian communist party and the farmers against the right wing military conservative government due to the high inflation and unfair assistance to those that
. Describe your culture. Include things like place of birth, where you were raised, family structure, educational experiences, and career history. What else needs to be included?
In such a multicultural world, being knowledgeable and understanding of not only your cultural background, but that of others is essential. Building my awareness on cultures different from my own, and how it shapes an individual’s identity, will foster my personal and professional development. Subsequently, I conducted a cultural interview with an individual whose cultural background differed from my own. Several similarities and differences between our cultures were apparent in the interview, specifically in the areas of race, ethnicity, language, values, and worldview.
Something that has always fascinated me is the confrontation with a completely different culture. We do not have to travel far to realize that people really lead different lives in other countries and that the saying "Home sweet home" often applies to most of us. What if we suddenly had to leave our homes and settle somewhere else, somewhere where other values and beliefs where common and where people spoke a different language? Would we still try to hang on to the 'old home' by speaking our mother tongue, practising our own religion and culture or would we give in to the new and exciting country and forget our past? And what would it be like for our children, and their children? In Identity Lessons - Contemporary Writing About Learning to Be American I found many different stories telling us what it is like to be "trapped" between two cultures. In this short essay I aim to show that belonging to two cultures can be very confusing.
Stepping out of my first plane ride, I experience an epiphany of new culture, which seems to me as a whole new world. Buzzing around my ears are conversations in an unfamiliar language that intrigues me. It then struck me that after twenty hours of a seemingly perpetual plane ride that I finally arrived in The United States of America, a country full of new opportunities. It was this moment that I realized how diverse and big this world is. This is the story of my new life in America.
In addition, I would like to share some quote from one of MSU faculty that I heard on my orientation 3 years ago. “ Do you think how many time you will have an opportunity to be in a society that you can meet a person from around the world”. Indeed, what he said is true. My friends are Chinese, Japanese, American, African American, Taiwanese, and even African. It was an amazing right; I can make my friend around the world in one place. I don’t think many people have a chance like me to interact with people from around the world by not visiting their countries. In addition, interact with people that have a different background than you can lead you to a new perspective, these people make you look the world from a different
My cultural decent is a little foggy. My mother had 1/8 Native American in her, which I was very proud to have some of that blood, and the rest being from England. My father on the other hand was adopted by my grandparents from my grandmother's sister. The family name of Swigart is German yet, clearly that is not of my decent. Sometimes, I do find myself wanting to know what country I originated from but it would not be appropriate to ask my father and I realize it isn't the greatest part of me.
The best part about life is that we are always given second chances in most things we do, and I am a perfectly good example to prove this statement. I was born and grew up in a small town in Colombia, about three hours away from Cartagena, one of the country’s biggest cities. Life was difficult, especially for a young boy, barely beginning his journey on earth, with very little intelligence of survival in a country that does not offer many resources or paths toward freedom. As most people know, Colombia is known around the world for its coffee and unfortunately, for its guerilla forces that control most of the country’s drug trafficking. The drug trade is one of the country’s only money-making resources. These harsh conditions created an environment making it even harder for me to be able to try to achieve my goal of becoming a successful and educated human being. There were so many factors I would have to overcome in order to attain and achieve my goals and be happy about my way of life.
A multitude of ideas, experiences, and relationships have made me the interesting person I am today. I feel that my diverse upbringing has made me more open to new ideas and more accepting of different cultures. When I first arrived in Geneva, the students and faculty at my school showed great kindness and compassion to students from a myriad of cultures. On the second day of school, much to my chagrin, I forgot my lunch. Luckily, a newly made friend, Rodrigo from Spain, offered to buy my meal. I was struck by Rodrigo’s kindness and I try to mirror that generosity. Being a “third country kid” has taught me that I am immensely fortunate. I have two parents, a roof over my head, and ample food. Many people across our world aren't as lucky. I experienced this when I was about six and my family had just relocated to Beijing. Since my parents both had full time jobs, we had a nanny to look after us. Chen Aiyi regularly brought us to her house in one of Beijing’s hutongs. Her house was a rather simple structure, built completely out of concrete, however it was designed in a traditional Chinese fashion. In hindsight, it was shocking that the house lacked even the most basic amenities. If you wanted to get a drink of water, you had to stroll down the street to a communal water pump. When I think back, I feel blessed to have so much while many others have so little.
Unsuccessful intercultural encounters can sometimes result in tremendous consequences like losing business deals, breaking relationships or even destroying blood ties. In fact, for those who have watched the documentary “Daughter from Danang”, the idea of the last consequence would emerge vividly and hauntingly. The documentary, directed by Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco, tells the reunion between a daughter and her long-lost birth mother. The reunion, which is expected to be an exhilarating experience, unfortunately becomes a painful one with heartbreaking moments. The failure of this reunion can be attributed to a number of reasons, but the most visible one is perhaps the issue of cultural differences. through the lens of intercultural communication,
When someone asks you: “Where are you from?” You will firstly think about the place you were born in or spent the longest period of your life. This is where your definition of identity starts
Outside the classroom, the study abroad experience provided for constant change and self-reflection. I learned to recognize my own hidden prejudices and confront them, as my beliefs were constantly challenged by experiences and people I encountered. For someone who had never traveled outside the United States, this experience led me to perceive my own nation in a different way, and to confront feelings of both pride and shame in my background. While a challenging and shocking change, this has led me to define and strengthen my beliefs and opinions while gaining a new understanding for different perspectives.
...nn Close–US actor (Zaire, Switzerland). How about you? Have you spent influential years in different countries and know other cultures so well, there are aspects you prefer above another? Do you find yourself smiling at the sound of a foreign language? Are your best friends scattered around the globe? If you answered “Yes,” you may be a third culture kid. There are hundreds of thousands of people just like you. Although for third culture kids childhood experiences differ greatly, living in a culture other than their parent’s is a beneficial experience that continues to influence their lives.
Different cultures, or environments make up how people live their lives and how they may act on a daily basis. These cultures are common all throughout the world, even throughout the different places within the United States. Going on my school trip to New York City made me aware of these cultures changes and when are plane landed back in Minnesota I was so thankful to be back to the places and faces I had always been used to.
Mastroianni, Adam J., and Deborah L. Kelly. "Undergraduate Study Abroad Experiences: Changing Attitudes Towards Cultural Diversity And Careers." Insights To A Changing World Journal 2013.4 (2013): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.