IAS 360

In class yesterday we discussed an interesting point; It is important to remember what your actions mean to a host culture.

This can be explained very easily with an experience I had last week. I have a friend who just moved to the US from Germany. I have been helping driver her around, find an apartment, shop, and fun little things like that. She recently returned home from an LDS mission, and has very high moral standards.

She had been looking at apartment ads and found one that looked appealing; it had a dance studio, was cheap, and in a good location. She asked me to look at the ad. One thing stood out to me-it was shared, meaning with a man and several girls. Now, let me first say, when I lived in Germany, I lived in student housing. In this housing, I shared my apartment with two girls. I had my own room, but we shared our bathroom kitchen and front room. I never did feel odd in the least bit about this. Yet, when I read this ad, I felt odd. At first, I could not quite understand why. I finally did understand though; perhaps coed living in Provo, means something very different than coed living in Germany. This demonstrates that how something completely similar could communicate something totally different in another culture.

Although I don't know what the ad really implied, I was able to communicate this culture difference with my friend, so she could better decide what she wanted.





The new reading came with good timing; this week I have been having a blast making awkward situations. Sounds of Silence is an article which explains why I am soooo good at creating these uncomfortable situations:)

The article details many aspects, including eye contact (again), personal space, facial expressions, and all the sorts. Ironically, for the last week I have been manipulating each of these. For example, when riding the elevator up the SWKT, I have stood on the same half of the elevator as my fellow riders, at church I was winking at the bishopric, and at stop lights I stare with all my heart at the person next to me.

These situations are pretty fun to make, and it is surly encouraging to think that it is helping me to be more culturally aware:)




I just finished reading "The Laws of Looking".

It was a pretty straight forward article which detailed the power our eyes have in communication; including when that communication is cross cultural.

The biggest thing I learned about the article, however, was attitude.

Most of the things in the article I already knew. Yet, they were things which I have not thought about. I had to think that, perhaps, the best preparation I can have for a field study is the ability to quantify. Quantify those things which others might only notice subconsciously, like eye contact, hand motions, or behaviors.

I'll try to start noticing these things before I even leave.




I need to find a new name for my blog:)

last week in IAS 360R we talked about the article, "What Study Abroad Students Don't Learn". It was an alright article, and an outstanding discussion.

The article was a biter critique of study abroad students who are attracted by the prestige and glory of travel, but never really learn anything beyond what they can see in a mirror. Their lessons become a travel log (uh oh...there is my blog name:) of experiences which show how they blazingly conquer or lift a people from their wretched state.

I can definitely understand exactly what the author is describing. I would agree that the majority of study abroad students from the U.S. are infected by this attitude. As I thought of BYU students I know, however, I had to think, in general, BYU is not plagued by this problem-at least not as chronically as the author describes.

During our discussion in class our teacher talked about the attitude we hold when we share such stories. Essentially, why do we share them? What is our motivation? He pointed out that it becomes very easy to develop pride as we share such experiences. This pride can deeply affect why we do our future work, and how we remember our past work.

This is something I will work at. In the mean time...I will think of a more appropriate blog tittle:)




Have you ever read an article, or heard a speech, that you think about over and over?

This weekend I did.

For IAS 360R, my Field Study prep class, I read an article called, "Culture Blends". In many ways, it is a typical article. It discussed cross cultural communication, and it's relationship (or lack thereof) with language. Yet, I could relate literally with so many aspects; it has definitely opened my mind to specific ways I can do better in cross cultural understanding.

Let me tell you specifically how.

When I lived in Germany, I had the opportunity to date an amazing girl, who spoke just as amazing English. In my quest to get to know her better, I was quickly humbled by cultural differences in the concept of a "date" and "dating". In fact, it became a topic we often talked about. Later in the relationship, this same concept continued to occur and reoccur. I have to admit, I was almost relived when I read in the article that the professor used this exact concept with an Austrian as an example of a cultural barrier, as opposed to a language barrier. I learned a lot, however, by the professors unique approach. In the article, the professor used this cultural misunderstanding as a opportunity to learn, whereas I viewed it simply as an obstacle.

Another thing I could literally relate to was the authors multiple examples of a unique African-american culture existing within the English language. I graduated High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. I was often the only white student in my class, and I can tell you, that my cultural adaption into this school was just as real as a cultural adaption I would have made into a school anywhere in the world. Although the same language was spoken, a definite and unique culture existed. My best High School memories are from this time, and I attribute that partly to my appreciation of the inner city culture of Little Rock, Arkansas.

The beginning paragraph of this article speaks about how even experiences can create a unique "personal" culture. This personal culture affects bias, connotations, and attitudes held even inside the same language. I had to think about how true that has been through my university experience. BYU has a reputation for creating a "typical" experience for students. Although extremely positive, anyone who knows my university experience knows it has been far from typical. I can see this difference even when holding superficial conversations with others.

These differences should not cause conflict. Rather, one can see from each of these examples, that these differences are what enable culture. When we embrace this culture, and when we seek to understand it, only then is real communication able to occur despite language.

That is at least what I have been thinking over the weekend.