23 Assimilating into a New Culture
Every student’s success abroad depends on how open they are to personal growth and how well they have researched the host country and prepared themselves for cultural differences.
Have Realistic Expectations
Students are encouraged to take a personal inventory of their expectations. What does a student hope to get out of their IUHPFL experience? Students may want to identify their individual goals—linguistic, academic, and personal. How can these be achieved? How can personal growth during this experience be measured?
Outlining goals now and keeping a journal abroad in the target language will help map both the inner and outer journeys.
Learn About the Host Country
Students are encouraged to learn as much as possible about the host country prior to the program because understanding the history and culture will facilitate their adjustment to living there. Information can be found online and in books or movies.
Consider Perceptions About the U.S.
Before a student can understand another culture, it is important to understand their own. What does it mean to be American? What characteristics, values, and attitudes broadly define American culture? How do our values affect our interactions and relationships with others, our views on family life, our work habits, and our ideas about happiness and success? What are some of our perspectives on tradition, personal freedom, and collective responsibility?
An understanding of what is characteristically “American” will help students to see how Americans can be perceived by other cultures – positively and negatively – and can give students a better chance of appreciating similarities and differences between the U.S. and the host country.
Be Aware of Sensitive Topics
It is important for students to understand that some cultures might not openly address or discuss sensitive issues. Others might be more open to broaching these topics than we are in the U.S. Students should be respectful of others’ views and should follow their instructors’ advice about how to approach and respond to the following topics:
- Politics
- Religion
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Ethnicity and National Identity
- Personal Space and Boundaries
Politics
Some cultures are more open to political discussion and debate than others. In some countries, such topics are not permitted, while in others, American students can find themselves presented with frequent questions about U.S. politics from their host families, friends, and acquaintances.
Furthermore, it is not unusual for people in other countries to know a great deal about the politics and history of the U.S. and to want to discuss these topics with Americans. Keeping abreast of world events and the role of the U.S. on the global stage, from various perspectives, helps students to be more articulate when talking about U.S. policies and foreign affairs.
Although a rare occurrence, should students be confronted with aggressive or uncomfortable questions about their political views, they should be careful not to engage in hostile debate. As much as possible, remain calm and polite and show a willingness to listen to others’ opinions. Encourage an exchange that is respectful or find tactful ways to change the subject or to remove yourself from the interaction.
One useful point to consider and acknowledge when speaking with people from other countries about global politics: There is always more than one side to every issue, and access to complete and unbiased media coverage can be challenging, no matter where we are from. It is okay to say when you have not been following an issue when you do not know the answer to a question or when you simply don’t wish to engage.
Religion
Few countries have the religious diversity and pluralism found in the U.S., and few have such a strong tradition of separation of church and state. As a result, in some host countries, students may be struck by the number of public holidays that are based on a religious calendar or the extent of public prayer and public religious ceremonies in their host countries. In other host countries, students might be perplexed by the complete absence of religious or spiritual expression in the mainstream culture. Students might want to better understand the religious celebrations they see or the role of religion as a political and social force in the host culture. The Instructor Team can be a good resource for questions related to religion and religious practices.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Just as traditional gender roles have been questioned in the U.S., we also have had extensive dialogue regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. It is important to keep in mind that other cultures might approach these topics differently. For more information about sexual orientation and gender identity and how they may be viewed abroad, the bibliography of international LGBTQ issues is available at: http://www.rainbowsig.org/. The site equaldex.com also provides an overview of LGBTQ rights and laws by country.
Ethnicity and National Identity
U.S. citizens sometimes identify strongly with their family’s cultural and ethnic heritage and refer to themselves as Asian-American, Italian–American, African-American or Hispanic-American. In other countries, such labels might not be recognized or understood, and students might be seen as simply American.
In some environments, students might find that their physical features easily distinguish them as a foreigner or outsider, and they might experience stares, comments, or overt prejudice from local residents. Most often, comments are not meant to be harmful or offensive, but in cases where a student feels uncomfortable or unsafe, it is vital that they speak with their instructors right away and get support they need.
Personal Space and Boundaries
Some cultures have very different norms pertaining to personal space and other social behaviors. For example, you might find that your host family members stand closer to you or farther away from you than what feels comfortable. People might also comment on your looks: your height, weight, hair color, ethnicity, etc. In some cultures, strangers might want to touch your hair or have a photo taken with you. Please keep in mind that these behaviors are not typically intended to be harmful or offensive. Nevertheless, they can be unsettling. It is important to discuss these norms with your instructors, so that you know what to expect and how to react in a constructive way.