Over the past few months I’ve visited many diverse countries and explored more European cities than I can count on both hands. My fondest memories are not of the beautiful places, but the experiences I’ve shared with so many different people.
Days after my arrival, I gathered with fellow IAU students in the Main Hall for orientation. Unsure of what to expect, we listened to advice from IAU President Carl I. Jubran. He told us to anticipate cultural differences regarding French interactions. He said don’t expect passersby to return your warm smiles or friendly hellos. He added this doesn’t make the French mean. They just have different cultural norms than Americans.
President Jubran presented an analogy to explain what he meant. He said Americans are like peaches – very soft on the outside, but they have extremely hard cores. French are like coconuts – hard as a rock on the outside, but very open once you pass their tough exterior.
I soon found his example held true when interacting with my French family and fellow American students.
INTERACTIONS WITH MY FRENCH FAMILY
It took a while for my host mom to open up to Sarah and me. At first we confined conversation to the dinner table. And even then we, only causally discussed current events and how our day had been. As weeks passed Joelle slowly began to open up about her family history. And during visits her sister also shared joyous and painful stories from their past.
I learned their grandfather was sent to work in Germany during World War II. They told me Germans burned his throat with radiation when he refused to translate for them. I also learned that they grew up in a very poor section of Paris with no running water and a community bathroom. They also shared some stories that made me a little too uncomfortable. Nonetheless, they let me in, past their tough exteriors. And there was no getting out.
Joelle has really grown to be a mother to me. She got Sarah and me through the homesickness, doctor visits and strengthened our French fluency. Speaking the little words I knew gradually turned into full-out conversations at dinner. She told me, “Quand tu es arrivee, tu as parle presque rien. Maitenant, tu es forte! Bravo!” (When you arrived you spoke almost no French, now you are strong.) She made me feel comfortable. She allowed me to open up about my family, my history, my goals and aspirations. She also made me realize I know more French than I thought I did.
INTERACTIONS WITH AMERICAN STUDENTS
My most memorable moments with American students are from my trip to Porto, Portugal, with 5 IAU girls. During late night talks we discussed racial differences, offensive comments and pain caused by family and friends. I learned and shared some very personal experiences. Learning about each other’s histories made us understand our distinctive perspectives and why each person acts and reacts differently.
We all have not had conversations as intimate as those late night talks since we were together in Portugal. I don’t believe any of us have gotten through to another person's core, but getting past our exteriors have helped us understand each other and even the different cultures within our culture a little better. So, I guess we are peaches. But, I’ve learned that not every peach is the same, nor is every coconut.
INTERACTIONS WITH ITALIANS
During the ten days I spent in Italy I noticed that Italians interact similarly to Americans. They too open up to new acquaintances more easily than French people.
I visited one of the oldest souvenir shops in Florence and met a sweet old man. Within minutes he told my friends and I all about his marriage and sex life. He told us his wife died about ten years ago and he misses her very much. He also said he’s currently writing a book about her. He joked, “Italian men are either good lovers or good husbands. I was both.” He said they made love twice a day during the week and three times on Sundays. It was beautiful. He says her parting words were “’Thank you for giving me a good life.’
On the train from Pisa, Italy to Florence I met a middle-aged Sicilian couple. They taught me how to count to ten in Italian. On our hour-long train ride they explained they had been trying to have a baby for years, but Mrs. Mazzagatti’s health problems made it impossible. She said they had travelled back to Pisa for a doctor’s visit, and to their surprise the doctor told them she was healthy enough to conceive. I congratulated them and told them I would keep them in my prayers. They also taught me “Dio e il mio sole,” which means God is my sun.
PERSONAL GROWTH
Dio e il mio sole sums up my journey abroad. I had a dream in my heart and the sun directed my path. This holds true for everyone who traveled from the U.S. to experience different cultures. Regardless of religion, we all have taken a chance that many people in the world will never be able to, and we had faith that it was possible. So many people from so many different racial, cultural, and social backgrounds came together because we all had one dream. We never would have guessed we would learn as much about the world or ourselves as we have.
I’ve learned to use my experience to strengthen others confronting their own struggles. As humans we relate through our joys and pains. It’s how we communicate, how we understand each other, and how we grow as a people.
You never know what the next person has been through or is going through. All the great unique people I’ve met this semester have inspired me to be more empathetic and consider the next person's experience and culture before I judge their actions. I’m grateful I've had the opportunity to meet some really amazing people. I wish the best to everyone.
Who would think a girl raised in poverty would be able to travel throughout the world? Talk about “Started from the Bottom.” This has truly been a humbling and inspiring experience. That being said, I can’t wait to get back to my family friends & loved ones!
Days after my arrival, I gathered with fellow IAU students in the Main Hall for orientation. Unsure of what to expect, we listened to advice from IAU President Carl I. Jubran. He told us to anticipate cultural differences regarding French interactions. He said don’t expect passersby to return your warm smiles or friendly hellos. He added this doesn’t make the French mean. They just have different cultural norms than Americans.
President Jubran presented an analogy to explain what he meant. He said Americans are like peaches – very soft on the outside, but they have extremely hard cores. French are like coconuts – hard as a rock on the outside, but very open once you pass their tough exterior.
I soon found his example held true when interacting with my French family and fellow American students.
INTERACTIONS WITH MY FRENCH FAMILY
It took a while for my host mom to open up to Sarah and me. At first we confined conversation to the dinner table. And even then we, only causally discussed current events and how our day had been. As weeks passed Joelle slowly began to open up about her family history. And during visits her sister also shared joyous and painful stories from their past.
I learned their grandfather was sent to work in Germany during World War II. They told me Germans burned his throat with radiation when he refused to translate for them. I also learned that they grew up in a very poor section of Paris with no running water and a community bathroom. They also shared some stories that made me a little too uncomfortable. Nonetheless, they let me in, past their tough exteriors. And there was no getting out.
Joelle has really grown to be a mother to me. She got Sarah and me through the homesickness, doctor visits and strengthened our French fluency. Speaking the little words I knew gradually turned into full-out conversations at dinner. She told me, “Quand tu es arrivee, tu as parle presque rien. Maitenant, tu es forte! Bravo!” (When you arrived you spoke almost no French, now you are strong.) She made me feel comfortable. She allowed me to open up about my family, my history, my goals and aspirations. She also made me realize I know more French than I thought I did.
INTERACTIONS WITH AMERICAN STUDENTS
My most memorable moments with American students are from my trip to Porto, Portugal, with 5 IAU girls. During late night talks we discussed racial differences, offensive comments and pain caused by family and friends. I learned and shared some very personal experiences. Learning about each other’s histories made us understand our distinctive perspectives and why each person acts and reacts differently.
We all have not had conversations as intimate as those late night talks since we were together in Portugal. I don’t believe any of us have gotten through to another person's core, but getting past our exteriors have helped us understand each other and even the different cultures within our culture a little better. So, I guess we are peaches. But, I’ve learned that not every peach is the same, nor is every coconut.
INTERACTIONS WITH ITALIANS
During the ten days I spent in Italy I noticed that Italians interact similarly to Americans. They too open up to new acquaintances more easily than French people.
I visited one of the oldest souvenir shops in Florence and met a sweet old man. Within minutes he told my friends and I all about his marriage and sex life. He told us his wife died about ten years ago and he misses her very much. He also said he’s currently writing a book about her. He joked, “Italian men are either good lovers or good husbands. I was both.” He said they made love twice a day during the week and three times on Sundays. It was beautiful. He says her parting words were “’Thank you for giving me a good life.’
On the train from Pisa, Italy to Florence I met a middle-aged Sicilian couple. They taught me how to count to ten in Italian. On our hour-long train ride they explained they had been trying to have a baby for years, but Mrs. Mazzagatti’s health problems made it impossible. She said they had travelled back to Pisa for a doctor’s visit, and to their surprise the doctor told them she was healthy enough to conceive. I congratulated them and told them I would keep them in my prayers. They also taught me “Dio e il mio sole,” which means God is my sun.
PERSONAL GROWTH
Dio e il mio sole sums up my journey abroad. I had a dream in my heart and the sun directed my path. This holds true for everyone who traveled from the U.S. to experience different cultures. Regardless of religion, we all have taken a chance that many people in the world will never be able to, and we had faith that it was possible. So many people from so many different racial, cultural, and social backgrounds came together because we all had one dream. We never would have guessed we would learn as much about the world or ourselves as we have.
I’ve learned to use my experience to strengthen others confronting their own struggles. As humans we relate through our joys and pains. It’s how we communicate, how we understand each other, and how we grow as a people.
You never know what the next person has been through or is going through. All the great unique people I’ve met this semester have inspired me to be more empathetic and consider the next person's experience and culture before I judge their actions. I’m grateful I've had the opportunity to meet some really amazing people. I wish the best to everyone.
Who would think a girl raised in poverty would be able to travel throughout the world? Talk about “Started from the Bottom.” This has truly been a humbling and inspiring experience. That being said, I can’t wait to get back to my family friends & loved ones!