Cross-Cultural Adaptation, A Nonymous Work In Progress
Page 62: Cross-cultural Adaptation
For a time in my life I studied at The George Washington University – my transcript indicates that this happened for two and a half years. Presently, however, road signs and Japanese tourists place me at The University of Cambridge. I must be in England because all of the colors look different – they are now colours.
This is an example of cultural exchange; I am well-prepared thanks to a booklet I was given entitled: “GW Study Abroad: Predeparture Orientation Handbook” – it tells me that I am on the third ethnocentric stage of intercultural sensitivity.
Yes, I am quite sure that I am in England, all the telltale clues point to it: most of the people around me speak like the people who identify themselves as British in films that I have seen; my passport has a stamp that says that I have entered England, and there is no stamp to suggest that I have legally left; many of the buildings I walk past indicate that they are located in Cambridge, which my map tells me is in England; finally, my reading lists seem to be predominantly filled with British philosophers.
It is good that I know these things so that when I am asked about how Britain is different from America I can give pleasing answers. My “GW Study Abroad: Predeparture Orientation Handbook” tells me that I will be asked this question frequently, and should prepare accordingly – I have purchased an England 2008 guidebook, with a foldout map, for this very purpose.
Someone has gouged words into the wall: “There is no typical college experience. There are only college experiences.”
I will cover it with a sheet of white paper. That’s what we did at GW.
The above was submitted anonymously
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
That’s an excellent piece of writing. To the author - well done.