In reflecting upon the discussions we’ve had in class up until this point, and the readings we’ve been required to do, I’ve come to the realization that acquiring global competency is much more complex than mere submergence in a cultural environment significantly different than one’s own. Intercultural communication requires an in-depth understanding of what is “beneath the surface” of the societal conditioning that the person with which you are interacting has been continuously subjected to, and refusing to not only acknowledge, but respect, the differences with that of your own is likely to lead to a failure to have the “transformative” experience often equated to time spent abroad. Although I don’t find such an expectation necessary, or by any means realistic, for every student, I do believe that it’s important to go into any situation with the mindset that what you allow yourself to experience can help you to grow as a person, and not doing whatever you can to make that happen would be to waste an opportunity, much like I did.