This course has enabled me to take the knowledge I have and use it to re-contextualize the various cultures I’ve experienced, particularly the US and Denmark. It feels like I’ve been able to re-organize the experiences I had into new categories, such as things that represent how Denmark is less individualistic than the US, or […]
Read MoreThis week’s reading made me think back on my time in Denmark, and the ways in which I had to adjust my own communication and body language to better fit the culture. Our program specifically told us to avoid some “American giveaways” such as wearing a huge backpack, or carrying a water bottle on the […]
Read MoreWhile in Denmark, I learned that people abroad view Americans as being “fake friendly” and too self-conceited. Hearing these stereotypes for the first time surprised me because I hadn’t at all thought about them before. If anything, I assumed Americans were seen as rude. The “fake friendliness” seems to come largely from language. They found […]
Read MoreSince first discussing the topic 3 weeks ago, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of high and low context cultures. While of course it is a spectrum, it seems to be such an informative and useful descriptor of a culture that could positively facilitate intercultural experiences. As I said in my first post, one must […]
Read MoreI read both articles from the perspective of somebody who has studied abroad, and as an employee of the Study Abroad Office and therefore somebody who interacts quite extensively with study abroad program providers. My ultimate reaction to both articles is “Is all of this really necessary?”. Before reading Vande Berg, I was unaware of the […]
Read MoreThe introduction exercises during the first class emphasized that one’s behavior changes based on the context (culture) in which they find themself. For example, during my time in Denmark I would often introduce myself using only my name, and by that point they could hear I am American and would ask where I’m from, why I’m in […]
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