A lot of things are perceived as "common sense:" treat your waiter nicely, do not text and drive, clean up after yourself, and many others. However, common sense is not so common. Cultural respect, like the previous actions, are not prevalent among Dartmouth students.
[more]Separation of mind and body is a hallmark of Western culture(s). As a product of a Czech-American household, my own interest in intercultural studies has mimicked this divide. Epistemology has for all my life been relegated to the brain, to intellect. I have thus always interpreted intercultural knowledge, intercultural communication, and intercultural conflict as being purely mental phenomena. Developing intercultural intuition, however, is far more comprehensive. Intercultural intuition is visceral, it is felt.
[more]Prior to RGLP, I considered tolerating ambiguity to be an immense challenge. In my personal life, I naturally distinguish right from wrong without second thought; I oftentimes struggle to find the middle ground in many situations in which I maintain strong opinions.
[more]What does it mean to be multicultural or culturally ambiguous? I represent a particularly easy-to-notice example of this phenomenon, having been born and brought up by liberal westernized parents but in India attending a conservative Indian school. I am a hodgepodge of cultural identities, with an American accent and values, but the American knowledge of a recent immigrant and a conversely strong cultural understanding of the South Asian context.
[more]How does one enter into a constructive dialogue with individuals that come from different cultural and personal backgrounds? Adaptation is often cited as a possible solution, but I feel very strongly about the cultures and beliefs that shape who I am, and, as a way to honor them, I like to express these backgrounds in my interactions with others. Because of this, I sometimes struggle with the idea of adapting.
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