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.
[more]Adaptability, to me, means adjusting to new environments and situations while still keeping true to the essence of the self. For a cultural context, I thought of the My Thai Vegan Cafe we went to in Boston. In my culture, veganism and vegetarianism is looked at as a burden and as the person choosing to be difficult. Hungarian cuisine has meat in most dishes and preparing food in an altered way can be read as a burden or as non-traditional to the culture.
[more]Being adaptable means being able to accommodate new situations. Adaptability is especially important in cultural contexts, where oftentimes people are exposed to values and practices that differ from their own. Some may go into a cultural interaction with little knowledge while others possess extensive knowledge, but, in either case, it is necessary to take into account that not everything will always go as expected.
[more]Back in high school, I barely had any opportunities to have diverse experiences. I went to a school that was 93% white, which was a clearly limited environment to learn about other people's experiences. Sure, we were an interesting town, juxtaposing city landscapes and farming communities. But, honestly there is little you can do to escape that overwhelming whiteness.
[more]Growing up, I have been fortunate enough to have a family that has practiced Native American culture and values. Because of this, specific values and practices are engrained in my daily life. I haven't had to worry about practicing my culture and spirituality at Dartmouth because of the friend groups and community that supports me. I feel comfortable enough to express that part of me.
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