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RGLP Recap: Intercultural Developmental Inventory Session (2)

This is a session recap of the Rockefeller Global Leadership Program (RGLP) from a participant's perspective.

Today’s session was illuminating, as I had never actually named or discussed different pacing styles. Reflecting on my own interactions, I realized I tend to pause in formal or academic environments, overlap with close friends and take turns in casual environments with acquaintances. Discussing Donald Trump also made me realize that my strong political beliefs can change me into an overlapper very quickly as well. Lastly, I realized that speaking to someone with a very different style can definitely come across as very rude, or that I can feel as if I am being ignored. This made me think of many classes here at Dartmouth that have a participation component and often reward the people who talk the most, although their ideas may not be as well developed or substantial. I think he different communication styles we discussed today should be studied and recognized in academics, as well as in the business field.

Amy Newcomb, Program Officer at the Dickey Center for International Understanding describes intercultural development. Photo by Sally Kim '16.

The International Developmental Continuum was also very interesting and revealing. After recent experiences traveling to the Dominican Republic and Argentina, I realized I have felt denial, polarization, both reversal and defense, and minimization, and would like to think I am now at the acceptance stage. My friends will tell you that I am in love with Buenos Aires, and talk about it with a romanticism that parallels that of the hypothetical example of Suzanna we discussed.

The Dominican Republic on the other hand was a bit harder for me as I found it difficult to adjust to the constant cat-calling, tropical climate and emphasis on Christianity. While I experienced unexpected generosity, like some stopping the public bus on the street to hand me a fresh mango for no reason at all besides kindness, I also experienced constant efforts to charge me as exorbitant a price as they thought I would pay. However, I left the beautiful country with impressions of the kindness of the people, although I do not think of my experience with the same romanticism as I did in Argentina. It helped to see that others have also had these experiences, and although we recognize the existence and influence of cultural differences, we all share a sense of loss when it comes to bridging or overcoming them. For that, I am excited to continue in the program and find out my own IDI results in order to begin the journey of reflection and progress.


-Written by Silvia Arora ’16, Fall 2015 RGLP participant

This ongoing series explores sessions of the Rockefeller Global Leadership Program (RGLP) through participant narratives. RGLP engages Dartmouth students who have demonstrated leadership skills and would like to extend these skills on a globally conscious level. In this program, students focus on and further develop international leadership competencies, which have become increasingly crucial in corporate, public and non-profit sectors today.