VIJ Excursion

On Tuesday, July 23, a group of INEMA students and another University of Richmond student and I went to visit the VIJ association. The VIJ association is a place that helps immigrants and refugees who come to Stuttgart integrate into society in many different ways. The INEMA tour guides acted very differently than a student tour guide would have acted in America and I think that was a big indicator in cultural differences. She picked up her friend along the way at the main train station to bring with us to VIJ, which in America would be considered inappropriate and unprofessional, but here it was appeared to be normal. Once we started walking to find Tom, who was the head coordinator of the events for the VIJ, the tour guide and her friend became distracted and lost and led us in the wrong direction for a ways. About 15 minutes later they then realized they had passed our meeting point and the place where Tom was.

Once we met Tom the tables turned because he knew where he was going and was very friendly, passionate about his work, and enjoyable to converse with. The only challenge was the lack of AC in the VIJ building, which was half hostel half event rooms and offices – not something you really see in America. When we sat down to discuss with Tom his work he described how he mainly handled the events that were held it Stuttgart to help immigrants and refugees to integrate them and raise awareness for the VIJ. After discussing this we were free to ask questions if we had any and something I found interesting was two of the INEMA students criticized his work rather than complimented him and the good he was doing for society. So far I am starting to notice many cultural differences and barriers between the University of Richmond students and the INEMA students. Not saying that it is a bad thing or unexpected but something I have never experienced before especially with so many different countries in one place.