Final entry

Topic 10 Lessons Learned

4/21/2024

 What have been the most impactful lessons that you have learned in this class and in this semester? In what ways have your thoughts and understanding of culture developed? Take time to write “where you were” and “where you are now.” Be specific and detailed about your experiences and what activities impacted you the most.

Last year, I embarked on my very first journey abroad to continue my education. Doing this in a foreign land offers a unique window into the soul of its culture. Of course, it was not a smooth process because there were a lot of cultural shocks; I couldn’t comprehend how people act here, and it was very difficult to even make friends but my decision to take the LLC 135 All About America class after meeting with Leslie this year has been one of the best choices I’ve made so far in this journey. LLC 135 All About America has not merely been a course; it has been an expedition into understanding the “why” behind the “what” of American behavior and societal norms. This class has helped transform my perceptions, teaching me not to see just with my eyes but with an informed mind therefore fostering my intercultural competence to operate effectively and empathetically in a multi-cultural environment.

From the onset, this class challenged me to look beyond the surface elements of American culture such as language, and food, to grasp the foundational cultural values and attitudes that guide everyday life in the US. For example, the course teachings about Althen, the American Ways, has enriched my understanding by detailing the cultural norms and values (Althen and Bennett, 2011). Althen emphasizes values such as equality, which is fundamental in American ethics and is reflected in social, legal, and political systems. Students calling their professors by their first name was one of my cultural shocks. At first, I didn’t understand why but the readings and the class lectures have helped me understand equality value in America. Understanding this has helped me appreciate why Americans place a great emphasis on equal opportunities, a concept that permeates various aspects of life from education to the workplace. Understanding these cultural values and attitudes will forever continue to help me demystify behaviors that initially seemed inexplicably.

To continue, one of the most enlightening aspects of the class was the daily journal entries. This is because the daily entries have made me reflect on myself, America, and my country Ghana. Each of the entries has made me reflect on the cultural and societal connections and contradictions between America and Ghana, which I had never thought about or even knew in the first place. For example, Hofstede’s cultural dimension on individualism versus collectiveness has helped me understand the strong emphasis on personal freedom and self-reliance prevalent in American society (Hofstede, 2011). This dimension was particularly enlightening, contrasting sharply with the more collectivist orientation of my home country, where community and familial ties hold important sway over personal choices. Whenever I go out of my room and just stare around, I see the difference in culture, and this is because of how everyone here is just busy doing their own thing as well as personal freedom which is different from my country Ghana. It just feels different. By continuously comparing my own cultural background with the American ways through these journal entries, I learned a great deal about myself; my bias, assumptions, and how my culture shapes my worldview.

To conclude, the activities in this class not only broadened my understanding of cultural differences but also equipped me with the tools to empathetically engage with them. Learning about these cultural dimensions, and values has enabled me to navigate social interactions more effectively, ensuring that I respect and appreciate the diversity of perspectives that I encounter. Also, activities such as daffodil festivals, and in-class group activities have made me bond with people in class and some of them are going to be my forever friends. Thanks to this class I have been able to gain knowledge of the American culture as well as make life-long friends, making my study abroad not just memorable but truly enlightening. I have attached pictures of some of the outdoor activities we did as a class, and the friends I made through this class.