The scores presented reflect my IDI before I studied abroad.
The IDI debriefing helped me to understand that intercultural experiences can be seen through fluid levels of transition. I was given the analogy of thinking of each level as depth in the ocean; at the top reside denial and the seafloor adaption. To get to the bottom requires integration of my personal experience. The semester that I took the IDI was my first semester in the GLP, my first year volunteering as an Exchange PAL, taking globally focused courses such as "Music cultures of the world". At this time, I was preparing to go abroad the following semester. These courses and activities were the first splashes into the water of intercultural awareness.
Following this initial splash, I studied abroad in Peru for a year, where I was immersed in a different culture and language. My concepts of race, time, and history were all challenged. My mindest was, "How can I live like a Peruvian student?; with this, I would eat the same foods, listen o the same music and engage in the same activities as my fellow Peruvian students. Through this journey, I have seen changes in my approach to learning Spanish. Before, it was about "how do I translate my English thoughts into Spanish" to know thinking, "what is the way to express this thought in Spanish." I let go of my preconceived notions of their culture and my own and let the experience be my teacher. This switch in mindset is what the IDI is meant to cultivate "how can I take the knowledge I know and use that to understand others from their perspective."
I understand now that being culturally competent is a skill. Through this workshop, I can continually identify the active steps to be mindful of these transitions in my life. I can already see the awareness taking place through my role as president of the international student association. In our first general body meeting, I saw how easy it is to stay surface level or in the denial stage when relating to culture. I remember each member sharing their affinity for diversity and culture by sharing some of their experiences. With this debrief in mind, I now understand that I have to continually move deep into the abyss of intercultural development. For example, experiences abroad don't automatically make you a culturally competent person. I have to continue to ask myself questions like: How can I get out of my cultural comfort zone while still at home? What are the subcultural groups that are in my community? I want to use my position in ISA to develop programs to help other students ask the right questions. The biggest takeaway from this IDI debrief is that It's easy to think that you are diverse. When you surround yourself with people that look different from you, however, true diversity is when you learn to engage with others different from you while maintaining depth.
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