Regional Spotlights Two Cultures, One Program by Victoria Davenport Tacos and Plantains? Mariachis and Salsa? Desert and Beach? Aztecs and Tainos? Mexico and Puerto Rico? What do these things seemingly have in common? They are both Latin cultures in which I have lived and worked during my GOLD Program experience. Having the opportunity to live and work in a foreign country is an amazing opportunity to learn more about others. But what does “getting to know” another culture really mean? It is made up of the three following items: - Superficial : Learning others’ traditions, foods, and leisure activities. - Philosophical : Understanding others’ social, political, and religious views. - Self-Reflective : Discovering your own values. Not only does one have the chance to experience new and exciting things when in a foreign culture, but also one understands himself/herself better and his/her place in the world. That is something that one cannot read in a book or see in a movie.
This goes to say that not just because one arrives to a foreign culture, one will automatically experience the superficial, philosophical, and self-reflective learning. In order to learn the most, one must go through a cycle. It starts with fascination. When one recently arrives to a foreign culture, everything is new, novel, and interesting. One soaks up the new experiences like a sponge. After that stage, one is more familiar with how things work, but now many aspects of the culture are frustrating or even annoying. After one can pass through that stage, the learning really begins. Only then can one really open his/her mind to see, hear, and experience all the things that the new culture has to offer. Thanks to the GOLD Program I have had the opportunity to eat both tacos and plantains, listen to both mariachi and salsa music, visit both the beach and the desert, and see artifacts from both the ancient Aztec and Taino cultures. That is something that will not be forgotten!!
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