An aspect of the U.S. culture that is present in daily life is freedom. The environment in our Rollins Campus fosters a sense of inclusion. Each person may express their uniqueness through fashion, speech, and actions. The U.S. embodies a melting pot where so many of us, are second generation immigrants, and contribute to the diversity of the ever-changing country. It is a unique scenario where people of opposing points of view can participate in an open dialogue of critical issues. I am half French and half Puerto Rican and while I am living in the United States, I feel free to express myself without judgement, notwithstanding my accent and my body language (kissing on both cheeks when I greet). I appreciate being part of a society where my cultural heritage can be expressed without shame. I also value, that as I woman, I have the right to think, act and speak independently. This liberty of expression makes me feel that I am worthy of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. Liberty is a key component to achieving personal and professional goals. This aspect of the American culture makes me feel empowered. A first-time visitor to the United States might be overwhelmed and might think that people are irreverent. It might even shock them to experience how openly people offer their criticism verbally or on social media. Especially, visitors that live in countries where censorship exists, they might think that our society lacks rules, or respect. In some countries, a negative review of a political leader might lead to incarceration.This might cause international visitors to feel awkward expressing their opinions openly at first. In the long term, this newly found sense of expression may prove to be a catharsis and help them discover a new side of themselves. Reflecting on the freedom of expression allows me to be thankful of environment that I have been mentioned in. It also makes me take a step back and want to put aside what is familiar to me. I want to be a clean slate when I arrive in ROME. I do not want to be constantly comparing what I see, with what I left behind. I want to fully experience what I see and what I feel, without looking through an American’s perspective. I want to be neutral, and objective. This will allow me to find joy in unexpected discoveries. I am excited to experience full immersion into another language, another culture, another food, and another people. Travel is a key element in personal growth. This exercise helps me affirm that there is no right and wrong, simply different. I think that the adventures that I will embark upon will help shape my identity, and hopefully give me a wider sense of perspective. I am open to the challenge of adapting to another set of values, which might not necessarily align with my own. This exercise helps me understand that I should not expect things to be as I know them. This new country that I am visiting might have different traditions, that I should embrace them, and try them, even if they feel unnatural.
