When considering American culture, the most prominent aspect that we, as US citizens, hold dear is our reliance on individualism. What I find most noteworthy is the fact that this manifests in various ways in our society. The two most prominent examples that come to mind are our desire for independence and self-sufficiency in various…
Category: SIT Study Abroad
FINAL BLOG POST
My family is originally from Mexico therefore I have visited Mexico various times. But like every country given that there are different regions, it is most likely that they will each have slight differences whether it be the food, clothing, traditions or weather. For me Oaxaca was a completely new state that I had never…
Last Blog Post – Back to the USA
As I reflect on my time spent in Mexico, one of the most impactful differences I felt living in a small city was the friendliness I experienced daily. Wherever you go, it is appropriate to recognize the existence of others around by greeting them with a hello, good morning, good afternoon or good night, regardless…
Reflections on South Africa
I had been in South Africa for over a month at this point, traveling from Cape Town to Johannesburg and back, and had just moved into my homestay in the Bo Kaap area of Cape Town the past week. In this new location I felt a greater sense of independence, which allowed me to freely…
Final Blog Post
Because I was in Australia, which is quite similar to the United States, I did not have too many experiences with cultural confrontation. The most significant cultural experience I had was when my program spent five days camping in the bush with Aboriginal leaders. We learned how to many things such as make jewelry from…
BLOG POST #2
So far my experience here has been magnificent though there are a few things that because I’m used to a different lifestyle is a bit difficult here, but it’s something that is more of a personal preference rather than something that Is not available here. I am someone that very much appreciates independence and having…
Cultural Confrontation in Australia
In general, I have not experienced much cultural confrontation here in Australia because it is quite similar to the United States. There are a few small things that have taken some time to get used to however. First, cars on the opposite side of the road was offsetting in the start of my study abroad….
SIT South Africa Blog Post #1
One aspect of American identity that I find uniquely interesting are the core concepts of individualism and personal autonomy. The ideology of individual responsibility in the United States has been utilized as a tool which continues to influence the country’s political landscape. Individualism in written into the nation’s bedrock with lines like “the land of…
Pre-Departure Blog
One cultural aspect of the United States is the relentless strive for success. The way that our country is designed supports individuals to create any kind of business and supports education in order to pursue your passion. Of course, money is an obvious factor for hard work, but also there is an intersection between working…
First Blog post #1
The most common aspect of U.S. culture is our independent mindsets. Not only this but just how much freedom we are given within the country can allow us to feel independent of our own choices as well. By this independent mindset, I refer that in contrast to other countries where they value family and collectivity,…