Most students that attend TCIS have lived in more than one country, or have encountered another culture by making friends from different ethnic backgrounds. I myself had the fortunate opportunity to travel to different countries and experience other cultures beside Korean. Personally, I feel that having the opportunity to go to different countries and going to schools in various parts of the world, as well as coming to TCIS has been a blessing given by God. Without God’s meticulous planning for me as an individual, I would never have been able to be confronted by cultures other than Korean.
Going to schools in the States, Canada, and Korea has been somewhat intimidating at first, but as I gained experience, I learned to always have an open mind. Almost three years ago, I was in Canada, about to experience my first day of school in an unfamiliar country. The youngest daughter of a friend of my dad’s was also going to the same middle school I was to go, so on the first day, the two of us walked and entered through the front gates of the school together. The two of us talked about every subject that one could possibly talk about except about what our first day was going to be like.
Although I had attended American school, I felt that this time, it would be different because this was middle school. Once my friend and I separated and went to our own classrooms, I was beginning to feel a bit more nervous. However, I was not the only new student to the school, and I was quickly able to make friends with a new girl from India. Later, I discovered there were students from India, USA, Japan, China, and Russia. Evidently, they came from different countries and different cultural backgrounds that I was unfamiliar with. However, the girl from India and I, we became tight friends as we learned about each other. Besides her, I found that having an open mindset helps accepting the circumstances as they are and be able to avoid discrimination.As time went on, I realized again and again how vital having the ability to have an open mind-set. Without broadening one’s viewpoint on cultures, he or she will not be able to comprehend another person coming from another cultural background. For example, one of my friends celebrated Hanukkah. Although as a Christian, I had felt strange that my friend celebrated Hanukkah, it was still genuinely fascinating to hear about a holiday celebrated in a different culture. Therefore, I feel that an open-mind is essential for interaction between people who come from different cultural backgrounds.
http://brotherpeacemaker.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/open-door.jpg
2 comments:
Lucia,
I celebrated the Jewish Seder, which is the Jewish passover dinner, two years ago at a friends house. They are not Jewish, but they celebrate this Jewish holiday before Easter Sunday because for Christians it holds prophetic implications of the Christ coming. Basically, Christians believe that Christ fulfilled what the Seder is celebrating. It was very interesting to experience this Jewish traditional meal. Experiencing other cultures traditions is so interesting. I still have strong memories of going to the temple on the mountain near my house in Seoul on Buddha's birthday and seeing the lights and the event. Keep that open mind!
You have such interesting cultural experiences. Keep sharing these interesting stories.Mrs.Mc.
Post a Comment