As your children prepare for their first big trip abroad, their minds naturally flood with questions: What are the French like? What is it like in Germany? Is Spain at all like the U.S.? When we ask those questions, and when we prepare to travel to a new place, it’s important to dig deep and think about our own home, too. The most successful travelers – and those that gain the most from their adventures abroad – have to be self-aware, in tune with what their own culture is and what their own identity is. It is an important step in developing cross-cultural competency to turn these kinds of questions back on ourselves: What is America like? What is it like to be American? I think we’d all agree that the answer is not simple.
When families sign up to host an international student, they start to examine life a little more closely. Hosts pay attention to and think about the seemingly mundane parts of their day from a different perspective. For many U.S. Americans, things as simple as grocery shopping on Sundays, air conditioning at home and free drink refills at restaurants seem normal and expected. These “everyday” aspects of American life can be exhilarating and entirely new for international students visiting the U.S. They often leave their family stays saying, “American life is not at all what I had imagined!” which of course goes beyond dining out and common conveniences. But, why is it that they find themselves surprised by the America they encounter?
Many of the students traveling to the U.S. only know American life as seen in movies and on TV. The truth is that America is very far from the monoculture depicted in the entertainment industry. Of course we have simplified images of other countries, too, but this kind of simplification can be even more problematic for a country as large as the U.S. and with such a history of multiculturalism. Whether hosting a student or preparing your child for her/his own travels, really think about what it means to say, “I am American.” Maybe you identify more strongly with your region as a Midwesterner, a New Englander or a Southerner. Perhaps you have a strong tie to being a Minnesotan, a Californian or a South Carolinian. Try to imagine how these identities and their images differ. We can connect to new friends in different cultures by using our individual identities as Americans to inform international hosts and visitors of the diversity of our country and culture. In turn, if we use that knowledge to allow ourselves to see the varying cultures and identities within other countries, we become more aware global citizens.
Let us assist in planning your next immersion experience and help make it accessible to all of your students! We have many destination options for Language Immersion programs worldwide. Necessary traveler protections for teachers and students are already integrated into our programs too! Contact us today!