Dr. Caputo explained today that culture is a lot like an iceberg. Most of what makes “culture” is below the surface. One interesting thing is that food is at the top – meaning the differences in food between one culture and another are easily perceptible to most people. I have a few friends who seem to be ignorant of the fact that just because they patronize Cambodian restaurants doesn’t mean they understand Cambodian culture... but that is beside the fact.
What are below the waterline of this cultural iceberg are things like attitudes, values, beliefs and perceptions. These are the kinds of things that we as Graduate students are here in Cagli to observe and understand. And it’s amazing what characteristics in others and ourselves only emerge—and emerge rather dramatically—when we’re faced with the cultural dissonance that defines full immersion in a culture that is not our own.
Each of us in this program came in at a different place on the
intercultural learning continuum and we have each processed our
experiences here, and in another culture, through our own understanding.
However, more than anything, this experience has highlighted the
significant differences that exist even in the “iceberg” of our own
common “American” culture.
Now it would be easy to assume that differences would lead to further annoyances or misunderstandings within our group, but quite the opposite has been true. I have witnessed that as the extent of our differences is being exposed, our true strength is also being revealed.
Sharing our differences has been critical to helping us understand and appreciate each other and those that we are meeting along the way.The bond we are creating is where strength in diversity is tested and proved. This is where people from all around the country and very different backgrounds—strangers—are suddenly, and truly friends. This is a lesson we can’t be taught by an instructor, and won’t read in a book. We just have to be here. Together.
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