Cross-cultural
10/10/2022
South Texas was just one of the destinations for short-term Cross Cultural Experiences in spring 2022.
students share stories from culture-crossing experiences
During 小优传媒鈥檚 fall Cross-Cultural Forums, students shared about the history, hopes and challenges of the people and places in which they immersed themselves during the summer of 2022. Two presentations, featuring different cross-cultural opportunities, were held on Oct. 4, 2022, in Yoder Recital Hall.
Led by Bluffton faculty, summer 2022 domestic experiences took students to Kentucky/Appalachia, South Texas, the Southwest Native Nations and Washington, D.C. Students on international group experiences explored the Czech Republic and Guatemala while one student traveled to South Korea through a directed study advised by Bluffton faculty.
Students completed service work alongside Serving with Appalachian People (SWAP) during the Kentucky experience. They learned about the social and environmental effects of the coal mining industry and were challenged to compare their own lifestyles, values, hopes and dreams with those of the people they met and worked with each day.
鈥淲e brought back memories of the mountains, the music, the art, the culture and all the welcoming people we met in Kentucky,鈥 said Michael Lindhorst 鈥23, a mathematics major.
In South Texas, students experienced the diversity of San Antonio, the seventh largest city in the United States. The experience also included visits to social service facilities and speakers shared about Tejano art, poverty and discrimination.
The Southwest native nations experience included learning about the culture, unique
histories and struggles of native people鈥攕pecifically the Navajo and Hopi people.
The experience also featured visits to several monuments, museums and national parks.
A major component was learning about climate change and the scarcity of water on reservations.
鈥淲e learned that the southwest is a fragile and drought-prone environment. Over time,
natives found different ways to adapt to the climate they鈥檝e inhabited for generations,
such as dry desert farming as an agricultural practice,鈥 explained Darius Boeke 鈥24,
a mathematics major, who shared about the Three Sisters鈥 planting method practiced
by native people.
Students who traveled to Washington, D.C. discovered a city of dramatic contrasts鈥攁 place where staggeringly powerful decision makers work within sight of communities entrenched in poverty. They explored the city鈥檚 rich culture and entertainment while also exploring the realities of racial segregation and economic inequality.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 until you step into a tent city right outside of Union Station, deep in the heart of the city, that you truly understand how big of a problem this is in D.C.,鈥 said Britton Boyle 鈥23, a sport management major. 鈥淚t is heartbreaking to walk by so many people in need, and I think everyone on the trip would agree that this was one of the hardest parts.鈥
Previously part of the Soviet Republic, students who experienced the Czech Republic learned more about the remnants of its socialist past alongside a newer capitalist mentality. Students also experienced getting around using public transportation such as trains, trams and buses.
鈥淚 was hesitant and out of my comfort zone at first, but my host helped me until I was acclimated and confident enough to go out on my own just like a local,鈥 said Searra Hough 鈥23, a nutrition and dietetics major.
In Guatemala, students studied history and culture while living with host families. They also participated in excursions to Lake Atitl谩n, a region surrounded by picturesque volcanoes, as well as Cob谩n, a city on the Cahab贸n River in northern Guatemala.
In South Korea, Elle Price 鈥23, a primary education major, who traveled extensively and experienced locals ranging from the mountains of Jeju Island to Buddhist temples to the Demilitarized Zone.
Summing up the experiences, Edward Hardaway 鈥23, a middle childhood education major, shared this lesson: 鈥淲ith visiting any place, we are challenged to immerse ourselves into the culture and challenge the common norms that we are accustomed to.鈥
Every Bluffton student experiences cross-cultural learning, with many taking part in summer opportunities during the months of May and June. Experiences in summer 2023 will allow students to learn more about Civil Rights history or the Holocaust during bus tours to sites and landmarks. Other experiences include service and cultural experiences in Kentucky and Ecuador and a choir experience in South Korea. Semester-long opportunities are also available with Bluffton students currently studying in Guatemala and Nashville.