It's a small world after all

Worldliness and Worldview

The author continues on her journey to find out what international students think of Americans.  There is a general consensus that international students feel that American's are unaware and uneducated of the other countries.  When American's are asked where countries are located, or about world history, and current news, many are unable to answer properly, if at all.  

The closing paragraph to this chapter:

"American college culture is a world of engagement, choice, individualism, and independence, but it is also one of cross-cultural ignorance and self-delusion that cries out for remediation.  It was a Somali student who summed up all of their hopes for "America": "You have so much here, and so many opportunities.  I wish America would ask more what this country can do to make the world a better place."

This takes me back to the 60s to the famous J.F.K. speech of "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country".  

Maybe this began a culture of doing for America, and not worrying so much about other countries, unless if it benefits us??

As Other See Us

Rebekah's next focus is on how international students view American's and our university system.  I was a little disappointed to read their reviews.

American Relationships & Hospitality
"Here everyone minds their own business.  They're not that hospitable.  Like if someone from the U.S. came to the UAE, people would take them out to eat and ask questions.  It would be a long time before they paid for their own meal" (p.70).  Another student commented that their car mechanic was more interested in their life than other students were.  This makes me feel uneasy, and saddened that these students travel here to learn about our culture, and we can't even take the time to notice them.
Another theme that international students noticed was that our students go out on their much earlier in life.  In many other countries, students remain living at home or near their families. Families are much closer. In American dorms, family photos are rarely seen.  Here in America, we do not include our families in our social activities like other countries.  Instead, we party it up when parents leave town.  And we rarely introduce our friends to our families.  In other countries, friends become family.  When hosting a party, parents remain home and enjoy the festivities.  If friends swing by, and their friend is not home, they stay and visit with the parents.
What I gathered was that in many other countries, friends were closer, spent more time together, and included their families.  That seems like a happy place to be, a little less ego-centric.

Classroom Life
Oh, another disappointment.  To others, we don't take school seriously, and we don't hardly work for our grades.  A Japanese student laughs when she sees how our "students come to class: shorts, flip-flops...torn T-shirts.  Some students come to class in pajamas!" (p.78).  Many international students noted how disrespectful our students are.  They couldn't believe how we interrupt our professors, walk out in the middle of class, eat, and sleep in class.  And, on the flip side, our professors are here to help (which they loved), but they weren't so fond of the fact that some professors were more like entertainers, and that they had to evaluate them at the end of the term.
Academically, international students agree that our classes are much easier.  We have a syllabus, which lays our the entire class and the professors expectations.  We have mini-tests (quizzes), which some professors tell you what to study.  And, multiple choice exams.  In other countries, students are not informed of the expectations.  Many times, they attend lecture, learn ALL of the material within lecture and textbooks, and are given 1-2 exams.  These exams consist of questions and a blank piece of paper.  Students are expected to know and recall everything.  We don't study as hard or work as hard, some students don't even do the assignments.  International students are confused by our academic ability.  We complain about the time commitment classes take, but yet, many International students here constant chatter about parties and social engagements.  What does this say about Americans?

Part Two

Another interesting event that took place in the dorms was the beginning of the semester Community Living Agreement meeting with the RA.  7 people showed up for the meeting, and one left immediately because it was her Birthday and she was too drunk.  Many of the rules applied to shower etiquette, and nothing much in way of a better community.  And there wasn't any rules to create a better community agreement or a way to hold anyone accountable. The rules included (p.51):

• Keep hair off the shower walls
• Keep doors open while you're chillin'
• Sleepovers and parties on the hall are cool
• Yell "flushing" if there's someone in the shower
• no writing on the bathroom stall walls
• Say "hi" to people to be friendly

As the semester went on, Rebekah never once heard anyone yell "flushing", or seen any hall parties.  She then goes on to talk about how different the layouts of dorms are becoming.  In the past, dorms used to be about community and sharing.  now, new dorms are being built so that only 4 people are sharing a space with many more amenities than before.  Everything seems to be going from community based, to individual based.  One of her greatest surprises was on Super Bowl Sunday.  There were posters everywhere in the hall announcing a big party in the lounge, and they even brought in 2 big screens.  But when the day came, only herself and one other person could be found in the lounge.  When she walked the halls, she noticed that many people were watching the game in their own rooms, alone.  What happened to social interaction??

AnyU's Real Community: The Ego-Centered Network

It seems that many students have lost touch with what community really means.  When Rebekah questioned a few students if they felt they had community, they answered yes.  But, what they meant by this was that they have a close group of friends and social networks.  This was evident by the many cell phone conversations one could here while walking to and from class.  And, when watching the roads near campus, you could tell when classes let out.  She always wondered why there was so much traffic on campus, when the students could only park in the lot near their dorm.  But, every day, when classes let out, there was an increase in traffic.  The reason?  There were personal relationships formed for dropping and picking up passengers.  Incredible.  Others taking time out of their day to pick you up so you don't have to walk.  

Who Eats with Whom: A Study of Student Dining

Another big shocker, many students don't eat in the dining hall, they go to their rooms to eat alone, or meet a friend outside.  She found that of the students who did stay in the dining hall, there was little if any diversity.  The results were complicated, so I'll let you read the book to find out more.  Basically, it was rare to find a table of color with only one white-person.  But, there were many tables of white students, and one person of color. 

Community and Diversity

Part One

I apologize for falling off of the wagon last week.  I can list a million reasons why, but there's really no excuse.  So, here I am tonight, pondering questions from the next chapter.

As I began to read Chapter 3, I thought to myself, "What is community?", "Did I feel a sense of community when I was in the dorms?"  The author writes about her experience of the first week of college life, and the efforts the university and staff are putting forth to create this community.  During Welcome Week, a PowerPoint presentation was played to outline historical events beginning with the year many of the Freshman were born and continues through the next 18 years to bring them to present.  Everyone left the presentation with a brief sense of community, since they were introduced to something that they all shared: age.

But, once classes begin, what happens to this commonality?  There used to be a Freshman Seminar class (she was the last class it was offered to), to bring Freshmen together, to unite, to find common ground.  The class was cancelled because students reported negatively about it.  They didn't like that they "had" to do it.  They wanted free choice of what classes they took, so it was replaced with an elective.

RA's made great effort to bring their floor "together".  They would take surveys on what activities the tenants wanted.  75% on Rebekah's floor wanted Movie Night twice a month.  When they date came around, only 3 people showed.  When the second date rolled around, no one showed.  When questioned about it later, they said they wanted to go, but just didn't, or they forgot.  It seems everyone wants to have options, but no one takes advantage of these options properly.  Lack of accountability, in my opinion.


The American Way: The Individualism in Community
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about college and community??  Sororities and Fraternities!  Even these popular social communities are diminishing.  Fewer than 10% of AnyU residents are members of either.  When the author questioned students whether or not they would join, here are the responses she was given: (p. 47)

• They complained about "conformity" and "control of my life"
• You become lost, it's hard to know all ninety girls in a sorority. You become the same rather than an individual in a group.  It can get almost cult-like, and you spend all your time there.  You can't live in other dorms or meet new people
• It demands too much time
• I can make friends for free

I can't help but wonder what is happening to our society.  With so many options, and low accountability, will our future be able to make decisions and stick with them?  What happened to drive and motivation?  It seems that everyone is "scatter-brained" and just wants to be the only individual person on Earth.  

Something else to sleep on: 

"Does technology bring you closer to or farther away from other people - does it separate or connect?" (p. 43).