The first assignment that I had to work on entitled “Assignment One: “Adaptation To difference” was an opportunity in which I became more self aware of the growth that I have encountered throughout my life. This maturation is a result of comparing my experiences to some of the theories that are mentioned in the pdf called: “A Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity” by Milton J. Bennett. In this assignment, we were instructed to select a developmental stage in which we might relate most to and explain how our backgrounds align with those ideas. In my piece, I discussed how the stage “Adaptation To Difference” appeared to be the most relevant theory that I have come across again and again in my own life. Another theory I had also used in my writing was the theory called: “Exercise of Power”. Both of the aforementioned schools of thought touch on the notion that playing a role in order to assimilate or adapt to one’s situation is the ideal way one can progress in the culture. Throughout the assignment I referenced circumstances in my life where both these theories have been applied. 1 situation of the experiences that I have recounted takes place in Syria and involves me refusing to adhere to local customs before entering a burial and the other involves me reflecting on this experience and how I would have handled it differently now that I am older.
Overall this assignment has given me more understanding in what has happened in my past life and has given me new perspective in identifying how I reasoned as a little kid versus how I see things now. Having to deal with these social dynamics throughout my life has allowed me to separate the hybrid of each culture I am exposed to and helped me to become a chameleon of sorts. From being exposed to my home’s duo-culture and then being in a foreign country’s society and having to appropriate what I could where I could to fit in, has made me able to relate to others, but few have been able to relate to me. Thus, this assignment has brought me new insight into the complexities of my past and has allowed me to become a more well-rounded person.
The following image represents my transition from being ill equipped at dealing with three different cultures at the same time and then becoming more comfortable with what my background is. While doing this assignment, it was helpful to put to words the different types of stages in my life that I had a hard time articulating and then realizing what it is called. In the assignment I wrote about the adaptation stage and how embassy families are expected to adapt to the foreign culture while still advertising American ideals. On the bottom left hand corner, I drew a picture of myself not understanding how to balance the many cultures I had been exposed to. Each hoop represents a country and as one can see, trying to hula-hoop each country at the same time was a challenge and is represented by one of them falling to the floor. On the right hand side of the picture, I have reconciled with the entanglements of my identity and have learned to accept my multi-cultural background and therefore embrace it.
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