Assignment 5 Takeaway

Assignment 5 mostly taught me a lot about breaking down stereotypes, particularly between the social aspects of American, German, and Italian cultures. Even though Italians are known for being far more touchy-feely than Americans, studies have found that the differences in interactions between the two cultures are not significantly different. The differences mostly lie between gender differences which I believe can be traced back to what cultures teach about gender roles and what is appropriate behavior for men and women. As I continue to travel and learn more about Italy, the cultural differences become blurred. On our trip to Milan this month, we attended a concert where everyone seemed connected by the music. Italy is a beautiful, beautiful place.

Assignment Two Takeaway

No matter what topic I picked out of the list of American values, each one provides a lesson in what Americans are raised to be. I picked the fact that Americans always want to stay busy. We value hard work above most anything else. On one hand, it can be a burden. Taking a break to relax can leave me feeling guilty and vacations that aren’t structured and jam-packed with activity are often seen as a waste. However, I appreciate this quality in myself. It pushes me to achieve. No matter what I am working towards, I can feel honorable if I am trying my best and giving it my all. With all  of the problems that seems to be constantly multiplying, it can be hard to be proud to be an American these days. With this assignment, I learned that the core of American values are positive and strong. That is what I focus on today–the positives of being an American.

Assignment One Takeaway

I liked this assignment because reading Dr. Bennet’s categories and information helped me to understand where I am in my development of Intercultural Sensitivity. I know that I am in the category of Acceptance of Difference and what I should be working on to better my understanding and the way I interact with those of a different culture. I even have a better understand of myself as I experience my new home and its culture in Italy. In the present and future, I will be working towards better relating to the differences in culture. On my travels to Venice and Milan in the next couple of months, I plan to learn more about the country and be more comfortable in my surrounding than I was in Rome two months ago.