Good Cultural Interviews Essay Example

Intercultural awareness can be difficult for some, and after interviewing some of the foreign students on the WSU campus, it is clear it is a hurdle we must overcome here, as well. Some students feel ignored, as if American society ignores them, only caring about its own culture. I found stereotypes were often placed on an international student’s shoulders as an invisible burden and, even when they attempted to educate the individual on the realities of their country and culture, it was brushed off. The issue is not the reality of the world, but the openness of American citizens. Here at WSU, we must be more welcoming, and more open to accepting and hearing international citizens and students in an effort to improve their experiences and create a better world for ourselves.
As I interviewed three international individuals, one from Japan, one from Pakistan, and one from South Korea, it was evident there were many things the staff at WSU, and myself as a student could be doing different concerning foreign students. For example, when asked about his first day in the United States and at WSU, Ayumi, stated students specifically were very unkind about his origins. They assumed he was, “just Asian,” and when he told them he was Japanese, some would do impersonations of who he later found out was the character Mr. Myagi from the movie, “Karate Kid.” It made him feel unwelcome. Some people shunned Ali, from Pakistan, on his first day in the United States. He recalled sadly that one man muttered under his breath that he, Ali, must be a terrorist. A student on the WSU campus assumed he was Mexican, and began speaking Spanish to him. It was disorienting for him. Ji-yeong, from South Korea, experienced some of the same issues as Ayumi. Students and citizens assumed she was from different parts of Asia based on her looks. When she stated she was from South Korea, neighbors, and even some students began asked if her family was in forced labor camp, evidently confusing her birthplace with that of North Korea. Clearly, the WSU campus and I could be more welcoming and offer fewer stereotypes to new students upon their arrival.
Each individual had certain things about their native culture and themselves they would rather just be asked by others. The increasing muttering and guessing behind their backs had grown old, and even if the questions were offensive, all three stated it would be easier and quicker to answer an offensive question than to deal with the incessant whispering about their heritage. Ali specifically wished people around him would sometimes ask him about his family or why he was in the country. He was tired of people looking at him as if he was up to something. He also wanted people to ask about political and social conflicts in Pakistan. It made it evident that multicultural lessons were necessary on the WSU campus. We cannot do anything about international students’ neighbors, but we can do something about our campus and how act toward international students. Ayumi, and Ji-yeong, having also been treated within the bounds of racial stereotypes shows just how restricted the knowledge of WSU students has been. Ji-yeong was not please, for example, about answer such intimate questions about her family, but she was happy that people asked about forced labor camps because it gave her an opportunity to educate them on the differences between South Korea and North Korea.
As a campus, we are not being welcoming enough, and we are not being sensitive enough to other cultures. Fortunately, I have never been so insensitive to another person about their culture, but I could still be more welcoming, and offer help to those who are new to this country and the campus. It is necessary to extend a helping hand not only to show that Americans are willing to do so, but also to build bridges and begin opening lines of communications with others. Communication was found to be lacking severely, as I interviewed each student. They were woefully unimpressed with how some students did not appear to care about other cultures other than their own. Ayumi, for example, had learned about American culture in school. He admitted it was not anything like experiencing it for himself, but he had learned about it, and was eager to continue learning about it and other cultures. He expected others to be as open. Some are, but thus far, he has found most Americans to be closed off to learning about the cultures of others. With this information in mind, to improve the experience of international students we could be more open to learning about their cultures. We could ask them questions and show interest in where they come from and who they are, rather than force acculturation on them.
In sum, I learned that myself, the students, and staff of WSU could be more welcoming and open to international students. It was clear American society is one of the most closed off all groups international students have met. Moreover, we stereotype often, and do not listen very well. We are unwelcoming, and often force out views on newcomers. Essentially, international students are expected to learn about our culture without sharing anything of their own. If an American throws out what they think is a witty, stereotypical one-liner that demeans the individuals culture, they expect validation with a laugh, not correction with a history lesson. This must change immediately. It is quite honestly a wonder international students still want to come to America after hearing how Ayumi, Ali, and Ji-yeong were treated based on where they come from. WSU can help change the image of Americans, and American culture by being more culturally sensitive, open, and aware.