English

Culture Shock

by Sr. Chubb

Culture Shock is a documented phenomenon. According to Kalervo Oberg, it is an experience a person may have when one moves to a cultural environment which is different from one's own.

I have lived in two continents, three countries, nine cities, and fourteen homes, but in this article I am not going to lecture you on the theoretical aspects of culture shock. Instead, I am going to share three, hopefully funny episodes I have had in the US related to culture shock.

Four-way STOP Signs at Intersections.

First time driving in the US and I reach an intersection. I have a STOP sign and so does the driver in the opposite lane. OK, everything’s normal. To my surprise, the person to my right also has a STOP sign and so does the person on my left. Now what? Panic! Who goes first? Everybody is stopped and looking at each other. Who is going to go? Is this a courtesy competition? Eventually I figure it out and continue driving not without internally criticizing the STOP system and thinking about how different things are back in Spain. 6 years later, I have yet to see a collision at a four STOP intersection. Something must be working!

Double Doors

I arrive in the US in August. It’s a typical summer day in vibrant Fort Washington. It’s hot and humid. I am so excited about my new house. I love how close the woods and the Wissahickon Creek are! I jump into my car and drive to Giant. I need tomatoes to make gazpacho. I get back to the house and get out of the car with my hands full of bags. You know the feeling of the plastic bags almost ripping through your fingers, right? Yes, the typical situation where, once you let go of the bags, you have a white mark because of the lack of blood flow.

Anyway…I open the first door which automatically slams on my back, trapping the bags outside. I am sweating because of the heat and now my body starts itching because of the frustration. I open the main door. Now the bags are outside, I’m in between the main and double door. I can feel the fresh AC inside. I’m almost in! I push the double door open and in a split second, I manage to pull in the bags. One more step and I´m in! I turn around, proceed to enter the house and this shooting pain goes through the back of my foot. Yes, the double door has slammed against my Achilles tendon. The walking motion helps create a huge wound all the way down to my heel. And yes, it’s summer. I was wearing flip flops. SMH. “These bloody double doors!” I say to myself… These don’t exist in Spain. What’s the point? Definitely a shock!

Business = Food

Again, my first week in Fort Washington. Mr. Schellhas schedules a meeting with other novel international teachers. We meet in the US Conference Room, next to Dr. MacKean´s office. It’s an informal meeting for us to get acquainted. There is food. I´m not sure what to do. Are we supposed to eat while we discuss business? This would be unacceptable in Spain! I take a passive stance. I observe. I wait… Food looks delicious. I am hungry. I can´t fight my instincts. I am mentally savoring the Caesar salad, hoagies and cookies. The rest of the party serve themselves. I want to do the same, but at that point I can picture my grandmother and mother giving me the death look, like when I was a kid and made the first move at the table on Christmas Day. My instinct tells me not to eat, but the rest have started. Screw it, I´m not 10 anymore. I´m 36. Mom and grandma are in Spain… I´m going in What is totally normal in the US, would be unacceptable in Spain. I guess living in different places is enriching!

Bonus Track: Hoagies

Why don’t they open the whole roll of bread? After the first two bites where the good stuff is, I only have access to bread! Why don’t they slice the roll in half so you can evenly distribute the goodness and have full bites every time? Why are they called hoagies and not sandwiches?

Reverse culture shock

I am thrilled because after a full year and a half in the US, I am going home to visit my friends and my family. I pass out on the flight and wake up only to see Madrid in the horizon. Twenty more minutes and I’ll be at the Motherland! I am so excited. I want to eat Spanish food, speak Spanish, interact with Spaniards. I deboard the plane and get nudged by another passenger. I walk down the ramp towards the terminal and again, get pushed. I reach the metro station to go to the main train station and there are no lines. Everybody rushes in. They don´t let people out of the train first. It’s chaos! Sigh. I miss America!

If you are curious about more culture shock episodes, feel free to stop by my classroom, U323, to learn about some peculiar situations I have faced in the US:

● Tips ● Walking on grass ● Twerking ● Heating and AC ● Baseball ● Guns ● Sriracha/Chipotle/Jalapeño/ Cinnamon flavours ● Drive throughs ● CNN/Fox – Fox/CNN ● Remove shoes in a house ● Soft drinks ● Faking British accent ● Law Enforcement 14

J’aime le Québec

by Riya Palkar ‘22

GA is a land of many opportunities, and I’ve cherished the trips and experiences I’ve gotten to go on throughout my time here. Whether it be Williamsburg in 7th grade, or DC in 8th, I’ve made memories during each one, but the one that sticks with me the most is the Quebec trip in winter of 7th grade.

I always knew I wanted to take French in middle school, and I was confident that I was going to love it. When I first started in 6th grade, I was correct about my love for the language, but I hadn’t gotten a sense of Francophone culture yet, and going to Quebec gave me an opportunity to explore it. Eating delicious poutine, exploring ice sculptures during Winter Carnival, and sledding down giant ice slides were some incredible highlights of the trip, and I still remember these moments like they were yesterday. Quebec was also the perfect place to practice the French language with others. Even though my friends and I were trying to speak to the natives in our broken French, we had a blast getting to know a different culture and country, and found that it’s better to step outside your comfort zone when learning something new. Since Quebec is a province in which the locals speak very good French as well as English, it was very easy for us to communicate because even if we weren’t fluent in French, we could switch back to English without fear.

This trip was a true highlight of my time at GA, and along with learning about a new culture, I made many new friends and memories which I will never forget. As I continue to study French, I look forward to learning more about other Francophone cultures because the main thing I learned from the Quebec trip is that a certain language is not just the dialogue, but the culture, countries, and people as well.

Across the Pond

by Juli Gonzalez ‘22

It has officially marked a year since the departure of the Franco-German exchange students, and as I look back it was an experience I will never forget. My experience started a little differently than the rest because I was only supposed to host a student. Since I was only hosting, I was paired randomly. At first, I was honestly quite nervous. But once my exchange student, Rafael arrived, we ended up hitting it off pretty well.

The exchange students were only going to be here for about 2 weeks, but with their busy schedules and trying to see all the historical landmarks, time with Rafael was limited. They arrived on February 29th and were scheduled to leave on the 11th. In the midst of their visit, news about coronavirus in the GA community spread while Rafael, some friends, and I were in the city having dinner. In our naive eyes, this was great! We had 3 days off from school and we could do anything without a strict schedule.

So we splurged! We went to an escape room (which in hindsight is kinda gross because we touched EVERYTHING), went mini-golfing, went to ALL the best ice cream spots, ran, hiked, walked my dog, grabbed pizza, played Just Dance, saw friends, and best of all I showed Rafael the wonders of a perfectly made avocado toast. Those three days were the days that Rafael and I truly got to know each other.

The most interesting thing I found from the exchange program was not the differences between us, but how similar we were. This was true with not only Rafael but with all of the other kids that came with him. It was interesting to me because whenever I thought of people living in another country, my immediate reaction was about the differences in culture such as the music, the food, the school system, the language, etc. And although those hold true, the similarities felt more unifying than the differences. Some being how much he loved being with friends, his interest in learning new things, the games we played (Just Dance, Mario Kart), our shared love for ice cream, and the list goes on. But the biggest realization I had was that although the Atlantic Ocean may seem far and wide, It’s nice to know that there are people across the world who are just like you even if you don't know them. Yet…

The exchanges ended up leaving the day before borders closed (the 10th, a day before planned), but I truly would not trade this experience for anything else. And I am very grateful to GA for providing me with this opportunity.

My Cultural Discovery

by Zach Kotik ‘22 康赞可

Cultures are often quite different from the prejudiced narratives that we hear about them. When I was given the fortunate opportunity to experience new cultures in England and Scotland, I was able to gain a little knowledge on the difference between the two countries; something which most foreigners to the countries are unaware of. Before the trip, many had told me and my family about the similarities of England and Scotland and that they almost felt like the same country. I knew just about nothing about the true cultures of England and Scotland and I had almost no idea what to expect from the journey that was ahead of me.

When I was ten years old, my family and I left for a two week trip, starting with Edinburgh, Scotland. As soon as we arrived at the Edinburgh airport, we immediately left to go on a two day bus tour through “the Highlands” of Scotland. “The Highlands” are an extremely isolated piece of land with an area of about ten thousand square miles, with a population of less than 250,000 people. On the road, we saw thousands of sheep, cows, and turkeys. Living in suburban America, seeing this influx of animals was a complete surprise to my ten year old self; as they roam around the streets of the Highlands, the reality of these animals roaming the streets of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania felt almost impossible. As we drove along the rocky roads, we passed dozens of rivers and streams, the fog of the early dawn blocking us from seeing further off the road. As dusk approached, after taking many stops to see the natural beauty of the Highlands, we reached the place we were going to stay the night: a local bed and breakfast. We were welcomed by an old couple, with accents so thick, it felt as if they were speaking a different language. As we walked up the creaky stairs of the ancient household, we looked out to a magnificent pond that felt as if it stretched out to the Atlantic. The lights of the houses around the pond reflected onto the water, giving it light for us to see past the fog covering the ground.

After waking up to the caws of the majestic and famous Highland Golden Eagle, we ate our linked sausages and baked beans; a Scottish breakfast cuisine. As we left the beautiful town that welcomed us with open arms, we set back for Edinburgh. After a few more stops along the way, we made it back to Edinburgh, just in time to eat some fish and chips at a Scottish pub.

The next morning, we left for London, England. We took a train ride to the famous “London’s King Cross”, arriving at a congested, gray city where bright red double decker buses slowly drove around looking at famous London sites. As we arrived at the luxurious “Apex Hotel”, I instantly observed the difference in culture and style between London and the Highlands. I found myself enjoying the warm hotel shower and going to a bed with warm and comfy sheets, as well as flawless internet. Although the luxuries of the London hotel were a great plus, the difference in hospitality from the small towns of the Highlands, where they welcomed you although you are a complete stranger, versus the congested streets of London, where you are just another stranger, made me realize how different the cultures of rural Scotland are from urban England. As the rest of the trip in London prevailed, I thought about the friendly faces and thick Scottish accents that made us feel like family, while walking the streets of London -- with no one to welcome us and show us around.

As the end of the trip had finally come, we found ourselves in the Heathrow airport, ready to go back to our home in Blue Bell. Although the reality of going back to our usual lives was sad, the trip was fulfilling in giving me a new perspective on the lands of the United Kingdom and two countries’ cultural differences. While the beautiful London sites of Buckingham Palace and Big Ben were great to look at, I thought about the friendly bus driver, the elderly couple who welcomed us into their homes, and the people who joined us on the bus trip, who we shared smiles and laughs with. Scotland gave me a sense of home, making me not want to go back to my other home, a place I was used to.

Reflecting On My Travels During the Pandemic

by Alex Goodridge ‘22

Travel has not only provided me with some of the best memories of my life, but also some of the most significant knowledge. Whether it was a school trip, a family vacation, or a mission trip, experiencing new places has taught me so much about the vast number of people who don’t live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I have been blessed with a family who loves to travel, so I’ve seen a wide variety of cultures over many parts of the world. Each country, even each state, has their own unique way of life dependent on their environments, and I find this diversity so fascinating. These experiences of cultures, foods, landmarks, cities, restaurants, etc. from around the world have given me once in a lifetime opportunities that I would often take for granted. However, living through a year-long (at least) pandemic has reminded me to appreciate the chances I’ve been given to see the world, and has taught me that travel is something I hope to incorporate into the rest of my life.

While I don’t remember the majority of my two trips to Norway, they are some of the most significant trips I have ever taken; not only did they give me quality time with my late great-grandmother, but the culture in Norway is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Whenever I think of the trip, the first image that pops into my head is the charming white cottage that my huge family squeezed into. Picture the most tranquil, tiny, beautiful white house sitting on a lake. Memories come flooding back whenever I see pictures of the wooden interior, my little bed in the basement, and my younger self playing with toys on the miniature beach. Although my memory of the town is fuzzy, I remember the stark differences between the US and Stavanger, Norway, where I was staying. For one, everyone there was so tall, I was so amazed at the abnormal height of all of the strangers around me in comparison to my relatively short Chinese family. I also remember how friendly everyone was; to this day my family still jokes about the time a bird pooped on the brand new handmade headband I had just bought. Since we were still at the stand when the tragedy happened, the lady who sold us the headband gave me a brand new one free of charge. Sometimes the small, kind gestures have the biggest impact. In addition, the woman who owned the cottage we stayed in was one of the kindest people I have ever met. I distinctly remember the fresh fruit she gifted us, and the kindness she showed my grandparents by letting them stay in her cottage. The beauty of the city does not begin to do justice to the charming qualities of the community there, and I am so grateful for such a unique experience.

Norway, 2007

Speaking of unique experiences, in 8th grade, I was able to go on a mission trip with my mom to the falsely infamous Bogota, Colombia. Aside from the amazing experiences I had with Operation Smile, I was fortunate enough to experience the city as well. Despite its reputation as the drug city of the world, it was no doubt the most culture-rich place I have ever been. We stayed in the heart of the city (we even had bodyguards!), and I wouldn’t have it any other way, because while we were given the luxury of our hotel, we experienced the hundreds of layers of such a giant community. Some of my favorite memories from Bogota were made in the restaurants. I’ll always remember the immense variety of fresh fruit, some of which I have never seen or heard of before, and the meals that sounded absolutely crazy to me that were some of the most popular among Colombians. For dinner one night we were able to go to one of the largest and most famous restaurants in the city, known for its party environment, its delicious food, and its vibrant scene. It seemed to go forever, it was the biggest restaurant I have ever seen. The walls were jam packed full of art and Colombian memorabilia, and there was live Colombian music with a huge dance floor in the center of the restaurant. We had so much fun, dancing along to the music with all of the locals, eating delicious Colombian cuisine, and even trying the famous crazy Colombian desserts. We also got to visit a huge market, where we got to see the hundreds of independent artists who make a living creating beautiful artwork to sell. This was one of my favorite experiences, as this environment was as culture-filled and authentic as it gets. We were told never to buy anything without negotiating because they would try to rip off us Americans, so we did our best to negotiate in our Spanglish, and we went from stand to stand admiring the beauty of the art. There was one lady selling hundreds of handmade bags, with colors brighter and more vibrant than imaginable. It was incredible to be thrown into this immersive culture and experience these people’s everyday lives. Being able to see these classic Colombian places brought our group together and was a life changing experience. If I had one word to describe Colombian culture from my perspective it would simply be fun. Everyone was so friendly; they were always singing, dancing, and covered in colors. It seems to be such a carefree place to live, very different from the United States.

Colombia

Living through the pandemic has taught me to appreciate traveling more than I already did. I never imagined a situation that would stop me completely from traveling, not only to places outside the country, but also to Texas, California, and Florida to visit my family. Because I never imagined such a situation happening, I was never able to reflect on my traveling experiences and understand the extent to which I truly appreciate them. However, staying at home for the past year has allowed me to ponder why I love traveling so much. Of course it’s nice to go on vacation to relax and get away from home, but in reality the common pattern between most of my favorite trips is that they have been to places where I get to experience lives that are extremely different from mine, whether this is technically a vacation or not. Visiting different places around the world allows me to learn about not only others, but also myself. For example, Norway and Columbia taught me about brand new cultures I have no connection to, while visiting China taught me a lot about my Chinese culture and family. Learning about both others and myself is extremely important because it is helping me shape my outlook on the world; I am able to see through many of the stereotypes I often hear and develop my own opinions about important things. Coming to this realization of how much traveling has taught me has also inspired me to look to the future. Next summer I already have plans to go to an international conference in Peru, where I will hopefully meet people from all over the world, and learn about each of their cultures. I now realize that I want traveling to maintain a significant role in my life and my education, as I hope to be able to do things like a semester abroad, or visit more places with my family as I get older. I think the physical act of visiting places defined by cultures I don’t know anything about is one of the most educational things I can do, and I hope to be able to continue learning throughout the rest of my life.

Fishing

by Jack Brookman ‘22卜杰克

Since my birth, I have spent countless hours fishing with my Dad, traveling throughout the country and ocean in search of the next big bite. With each place or part of the ocean we travel to, the fishing changes simultaneously. I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to fish in a place like Florida, where every time you drop a bait or cast a lure you are met with a mystery as to what is on the other end of the line when the bite finally comes. I have witnessed things like free jumping Sailfish 3 miles off the coast in the Atlantic to endless amounts of Jacks and Snappers filling each section of the water column in the Gulf. When fishing in Florida, it is best to fish with a charter captain who is an expert in not only navigating the water and ensuring your safety, but also catching fish, because no one likes to go on a long boat ride. Always do your research and maybe steer clear of the trip if you know you get seasick, because nobody wants to be that guy turning the boat around. Additionally, Florida has a beautiful climate and for the most part, a more forgiving weather pattern when it comes to fishing. So no matter the season, if you make a trip there will always be something to catch whether that be out fifty miles or deep into the backcountry through the flats and mangroves. One of Florida’s perks in addition to the various tourist attractions and fishing is the food. There are few places in the world where you can walk into a restaurant with the fish you caught that morning and be served a world-class meal for a bargain. Overall, Florida is a wonderful place to experience the wonders of fishing, however, in my opinion, there is no better place to fish than the Jersey Shore. Fishing in New Jersey may have some disadvantages when compared to a place like Florida. For instance in Florida, there is obviously no cold winter that drives the fish away until the Spring. Also, due to the geographical location, fishing in New Jersey often requires you to go further which translates to more time and effort. But, through the 17 years, I have been fishing in New Jersey there are few days that I have returned to the dock without a big smile on my face and a cooler full of fish. The main thing that makes fishing in New Jersey better is trolling for Tuna in the canyons, despite all the work done loading the boat with ice, rods, food, and bait in addition to the 12-2 am departure each trip requires. Tuna fishing is the true fishing experience and the real reason why I stay so passionate about the sport. I still can vividly remember each early morning looking around, after an eternity of a boat ride out through the dark, at the open blue sky and endless sea with no land in sight. To some this is an alarming feeling, however, for me, it has become a place where I can truly be free from all reality even if it is for a brief moment. The hardest part about tuna fishing is the wait, and just like anything else in life, patience is the key to success. However, when a fish finally explodes on your line there is no better feeling in the world as you listen to the drag scream off the reel and prepare for a battle of man versus beast. Even though I could go on for hours about the wonders of fishing, just like fishing in Florida, there is no better way to experience it than going out with an expert captain and soaking up every moment the trip presents.

Florida: New Jersey:

The City of a Hundred Spires

by Jeffrey Cheng ‘22

After months of quarantine, online school, and social distancing in 2020, the word “travel” brings back feelings of longing and nostalgia for most of us as we wistfully reflect back on the days of excitement and happiness when we could hop on an airplane to explore new cities and countries with our loved ones.

Today, I want to take everyone on a (figurative) adventure to one of my favorite cities I visited in Europe: Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. This city is full of cultural attractions, evident in its majestic castles, colorful baroque buildings, and cathedrals. I’ll focus on my favorite place my family and I visited in Prague: “Old Time Square.” This historic part of the city has remained relatively untouched since the 10th century despite Prague’s history of invasions. We stopped and watched the astronomical clock (located on the south side face of the town hall) strike an hour. This clock is widely known as the best preserved mechanical clock in the world, and is one of Prague’s prides. Furthermore, one can admire the impressive architecture while walking along the streets of the square, explore the wonderful restaurants, or watch the street performers and musicians. 23

Travelling Abroad

by Chris Hackley 21 韩凯思

Throughout my life, I have travelled to many unique and diverse places. One of my earliest memories travelling abroad was when I was about six or seven years old. My family and I went on a vacation to the Bahamas. Although I don’t remember all the details, I remember getting the chance to go surfing and parasailing. Both of these activities were extremely fun, and getting the chance to do it in the Bahamas made it even better. In addition to this, I also remember going to the local beach concerts with my family. We stayed in a really nice hotel that had a view looking out over the ocean. Overall, this was one of the most exciting experiences I was a part of.

My favorite trip I went on was when I was in 7th grade. At this time, I was about twelve years old. My soccer team and I got the chance to go to a soccer tournament in Doha, Qatar. One of the things that made this trip so enjoyable was getting to play against kids from Germany and Qatar. I got to feel what it was like to play against kids from other countries, which was a very unique opportunity that not a lot of people get to experience. At the time, Qatar was in the process of building stadiums for the 2022 Fifa World Cup. My teammates and I had the opportunity to tour the stadium near our hotel. Despite all of this, the only negative thing about Qatar was the heat. My team went in October, which in Qatar is still the end of summer. Temperatures often reached as high as 105 degrees fahrenheit. Nonetheless, it was still a great experience and one I will never forget.

Last year, My family and I went to England and Austria. While in England, I got the opportunity to see my favorite professional soccer team, Manchester United, play a match against Chelsea. The environment in the stadium was incredible. In addition to this, my family and I also toured London. We got to see the London bridge and Big Ben. In my opinion, England was relatively similar to the United States, but unique in its own ways. One of the things that made travelling in England easy was the fact that everyone spoke English as their first language. After we spent about 3-4 days in England, my family flew to Vienna, Austria. Vienna was a city that was incredibly interesting due to its long and unique history. We got to visit many museums and eat the local food. While in Austria, I also got to go skiing in the Alps. This was the highlight of my trip. Overall, I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I have had to travel abroad at such a young age. I hope to continue to travel to new places and check off more continents.

My Journey to China

by Jake Hsu ‘22 徐雅阁

The deadly coronavirus pandemic that has invaded our lives for the past year makes me greatly appreciate the opportunity to travel. Over the last few months, nostalgic memories of traveling have invaded my mind: the distinct smell of the airport, the adrenaline rush that flows through your body upon takeoff, and the feeling of joy when the plane finally lands. I have had the privilege of traveling to many states before, including Florida, Georgia, and California, but the most rewarding experience has been my journey out of the country to China.

Our family- my mother, father, brother, sister, and grandparents- took the journey to China in the summer of 2018. Our first stop was Beijing, the capital of China. The architecture throughout Beijing was the best I have ever seen. A few of the amazing places I had the privilege of traveling to included the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, the 2008 Olympic Stadium, and the Mountain Resort (a couple of hours outside of Beijing). Considering most of the destinations listed above were built thousands of years ago, the detail and beauty of the buildings is truly amazing. Upon entering each place, you could truly feel the rich Chinese history invade your soul to the point where you could imagine what life was like thousands of years ago.

Following Beijing, we hopped on a plane and headed for Xian, the capital of the Shaanxi province, which is south of Beijing. Here, we visited many historic sites, including the Xian Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, an amazing Buddhist temple, and a very old street food market. On the Xian Wall we were able to ride bikes for miles, while at the Buddhist temple we were able to witness monks praying to Buddha. At the street food market we had delicious noodle soups and homemade sesame oil. But the most amazing thing in Xian is by far the Terracotta Warriors. We saw hundreds of human-sized clay warriors built underground, with hundreds of more yet to be uncovered. The cave-like site was a scary, yet exciting experience that was one of the highlights of my Chinese journey.

Our final destination took us to Shanghai, a city unlike any other I have ever seen. It is like New York City, but on steroids. To put it in perspective, Shanghai in total is about 2,450 square miles, while New York City is only 300 square miles. The crazy thing is that Shanghai still has more land to build upon! In Shanghai, we were able to go to the top floor of the city’s largest skyscraper, and even go on the famous “Needle” tower, which is especially magnificent at night. Shanghai was similar to Manhattan in that there was either a designer or very fancy store on every block. The billboards were big, the buildings were big, but the beauty of the city is what amazed me. One night, we took a boat around the city where we could see every building lit with bright, neon lights and it really looked like something from a movie.

Though the historic cities were amazing, the detail that truly caught my eye was the difference in culture. First, the food was absolutely delicious. From Peking Duck in Beijing, to freshly pulled noodles in Xian, to the fresh lychee fruits of the massive Shanghai markets, the taste, smell, presentation, and especially variety of Chinese cuisine is what makes it the culinary master of all other areas of the world. America has two regions of cuisine, northern and southern. As a relatively young country, we have very few foods that are authentically American: hamburgers, cheesesteaks, french fries, etc. China, on the other hand, , has eight different types of cuisine- Canton, Hunan, Sichuan, Fujian, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang. Each unique style of cuisine comes from different regions that use different produce, cooking techniques, flavors, and smells. For example, Sichuan is extremely spicy and numbing, while Cantonese is on the sweeter side.

Chinese cities are very similar to American cities in their modern architecture, tall skyscrapers, and cramped populations; however, Chinese cities are much bigger in size (i.e. the comparison between Shanghai and New York City). Cities in both countries are filled with historic museums, street vendors, clothing stores, and a lot of traffic!

One thing I find particularly interesting is how deeply American culture has spread into China. For example, American fast food chains such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Wendy’s filled the Chinese streets, and you could find many Chinese citizens wearing Kobe Bryant or Lebron James NBA jerseys. One of the most hysterical, yet telling experiences happened on the Xian Wall. My brother, sister, and I were getting ready to walk out when a group of about seven Chinese teenage girls asked to take a picture with us. We took the picture, and proceeded to have a conversation with them in English as it seemed they were trying to work on it with us. This experience is a testament to how deeply American culture has rooted itself in China and become the most popular culture in the world.

My journey to China was one I will never forget. The rich Chinese history and culture I was able to experience for myself has given me a new perspective on life that is not just based on my identity as an American, but my identity as a Chinese American.

Influence of Culture

by Daelyn Nwaobasi ‘21 王德兰

My name, Daelyn Nwaobasi [W-a-b-a-s-i], usually sparks curiosity from people. At first glance of the name, some assume I am of Asian descent (especially since I speak Chinese). However, I am a half Haitian (my mother), half Nigerian (my father) African American (by birth). My familial heritage has primarily offered me an authentic Afro-Caribbean perspective while allowing me to embrace and celebrate a variety of cultures - even where great differences exist. This passion I have come to form for different cultures is reflected in every visit I take to new locations.

I have been to various places around the United States - Florida, Virginia, Washington, Seattle (the list goes on); however, none compare to my experiences travelling outside of our borders, to other islands even continents! Specifically, my trips to St. Lucia, Haiti, and China have all been memorable instances that with each visit came a wave of new culture, perspective, insight, and at times more appreciation for my own circumstances. By sharing just these few experiences, I can provide a glimpse into the influence of differing cultures and the impact they pose.

Let’s begin with my trip to St. Lucia: Aboard the eight hour connecting flight from Philadelphia to St. Lucia, my family members and I were eager to celebrate the upcoming marriage of my aunt and soon to be uncle, marking the first marriage in my immediate family (since my grandparents of course). After landing, I was first introduced to the remarkable weather. It was so warm, but not too warm, just right! Over the course of our stay, we became accustomed to the distinct traditions that make up the island - island-wide block parties to end off the week, the typical cuisine (bouyon or lambi, with rice), or the general appreciation/acknowledgement for nature and the greenery that “provide the foundation for what we can build from” (~ Bartender we met). This uniform community, often accentuated in islands, is a notion that arguably differs from the United States, which is all the more reason we should look to these societies as reference.

Next, my travels to Haiti: Although I am Haitian, my first time travelling to Haiti was much later in my life than I would have expected. Similar to St. Lucia, Haiti is certainly a beautiful place with astonishing sites to see, amazing food, and wonderful people. But it is also true that Haiti suffers from an immeasurable amount of poverty. The fact that it was common to see unfinished buildings being used as churches or schools, or that to go to fill your car of gas you were met with heavily armed individuals that oversee the stations, is a reality that should not go unnoticed, but is also a truth that made me appreciate the environment I grew up in a lot more.

Finally, my venture to China! Travelling to China as a three-time District Chinese Oral Proficiency medalist allowed me to explore the layers of the language, connecting the classroom to the real world. The variations in architecture, technology, and aesthetic culture visible while exploring the renown structures, such as the Great Wall and Oriental Tower, stood out to me because of my interests in engineering and innovation.

This experience highlighted the interdisciplinary connections, as innovations and business opportunities are adopted across borders and adjusted for different cultures. For example, 5G technology or businesses like Sony and Tik Tok. The potential gained through integrating different cultures’ constructs/concepts and the different influences political cultures have on the globalization of technology is an important notion that, once fully understood, will bring the world a step closer to greatness.

My Experience in South Korea

by Matthew Cho ‘21 毛条

When you think of Korea, what do you see? Is it the delicious Korean barbeque sizzling on the grill? Or is it the world-wide KPOP sensation BTS? Along with these “fan favorites,” a tight-knit culture remains active among the Korean people today, tracing all the way back to the Goguryeo Dynasty (37 BCE-668 CE). I was fortunate enough to learn about this culture at such a young age.

During the summer of 2013, I stepped onto a plane and prepared myself for an 18 hour flight from JFK Airport to Incheon International Airport. Traveling with my parents and my brother, I saw this trip merely as a time for me to feast at Gwangjang Street Market and relax at Haeundae’s beautiful beaches. However, I would soon realize that my trip to Korea was more than just a vacation, but a time for me to connect with a culture that was never explored.

Immediately stepping foot on this foreign land, we were greeted by a man who looked strangely familiar to my father. This man would turn out to be my uncle. However, my first encounter with him was particularly awkward; as I bowed my head to greet him, his face grew dull and expressionless. My father rushed to me aggressively and pushed my back downwards, where my head was nearly touching my knees. Despite my intentions to simply greet my uncle, I soon learned that a head bow was considered disrespectful and informal to those who were deemed my elders. As I sat embarrassed and emotionally-shaken in the back seat of my uncle's van, my mother whispered to me “welcome to Korea.”

After day one, our first destination was to Korea’s busiest city and beloved capital Seoul. Finally exiting the most uncomfortable bus ride I have ever experienced, with people crowding and crushing me from every direction, I arrived at the heart of the capital. I still remember to this day that the second I stepped foot off the bus, I was shoved by a middle-aged man who continued to walk on his path while scoffing at me under his breath. Think of New York’s Time Square on a Saturday evening and multiply that by five: this was the city life in Seoul everyday, on every narrow street. However, there were a multitude of other cultural differences that surprised me to an extreme. For example, when I trailed a man into a restaurant, the glass door in front of me slammed directly into my face; pro-tip, do not expect anyone to hold doors for you in Seoul! Also, when riding a cab to our hotel, the driver scolded my parents after hearing my brother and I speak English constantly.

In no way am I writing this article to knit-pick at the strictness of Korea’s culture; rather, I am trying to illustrate the significance of cultural barriers for a person who identifies both as an American and a Korean. Though my initial intentions to travel 6,883 miles were for completely different reasons, this trip to Korea ultimately helped me connect with a culture that was once lost.

Celebrating Tết, Vietnamese Lunar New Year

by Christina Nguyen ‘21 倪圣季

Every year, my family, along with over 1.5 billion people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year. Countries such as China, Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, and Malaysia celebrate the holiday in their own unique ways. The Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later, on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. The holiday brings families together for a day full of celebration, traditional food, and red envelopes. In the streets, there are also lion and dragon dances that are meant to ward off evil spirits by making as much noise as possible with music, firecrackers, drums, and bells. Above all, it is a time to leave the troubles of the previous year behind and look forward to a prosperous and successful new year.

Waking up early on the morning of Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, I dress up in brand new clothes. Before heading to my grandmother’s house, I help my mom finish preparing the food that we have been making up to a week prior to the eventful day. At my grandmother’s house, I indulge in traditional Vietnamese foods such as bánh tét, which is cylindrical to represent the moon, and bánh chưng, which is square to represent the earth. Apart from their difference in shape, bánh tét and bánh chưng are both wrapped in banana leaves and primarily made of glutinous rice with a mung bean and pork filling. The process of making bánh tét and bánh chưng is time consuming but provides my family with an opportunity to bond and learn from my grandmother’s expertise, which was also passed down to her from our family’s previous generations.

During Tết, a large emphasis is placed on paying respects to our ancestors and loved ones. My family prepares food to offer our ancestors on our family altar. I join my aunts, uncles, and cousins in worshiping our ancestors and we pray for each other's good health, fortune, and success. Afterwards, we continue with the day’s celebrations, sharing stories, eating good food, and simply enjoying each other's company. It’s tradition that the elders give the children red envelopes, or li xi in Vietnamese. In return, the children provide a greeting, such as good health and longevity, to their elders.

Alongside the exuberance that the day provides, there are also superstitions and common practices that my family follows to ensure we will have a successful new year. We won’t, for example, sweep the floors on Tết because that would sweep the luck away, wear black or white because these colors symbolize death and grieving, or break anything because this brings loss and damage into the new year. Perhaps most importantly, everyone must be on their best behavior. No one will fight or swear for fear of bringing bad luck for the year to come. Besides, Tết is meant to be one of the happiest times of the year, so it’s only natural to be joyful alongside your family members and take part in all the fun!

We Were Wild

by Kristen Johnson

Every year in February, English students would be asked to create their anonymous “Graffiti Art” project as a way to challenge the student body to think more deeply. The projects were hung around the hallways for a few weeks, during which we would all muse about our new found intellectual inspiration. Over the years, the project that stuck out to me the most was simple. It said, “We Were Wild.” Below the slogan, stood a peculiar looking beast that was akin to the hairy monsters from the popular children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are.”

As I thought more about this challenge to be less tame, I decided to take a year off to travel to the place on the planet where humans first evolved from the wild: Africa. I wanted to see the cave art of my ancestors and observe our closest relatives, the Great Apes, to see if I could unlock more pieces to the puzzle of how they domesticated themselves and became us.

I got way more than I bargained for from the animal kingdom as I watched them up close. Many of them seemed so human in the emotions they expressed. On the third day of my trip, my safari car was breached by a hungry alpha baboon who stole my friend’s lunch and selfishly refused to share it with his baboon friends as he feasted on a pastrami sandwich back in his tree. Now, I will always run when I see a baboon; they are not cute, but cunning. They want your food! They even work together to run “Trash Can” rings where they stalk garbage bins to more easily find scraps. In Kenya’s Masai Mara, I watched male lions ferociously fight over a zebra carcass while the females, who had caught it, waited patiently for their turn. Aside from these swift moments of viciousness, I was surprised by how lazy and unbothered lions are. They would lounge in the trees of the Serengeti and consistently be outrun by warthogs. At the Ngorongoro crater, they laid in the shade of our trucks right below the windows so that we could pet them. I even got to “walk” a lion cub at Victoria Falls who was being rehabilitated to return to the wild. In Uganda, I trekked for 3 hours through the rainforests of the Bwindi National Park to find the Bweza family of silverback gorillas. While watching the Alpha from a safe distance, he suddenly turned and charged at me. “This is literally how I’m going to go,” I thought. Turns out there was a delicious-looking leaf right behind my head.

Back in Nairobi, I fed Stacy, the giraffe, who happily ate treats right out of my mouth and gave wet kisses with her thick, black tongue. Throughout the rest of the trip I petted cheetahs, walked with black rhinos, fed nibbly ostriches, observed jackass penguins (their actual name), played with baby elephants, smelled the horrible stench of seals at the Cape Cross Colony in Namibia, and learned that you always run if you see a hippo with its young.

Fittingly so, on the last day of my three month trip, I went to the largest hominid site in the world: The Cradle of Civilization in South Africa. 50 kilometers of rolling hills lay atop dank caves where 1000’s of hominid fossils have been uncovered. This is where it happened, where our brains evolved, taming our bodies and taking away our wild nature. We were wild, but now, no more. Civilization has changed us.

I’ve always wondered what the Australopithecus and the Habilis were like; what did Neanderthals worry about when the looming fear of college acceptance didn’t exist? But while walking the caves, I realized that like the clever animals I had just spent three months observing on safari, they were never wild in a sense, nor were we. Living organisms are quite similar in our instincts for safety which have evolved on a spectrum to give each animal social patterns and habits that help them survive. Humans are not the only civilized animals. Though our civilization looks much different than the rest of the animal world, it is simply more complex, not unique. We are related; we all have social rules and controls. So, we were never wild.

But although we were never wild, I have ironically come to see that homo sapien sapiens are the only animal who have the potential to become truly wild: to move beyond evolutionary instinct and choose the destiny of our social evolution. Our brain change did not tame us, but has rather done the opposite: it has made us aware of our instincts and gives us the choice to actively choose against it. And it is this choice which makes human civilization special: we can choose to be fair and just in an evolutionary schema that was originally set up for the strongest to win. As a society, we don’t have to choose equality, and many do not, because it is always easier to stick with the status quo. But, as it turns out, we have the potential to be and should become wild.