Wanda_IC_CP_#1

Date/Time: Thursday, March 05, 2015

Location: CIES Lounge

Topic:  INTERCULTURAL WORKSHOP WEEK 1

            Today, for the first time, I had the enjoyable opportunity to meet with five CIES students and exchange information about each other’s culture. The students that I met were from China (Yuqian), Kuwait (Sanad), Korea (Daechuan) and Saudi Arabia (Khalid and Zaid).  We greeted each other in the customary manner of each one’s own country and I tried to repeat the greeting in their language. I told them that a was Nuyorican. At first they looked puzzled at me and then ask: Where is that? I said that it is a slang word used to identify the New York born descendants of Puertorricans. They were surprised and we all laugh about it.

We talked about eating habits in our respective countries. The friends from China, Korea and Kuwait agreed with me about the lack of family communication and sharing at dinner. They blame technology for it; there is too much texting and very little speaking. We also spoke about the traditional foods of each other’s country. We also agreed that we had one dish in common: Rice.

Khalid and Zaid ask about how Christmas is celebrated in Puerto Rico and how many religions we have. I told them there were many religious denominations in Puerto Rico. They were surprised to learn that Puerto Ricans celebrate Christmas for approximately a month. Khalid and Zaid said that there was only one religion in their country and explained  how they celebrate the Ramadan for a month and the benefits of celebrating it; that is, keeps the family united, help needy people and makes them be conscious and grateful of what they have. I helped the CIES student with pronunciation and I learned that although we are worlds apart, there is always something in common with each other.