Erinn Goes Abroad

Reality: Cultural Collisions

Collisions: just short of the Big Bang, collisions tend to yield negative results. Imagine car collisions, train collisions… even when hot and cold air collides it renders a storm. So what happens when differing cultures collide? We see it every day in our newspapers and in response to social, political and economical conversations.  Curiously I’ve felt the discomfort of it on a micro level and in a way that doesn’t bear too much expansion. My encounters with cultural collision may have been a little jarring, but not so abominable as a car accident and indeed the path to a valuable learning experience. I mention this to mark one of the realities of intercultural exchange: even when two people have similar goals, their method of attack may be utterly different. It takes effort not to let the differences overshadow the common goal. By and by, facing cultural-ideological differences is crucial. I would venture to say that exposure to diversity leads one towards the [highly regarded but difficult to attain] quality of tolerance.

In any case, academics have dominated my headspace the past two weeks. This was the intention and with every tick of the clock, I’m one second closer to a reunion with my lovely American friends. Finals are closing in on me as well, so nothing could serve me better than keeping a weather eye towards the books! I’m plunging into a new adventure next week when I head north to Hamilton. I’ll fulfill one of my NZ goals of attending a live rugby match! Best part is I’ll be in the company of a bunch of amazing people.