Undergraduate / Food & Culture (University of Michigan) [20]

I don't know if my essay effectively answers the question below. Any suggestions on topic or grammar correction will be appreciated. ^^
The essay I wrote is a little longer,can anyone help me to delete the redundant part?

Prompt:
"We know that diversity makes us a better university --- better for learning, for teaching, and for conducting research." (U-M President Mary Sue Coleman)

Share an experience through which you have gained respect for intellectual, social or cultural differences. Comment on how your personal experiences and achievements would contribute to the diversity of the University of Michigan.

When I was ten years old, I was selected to take part in a cultural exchange with children from five other Asian countries. A camping trip completely altered our originally distant relationship caused by language barriers.

The first night we spent on the mountain, the organizers advised us make some cuisines representing our own countries. When I was making the traditional meat stuffing for dumplings, a student from India suggested I add some curry into it and pour some royal fizz on the dumplings. Although I was reluctant to accept his advice because I regarded the original Chinese dishes were the best, still I added the exotic ingredients he suggested so as not to disappoint him. However, I had never expected the traditional Chinese dumplings, Indian curry and English topping to become the most popular dishes on the table. The dramatic effect of mixing different ingredients together brought me to a deep consideration of the combination of diverse cultures. Since then, I tried to learn from my peers about their cultures through body language, and our friendships quickly formed. This experience not only broadened my horizons but also endowed me with a comprehensive perspective towards diverse cultures. Now, no matter where I go, I always serve as a cultural ambassador that assimilates the essence of every civilization and combine them with my own background.

Thousands of years ago, the construction of a heaven-reaching tower was interrupted when the builders were unable to understand one another's language. Nowadays, with the help of globalization, the diverse cultures are blending with each other because of human beings' common quest for "artes scientia veritas." I believe my eclectic attitude towards understanding and promoting different cultures will definitely accelerate the blend of diverse cultures in the University of Michigan.

QUESTION: Is there any words that can replace 'culture'and 'diverse' that will also be suitable for this essay?