Hey there. I just want to submit my common app. I haven't finished my essay. So, can you just take for a while and read my essay? I know that there're sooooo many mistakes, especially about grammar. I need your comments and advices. Please help me! Thanks!
I have a simple experience of cross-cultural understanding. When I participated in a student exchange program sponsored by the American Field Service (AFS), they gave me the opportunity to experience a homestay with a family in Japan. I found some differences between Japanese and my hometown, Indonesia. About religion, time discipline, habits, and so on. And the most obvious difference is about their habit. One was when I arrived at their home for the first time, they asked if I wanted to go to the sento (public bath) or onsen (hot spring) to take a bath together. They explained to me that going to public baths is very common and that the invitation is a part of cultural tradition used to appreciate guests at their houses.
I was surprised at the offer. Previously, I had never gone to a public bathhouse. I never even thought to go there as I am not accustomed to taking baths, undressed, with others. While I understand that this is a way they show their respect for me as a guest and embrace me as part of their family, the offer made me uncomfortable. I attempted to explain the reasons why I did not want to go to the sento or onsen and amazingly enough I was to handle the situation without upsetting or offending them. Actually, I think that this is a unique culture and I like the way they are to keep it.
In the other hand, they saw a difference in how I dress-up. I am a muslim and wear hijab on my head. They asked me why I always wear a kind of scarf on my head and because it was winter, they also asked if I wore a scarf over her head to avoid me from the cold. Yes, I did see two differences here, about religion and how to dress. I tried to explain them that this is a principle that I confided in my religion. And I did not see difficulty to handle things like this, so my host family. We maintain our principles, but we also respect each other.
Cultural differences can sometimes pose a risk causing at the very least the non-current communication, uncomfortable feelings or misunderstandings. But in my experience when in the midst of their family, although only a relatively short time, I could overcome those differences and be able to communicate effectively with all family members. In fact, they were very impressed with my ability to adapt quickly and familiarly to the entirety of them.
From the cross-cultural experience that I have had, I believe that I can do this because this is an excess that I have to build a highly effective communication. And all the problems of cultural differences can be resolved completely if we simply learn to respect each others culture without demeaning one another. When we talk about culture, it's not wrong, it's not right, it's just different.
I have a simple experience of cross-cultural understanding. When I participated in a student exchange program sponsored by the American Field Service (AFS), they gave me the opportunity to experience a homestay with a family in Japan. I found some differences between Japanese and my hometown, Indonesia. About religion, time discipline, habits, and so on. And the most obvious difference is about their habit. One was when I arrived at their home for the first time, they asked if I wanted to go to the sento (public bath) or onsen (hot spring) to take a bath together. They explained to me that going to public baths is very common and that the invitation is a part of cultural tradition used to appreciate guests at their houses.
I was surprised at the offer. Previously, I had never gone to a public bathhouse. I never even thought to go there as I am not accustomed to taking baths, undressed, with others. While I understand that this is a way they show their respect for me as a guest and embrace me as part of their family, the offer made me uncomfortable. I attempted to explain the reasons why I did not want to go to the sento or onsen and amazingly enough I was to handle the situation without upsetting or offending them. Actually, I think that this is a unique culture and I like the way they are to keep it.
In the other hand, they saw a difference in how I dress-up. I am a muslim and wear hijab on my head. They asked me why I always wear a kind of scarf on my head and because it was winter, they also asked if I wore a scarf over her head to avoid me from the cold. Yes, I did see two differences here, about religion and how to dress. I tried to explain them that this is a principle that I confided in my religion. And I did not see difficulty to handle things like this, so my host family. We maintain our principles, but we also respect each other.
Cultural differences can sometimes pose a risk causing at the very least the non-current communication, uncomfortable feelings or misunderstandings. But in my experience when in the midst of their family, although only a relatively short time, I could overcome those differences and be able to communicate effectively with all family members. In fact, they were very impressed with my ability to adapt quickly and familiarly to the entirety of them.
From the cross-cultural experience that I have had, I believe that I can do this because this is an excess that I have to build a highly effective communication. And all the problems of cultural differences can be resolved completely if we simply learn to respect each others culture without demeaning one another. When we talk about culture, it's not wrong, it's not right, it's just different.