Crossing Cultures with the SUSI Program
From January 7-February 11, the FIUTS Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) on Civic Engagement is taking place in Washington DC, New Orleans, and Seattle. This program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, brings 20 university students from Southern Africa to the U.S. to learn about civic engagement and develop strategies for creating positive change in their home communities.
Below, read blog posts from five participants reflecting on their experiences in the U.S.!
An intricately socialised city that encourages growth-both personally and socially. Exciting, eccentric, adventurous and somewhat peculiar, Seattle is a place that anyone can easily fall into kindness with. I thought I liked Seattle, but I don't - that is an understatement. I love it! It is a refreshing wonderful space of teaching and learning. Conversations are easy to initiate and are exceptionally interesting, most of the ones i have had-always left me with a “welcome to Seattle, I hope you enjoy your stay!” There is an authentic understanding that every single individual is connected, in one way or another. And citizens appreciate that.
Seattlites as I have observed are not only unique but are very particular in their way of living and adherence to this lifestyle is mandatory. The environment and all that/those that live in it form an integral part of the greater community, which is why there are bins for compost materials, recyclable materials and a bin for waste material that is not considered as biodegradable or recyclable. This for me has been interesting to see, specifically because of there are so many values attached to those intentions. There is a spirit of kindness that is embodied in the in the attitude and intention of members of the community.
After hearing of the term “Seattle freeze”-a metaphorical high wall of division between citizens, I was frightened at the prospects of experiencing not just very cold weather, but members of the community, who prefer to keep a distance from me not because of they don’t know me. But because of, people prefer to keep to themselves, it does not mean that they think of people as. What I later found out was that they appreciate their personal space. Which took time to get used to because I prefer to give hugs over handshakes even to strangers.
Humanity comes first despite ones religious denomination, sexual orientation, different cultures and traditions as well as ethnicity. I appreciate how much the city has added to the growth not only of me as a leader. But also of me as an individual. I have developed friendships, discovered and explored leadership qualities I did not know I had - let alone the capacity and the ability to nurture them. I continue to learn from the spaces that I am exposed to, including conversations I have with the sales lady at the coffee shop to projects and activities that I participate in during site visits. Skills that I will be able to teach to others when I return to my home country.
My time in Seattle has also taught me that even when I find myself in the midst of intrapersonal turmoil regarding various social issues that my community and country are faced with and what I can do that is feasible and realistic to contribute towards achieving change. It is necessary to consistently reinforce the importance of encouraging self and social awareness because they contribute towards achieving a greater social, political and economic transformation.
-Tshegetso Moepi, South Africa
Spending the weekend with my host family was one of the biggest and most rewarding experiences I’ve had here in the United States.
Last Thursday 26th January we had a meeting where each participant of SUSI program had the opportunity to meet one of the family members where they would spend the weekend , sharing our experience and culture as well as learning more about the culture of American families.
Being in the house I was introduced to the rest of the family, where we had the opportunity to talk and to get to know each other better as well as to draw some plans for the weekend .
My host family was very good to me by attending my request to see Bainbridge Island, and it was so gratifying for me to meet that wonderful place and enjoy the beautiful landscape, all I have to say is that I had good time.
Living with my host family gave me the chance to know and live a little of the reality of the life of an American family and its customs, today I can say that I have a better understanding of American culture .
I was so well received that I felt like I was at home, I learned a lot from them, I tried new things, I ate Thai food for the first time and I loved, I could also share my culture and experiences .
We end the weekend with a potluck dinner where each family prepared some special dish and could share with each other.
I said goodbye to my host family with the feeling of accomplishment , it is interesting to know that it was not just a weekend but a beginning of a beautiful friendship.
-Adelina Pepelela, Angola
Leaving Washington D.C with an unfinished work feeling, we set out for New Orleans ... Arriving there I could feel at home, the warm weather, the creole food, the friendly people, but also had very strange characteristics; like street performers on every corner: vampires, pirates, Darth Vader, fortune tellers, rappers, human statues ... in fact, people who live on their daily basis in a fantasy world and who take tourists to experience some of their world. And the nights, oh how I miss the New Orleans nights, the right place to be is in the Bourbon Street, full of music, sense of humor, people dressed in their own way, expressing themselves to the world looking to be happy without worrying about what tomorrow has to offer.
But New Orleans is not just parties and joy, the culture of the city goes much further, is profound, with its more long history of slavery and proliferation of African culture, until Hurricane Katrina. Yes Hurricane Katrina, often the only one to blame for all the misfortune that has taken over this city, but at the Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum, apparently a small museum but large in its history, I realized that after all it had human guilt in this tragedy, it didn't have proper maintenance in the levees of the city and with the hurricane the levees broke and the city was flooded. Over a thousand lives lost, families, houses, streets, neighborhoods totally destroyed.
But what inspired me most is the resilience of the people of New Orleans, they fight back, empowering the community, they didn’t let the tragedy be the mark of the city, and despite the poverty still existing in many areas they never lose hope for a better future. So, between joy and sadness, ups and downs, smiles and tears...I did not just go through New Orleans, but I experienced it!
-Elca Meiry Vieira Augusto, Angola
Coming to the United States is a whole mind-blowing experience and, when the topic is food, liking or not liking, is left behind...progressively, you learn to “always try twice”.
D.C was the first contact with American food, unexpectedly, it also made it clear that “American food” most of the times is food from different parts of the world, cooked in a different way. From the daily breakfast (roasted potatoes, eggs and sausage), to the the steak (with bones) in a place close to the hotel, you start to see that you are not home, but you are not lost. D.C has a big influence of the European cuisine, and there I had the best Italian pizza of my life.
I tried twice the pancakes with syrup and bacon, I had to. Why do you put salt and sugar at the same plate? Because eating is also an experience. Why do you eat spicy cookies? Sweet chicken? Popcorn with cheese? Because, if you try twice, it tastes good.
Arriving in New Orleans, your palate notices the change. This city has a strong and remarkable taste. Easily you find typical African food, you see that seafood is the highlight and the portions are more generous, way more. New Orleans has the best catfish, the biggest shrimps and the best mix between the African heritage, European colonization (majorly French) and, literally, all the world.
And in Seattle, more new tastes are presented. In only one week, I tasted a legit Vietnamese Phô, Japanese Ramen, Thai, German, Korean and Chinese dishes. If you are vegetarian, you also find in Seattle an infinite world of choices. Here, trying healthier and organic food at the Bastyr University was on the beginning weird, but as you “Try twice” you rediscover the taste of each one of the ingredients in your plate, one experience that only homemade food gives to you.
The most peculiar thing about this food experience is the total or partial absence of bones in the meat. Everyday I ask myself: Where are the bones hidden? And I never hear the answer.
-Leocadia Valoi, Mozambique
It's my fourth week in the United States and there are quite a lot of things I'm missing here. When I say missing I do not mean yearning for them but rather feeling their absence.
Ever since I arrived, I am yet to witness a crime in any form, no bag snatching, no false pretenses, no armed robbery, nothing. Maybe I have just not opened my eyes wide enough but that is all attributable to how safe I feel.
I have barely seen a police officer in sight save for traffic officers who routinely patrol the streets, yet everything is just ok.
At the shops, there are no guards to ensure that no one shoplifts. At the restaurants, people tip waiters without a hustle. At the pedestrian crossings, even on the busy hour, cars stop for people to cross. People do not jaywalk, and the traffic lights actually work.
Shops are conveniently open until late hours like 10pm because no one is worried about being robbed. Assistants in the shops are genuinely nice and I have become accustomed to being asked how my day is going so far, something that you can't do back home without sounding suspicious.
But more interestingly, at the train station, the people use an honor system. They use what they call "Orca" cards to pay and this is done by clicking your card against a machine that will debit the amount due.
There is very little policing in this process but the people actually click the cards to pay. They do so because they know they are obliged to do so, not because someone might be watching them.
As for the streets, they are the cleanest I have seen in my life. From Washington DC, New Orleans to Seattle, no one litters, honestly no one litters. It's like these people have been programmed to do things the right way. And it's actually working.
So my biggest take home, is that of honor, Americans are honorable people who know how much it means to be an honest citizen. They know that if they don't pay the train fee, then there won't be money to repair or maintain the train, then they suffer.
They know that if they litter, their tax will be spent to clean the streets, all this could be used to improve healthcare.
Further, they are empathetic enough to understand that although they are driving, tomorrow they may be walking and would need to have someone stop and let them pass through, hence they stop at pedestrian crossings.
I take it home because I believe it could change a lot of the struggles we face. If everyone had the honorable mentality of an American, the money we spend on policing people's responsibilities would be spent on giving our children better education and or healthcare.
People would trust each other and with trust, unity would come.
God bless America, And God bless Africa more.
-Bakotelo Mmipi, Botswana
The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, promote a better understanding of the people, institutions, and culture of the United States among foreign students, teachers, and scholars. Study of the U.S. Institutes are short-term academic programs for groups of undergraduate leaders, educators, and scholars from around the world.
The program in Seattle is coordinated by the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS), a local non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Washington that promotes international friendship and cross-cultural understanding in the region.
Guest posts on the FIUTS blog represent the experiences and views of individual writers. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FIUTS or any organizations or institutions affiliated with our programs.