The Culture Block: Interim Term at Second Baptist

Senior Garrett Logan (front left) laughs with junior Sophie Newell as they view different artifacts in a gift shop outside Huairou, China.

Roughly a year ago, I had the chance to travel with a group of my peers to China during our school’s two-week “Interim Term.” After studying Chinese language for three years, I was excited to learn more about the local culture and lifestyle. However, looking back on the experience, I realized that the experience had taught me much more than colloquial phrases and names famous of street foods. It taught me how to approach a new culture.

Of the six of us went, half of us had never been out of the country and were now packing to fly halfway around the world to a place where the road signs and newspapers were written in a language we had only studied in classes. The culture was a complete turnaround from our own. The process of learning and adapting to a new culture was difficult, but ultimately, outrageously rewarding. Traveling abroad can be gratifying, but only if it’s done with the right mindset. These are some of the things I wish I had known when I had first left for a different country.

Firstly, be prepared for the language barrier. Going to China, I knew that the majority of people would be speaking in Chinese. Even so, I still had a difficult time adjusting to the fact that it took so much effort to just understand small talk and street signs. Although many of the people there spoke English to a degree, it took some time to get used to having to sit and think about every word on a map and every sound in a conversation.

Juniors Ethan Henderson and Olivia Little walk through ancient temples in Luoyang, China. 

Secondly, be prepared for questions. During our time in China, we spoke to many students from many different schools. Some of the questions they asked us were fairly simple; there were questions like “What is American school like?” and “What sports do Americans like to play?”.

Others, however, were not as simple. We got asked questions like “How does the American government affect Americans?” and “How are American family lives different than families here?”. Learning about a new culture is a great way to reflect on your own, so take some time to think about what is distinctive about your own country before you prepare to ask questions about another.

Thirdly, be open minded. Sometimes you’re going to find something that you don’t understand or can’t relate to. But understanding that there is no right or wrong culture is a key part of learning about the world around us. Both you and the people you meet will be learning about a new culture, so don’t be afraid to be confused or curious: it may well be new to you both.

In the end, the chance to explore the world is a wonderful opportunity that is well worth taking. Discovering the diversity of cultures, lives, and traditions on the Earth we live in is a part of what it means to be human. So go and explore, and be prepared to learn something new.