The First Inside Look at Classes

"My friend says to me, 'Rotimi, why do you not let your son work? He is 16. He is of age. He can work part time around his studies.'
'He does not need to work,' I tell my friend. 'This way he can concentrate on his studies'
'Well what if he wants to buy...' our professor pauses and points to one of my classmates. 'What do you call that....cap? A baseball cap! - 'Well what if he wants to go to the store and buy a baseball cap?' my friend says to me.
'Then I will buy it for him,' I told my friend.
'But if he has a job he can buy it for himself,' my friend says.
'No, no, I am his father and it is my job to provide for him until he is out of university. He does not need to work until he has graduated'."

There was a pause as Professor Adebari finished his story.
"Can you be my parent?" one of my classamtes asked, grinning. "I don't want to have to work til after college!"

The class broke out in laughter, many of us all too familiar with working and going to high school/college at the same time, but our professor had made his point about cultural differences.

Professor Rotimi Adebari teaches the Intercultural Communications class at the Academic Center and like the rest of our teachers, is highly qualified for the position. Our professor immigrated from Nigeria back in the 1990's and has been working towards better intercultural communications both in business and communities since he arrived. He's also the first African American to hold the office of mayor in the Republic of Ireland - Seriously, I don't care who you are, that's pretty cool.

In this specific class, Prof. Adebari was discussing with us the importance of education across cultures. Here in Ireland, it's common for 15 year olds to get part time jobs and to work throughout the rest of their education. While this is similar to American students, many of whom HAVE to work during high school and college to support themselves, education is a bit different here in Ireland and the U.K. In Wales, students leave highschool at 16 and graduate college in 3 years in order to get out into the workforce as soon as possible. Where education back in the States is held in such high regard students stay in school for 18 years, here it is important for adolescents to become part of their communities more quickly. And this is different too in Nigeria. He holds education is such high regard that he asked his son not to take the "transition year" (a year off after highschool before entering college) that many students partake in because statistically, many student's don't return to college.


We've also spoken about stereotypes, misunderstandings, and the importance of non-verbal communication. In my last post, I discussed how great it is that non-verbal communications are universal.... but are they?

Fun Facts About Signs We Use Commonly in the States

• Shaking ones head side to side is considered an affirmative response in India
• The Thumbs-up symbol is considered the equivalent of the American's middle finger in Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, and Thailand. Meanwhile, it's used to symbolize "1" in Germany. (Remember that if you try to hitch a ride in any of these countries)
  
• The Peace Sign is considered an obscenity in the U.K. when the palm faces inward, as well as in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand (it often signifies defiance)
  
• The combination of I L and Y in American sign language that symbolizes "I Love You" in the States is the symbol used to curse someone in the Italian culture
• The "Okay" symbol in the States is the symbol/request for coins in the Japanese symbol. In Brazil, it represents vulgar expressions and in some European countries, its a negative symbol that suggests the meaning "you are a zero".

In previous entries, I have stressed the importance of remembering how similar we are to others outside of our own culture, but it's important to remember that the similarities we think we share may not actually be as universal as we thought.

If you're planning on studying abroad in another culture, especially one where you don't speak the language, make sure you research the use of gestures in that culture!

All in all, this class is pretty sweet and is definitely one of my favorite classes here on campus. I truly wish our Professor could teach more classes back on our main campus. His stories are funny and keep you interested throughout class, and it's crazy to think that even he learns new things with each semester of American students he teaches (after working with this stuff for over a decade). Need SWK425 to finish your major, or got a general elective space open? Take this class - it has the potential to be incredible (remember - the experience is only equal to the effort you put into it!).


Cheers!
~Heather~