Writing 2 pages journal after reading As Others See Us which the author is Rebekah Nathan - Essay Example

A Journal Response to ‘As Others See Us’ by Rebekah Nathan The sentiments presented in RebekahNathan’s ‘As Others See Us’ are sadly true and it makes me imagine a number of international students whom I have met under equivalent circumstances of feeling out of place in a foreign world. Coming from a rather flexible culture and having been accustomed to American tradition, I can see and understand their varying struggles of coping with ‘culture shock’. Thus, in relation to them, I conventionally arrive at thinking of a way to help these individuals become exposed to the seemingly constant reality of American living through conversations and certain activities which aim to increase social awareness and open-mindedness in this complex society.

In my own cultural settings, I have since the earliest consciousness encountered different people under diverse educational and cultural backgrounds besides the Americans. It has been just a matter of polite observation and occasional talks that lead me to become further acquainted and point out that differences are meant to be understood, not feel so bad about. At this stage, as I look outside of each person regardless of nationality and find out some cares that each one apparently values with time and energy, I could readily perceive beyond culture and figure the similar instances of my life, in a way, connect me to a much general society other than mine.

Consequently, I would often tell my foreign friends and classmates that it only takes time and patience to go about adjustments on totally new grounds. It would, of course, cost cumulative little efforts as well of getting to know American society in a larger picture and of understanding native speaker without craving for the necessity or urgency to talk with one. This does not come easy at first especially when one expresses what R. Nathan noted in one of her interviews with a Japanese woman who nearly cried in disappointment saying “When I talk to them, they don’t try to understand what I say or keep up the conversation.

They don’t keep talking, and I realize that they don’t want to take the trouble to talk with me.” Surely her thick accent could be the source why she didn’t get proper response from American classmates, however, if I had the chance to speak to her, I would explain that not every American would treat her the same way, if she were ever inclined to generalize right away or make hasty judgment of how an American culture works out of that incident. Based on the culture of my origins, people are more practical than hospitable.

I must admit though that there are still regions where cordiality in behavior can be expected and considering the evolution of history, along with several factors of change with time, I have to this extent learned the profound meaning of ‘indifference’ or being alienated from certain aspects of normal living. This trait does manifest in the attitude of the many who typically rid themselves of concerns for other people or things which barely have anything to do with them and I am saddened by this fact about my culture.

Perhaps despite this, it would be most appropriate to bear in mind the good attribute of consistently showing what the current truth is to relieve particularly the foreigners of sensationalizing the issue in the context where they are drawn to compare between cultures and expect greatly for others to behave in the manner they exhibit.