Liz McQueeney

Crossing Borders
December 10, 2014
My Philosophy of Cross-Cultural Learning

Life improved greatly for me the moment I stepped off the plane
into Switzerland: my new home for the next four months. My idea of the
world was enhanced significantly throughout my time abroad and I was able
to learn and reflect on my personal beliefs. My philosophy of the world is
that everyone should be an active global citizen by helping one another and
understanding what other cultures can teach us through cross-cultural
learning. It is necessary that we open our minds and hearts to share ideas
and work together to better the world we share. It has become much easier
to connect with the rest of the world within the last few decades because
globalization is constantly occurring. Globalization, or the sharing of ideas
and values from different parts of the world, allows for people to understand
each other through cross-cultural learning. I believe cross-cultural learning,
or interacting with people of other cultures and traveling, is an incredibly
important aspect of life that every person should participate in. I was
fortunate enough to study and live in Switzerland for four months during my
time at Providence College. This experience of cross-cultural learning has

made me a better person and helped me to become a global citizen. I think

more people need to care about global issues bigger than themselves and
come together to share ideas about how to make the world a better place
for us all to coexist. Cross-cultural work taught me to open my mind to
other cultures customs and beliefs, learn from one another, live each day
as if its my last, and always take time to reflect on experiences.
The world is a wonderful place in the way that there are many
diverse cultures and people living together where we can share different
values and ideas. Living, working, and learning in different countries
surrounded by a completely different culture enhances lives because people
realize they are not the most important thing on the planet. When I studied
abroad my eyes were open to many different types of people, cultures, and
ways of life. I quickly came to the realization that I need to be more
concerned about others rather than myself because I am just a small part of
this world; there are issues much larger than I am. For example, when I
was an intern at the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) I was
able to help run their annual conference which held dialogues that allowed
for over fifty representatives of international NGOs and non-profits to
discuss potential solutions for global issues, such as policies related to
refugees. Being able to attend an impressive international event

surrounded by people from all over the world humbled me greatly.

Everyone discussed major issues that are currently affecting people
throughout the world and it made me realize that my story is insignificant
compared to those struggling through hardships. By doing this crosscultural work and studying abroad in a foreign country, I have a better
understanding of what it means to be a global citizen in the world. I believe
at this point my role as a global citizen is to stand up for what I believe in,
educate myself on important global issues, and dedicate my work towards
helping others.
I had many memorable experiences throughout my study abroad
experience that helped me to realize how important cross-cultural learning
and international work is to life. I believe it is so important to embrace
other cultures openly in order to better yourself by thinking in more than
one way. One of my favorite memories while abroad is traveling to Morocco
with six friends. We stayed with a man named Abdu in his home within the
heart of Marrakech. He was so overwhelmingly welcoming and hospitable
and he made such an impact on the way I view the world and others around
me. Up until the point of staying with Abdu, I had this understanding that
everyone was controlled by money and always wanted something in return;
that is what society has taught me to believe. Abdu changed my

philosophy on life during the three days we spent with him. Never once did
he ask for money to pay him for our stay and he was always there offering
us anything we wanted to make sure we felt at home. I was thinking about
this experience compared to my pervious experiences in hotels in the
United States and I really appreciate the Moroccan culture now. Americans
tend to care more about money than each other and I think we can learn a
lot about what is important in life from Moroccans like Abdu. If I had never
left my comfort zone by going to Morocco, I would have never had this
cross-cultural occurrence and realize compassion should run my life, not
money.
My major goal in life is to become the best global citizen I can be. In
my eyes, a great global citizen is someone who actively participates in
cross-cultural learning by traveling, interacting with people from diverse
backgrounds, educating themselves about global issues, and standing up
for what they believe to try to make a difference. Before studying abroad I
had always tried to be a global citizen but I had only volunteered a small
amount of my time to global issues; I had never had any hands on
experience. I knew I cared about the world but I was not sure exactly what
issues I was most passionate about. Also, I did not have many interactions
with people from other cultures. My intentions were there, but I had a lot of

work to do. Now, after studying abroad, I feel that I am living more fully and
truly following my philosophy of life. I took full advantage of my time in
Europe by traveling to eight other countries and experiencing as many
different cultures as I could. At first I was nervous about going on
adventures in new countries that were very different from what I was used
to, but I quickly realized how much I enjoyed taking risks and living each
day like it is my last. One of the biggest risks I took was paragliding in
Interlaken. A couple of my friends and I made the impulse decision to get
our adrenaline pumping and I was incredibly hesitant and scared. Running
off the side of a mountain and flying through the air was the most
spectacular experience and I am so happy that I stuck with my belief that
leaving my comfort zone leads to experiences Ill never forget. Being able
to live in Switzerland and completely immerse myself in a new home and
culture definitely opened my eyes. I had been so used to culture in America
that I never questioned the customs I don't necessarily agree with. Crosscultural learning taught me I am able to think for myself and realize that
other countries have values I can agree with more so than my own.
Everyone should participate in cross-cultural learning. Obtaining
knowledge from other parts of the world enhances peoples perceptions on
life because everyone has something different to offer. By collaborating

across many cultures about global issues, we are more likely to develop
efficient solutions. Not only does cross-cultural work help to improve global
concerns, but also it can help people individually as well, just like it did for
me. By experiencing different cultures and meeting people from around the
world when I was abroad, I was able to go deeper into developing my
personal opinions and grow as a person. My time working at ICVA, staying
with Abdu in Morocco as well as paragliding in Interlaken helped me to
realize how important it is to me that people open their minds to other
cultures and work together. My four months living in Switzerland and
traveling around Europe taught me many things, especially how it is
necessary to take risks, live life to the fullest, and always reflect on
experiences. I hope to continue participating in cross-cultural learning and
reach my goal of doing international work with refugee services, providing
humanitarian aid to areas of conflict, improving accessibility and
acceptability for the mentally disabled, and helping everyone to have the
opportunity for a quality education.