Little thoughts of North Americans...

Since the second weekend we had some lectures on many kind of areas, like linguistics, anthropology, psychology. The lecturers are showing us how the North American life is. There were two of these meetings that specially caught my attention: American Cultural Vallues and Gender Issues & Sexual Harassement.

Professor Patty Delayne. Saint Mike's Profile:
 http://www.smcvt.edu/Pages/Get-to-Know-Us/Faculty/Delaney-Patricia.aspx?
category=Faculty&Subcategory=
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The lecturer Patty Delaney, associate professor of anthropology and gender issues of Saint Michael's College, told us about the american culture, and spent more time discussing the "cultural shock". When we move to a new country, we submerge ourselves in a new way of life, that includes new culture, new thoughts, expressions, language, food, education system; it is an entire new world. Despite all the excitement, there is a peculiar pattern of foreigners known as "cultural shock". Leaving behind all your culture for enter in a new one can cause some symptoms, such as, depression, excessive sleep, homesick.
For me, the most interesting part, was discover that this pattern is as largely known as predictable. Morever, the causes are social, but the symptoms are physiological! This kind of knowledge is so amazing!

Professor Dave Lenders. Saint Mike's Profile:
http://www.smcvt.edu/Pages/Get-to-Know-Us/Faculty/
Landers-David.aspx?category=Faculty&Subcategory=
{0083BA67-DBCC-4F2A-B5DF-0B271C3CACA1}

In turn, the lecturer Dave Lenders, professor of psychology and gender issues, talked with us about gender issues, as well as sexual diversity. North Americans have a long history of civil rights, like racial, women and gay rights. Because of this history, most of the North mericans are really ok accepting sexual diversity. For some countries where homossexuality is not a good thing, or is even prohibited, accept this issues can be very hard. I need to take a position here and say that do not accept the difference just cause angry and violence.



Anyway, change your routine and dive in a new culture is somehow hard for everybody - more or less for each one. However, all of us that accept this adventure can learn a lot with the difference and discover many things about ourselves.