Culture Shock!

[Tania Bukach]

I really enjoyed Culture Shock. It was quite interesting to hear the (largely unheard) opinions of UR international students. This is intriguing to me especially because of my own particular situation. I'm technically an international student, being a Canadian. However, I lived in the States for several years before coming to UR, so I haven't interacted with the international student community very much.

Some of the beginning segments of the film are really important to know before studying abroad. Things like knowing phrases that have no purpose other than showing an understanding of social rules ("What's up?"). I wonder what I'm going to encounter in Senegal. I don't know how I will be expected to act in classes. I may be considered rude and pushy for giving my opinion openly in class. I know the language, but I don't know the social rules at all - how would I even get that information? Senegalese informational sites and books don't give you that kind of information. I suppose talking to other students who have gone through it.