For those coming-of-age young adults entering college or already enrolled in college, make sure to venture off to a foreign country before you graduate where the overwhelming part of population speaks a language other than English. This eliminates all British Commonwealth countries, Puerto Rico (technically a US Commonwealth), and Mexico (too many Americans there). The goal is to make yourself as uncomfortable as possible.
The illusion is that everyone speaks and communicates in English as the 21st century lingua franca because of globalization through the internet and social media. If you really want to know a culture, you’ll have to dig (not far mind you) under the surface and in person to discover their true riches. That’s why nothing can duplicate that unforgettable overseas culture immersion even if only for a semester or summer. Even in the 21st century age of ease of international inexpensive travel, American travelers remain in their cultural bubbles overseas by staying at ‘Western-style’ hotels and resorts in so-called exotic (aka dangerous) countries.
The genuine effort and dedication in learning the culture is earning respect and discovering commonalities with the local population. This undertaking will earn you familial invitations as the American who’s ‘different’, an anomaly, a face-to-face exchange not found in books or on-line. As an American investing in such a huge voluntary commitment of time makes it all the more impressive. They will work as hard to teach you about their culture as you’ve made the effort to come to their home and learn about theirs.
Upon arrival every American student in your class will be initially bubbling with energy and enthusiasm about being there. They’ll gush endlessly about how they’re committed to immersing themselves and learning everything they can. From personal experiences in Madrid and Paris, I’d advise you disengage yourself from other US students as often as possible without compromising safety and go lone cowboy (cowgirl). Why? Because their enthusiastic façade usually crumbles within 2 weeks and they’ll revert to using this period abroad as either party time or marking time. Why? Because they soon realize that this undertaking is more daunting that they imagined. More importantly, they’ll realize that by engaging in academic studies in a foreign language in a foreign land far from home will result in a profound personal change that they’re not yet willing to accept. The process is similar to what the characters experience in the movie Inception that deals with psychological revelations the deeper one goes. It’s tough enough as a college student domestically. It’s exponentially more challenging in a distinct foreign environment.
For those intrepid students, find your overseas mentors by using social media in that country in areas that are of interest to you whether it be in fashion, design, architecture, etc. You may indeed meet with your future business partners during your sojourn. They will be duly impressed and even thrilled by your chutzpah and will certainly make arrangements for you to visit their atelier and even make introductions. Take advantage of passing through a special door with a narrow time window that will enable you to enter into a world of other cultures and view the world through their eyes. This effort requires determination and grit – a sort of psychological Special Forces training camp of self-sufficiency and the will to push on through many obstacles - but the payoff is spectacularly rewarding for the rest of your life.
Be mindful of the forbidden fruit (distraction), the devil on your shoulder, which in the 21st century is social media. Instead of ignoring it, use it in your favor by switching all your communications settings to the language that you’re studying. Your immersion is now both personal and electronic. The challenge is overcoming your weaknesses and perceived limitations, eliminating distractions, and ignoring discouraging words from people, particularly who you trust. The most hurtful thing if you don’t undertake something you’re passionate about will be a lifetime of regret.
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Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC is a NYC-based global advisory service and think tank with connections at the highest levels. International business is increasingly complex featuring a highly mobile professional class in all corners of the globe. We provide you the tools to successfully negotiate cross-culturally in your global business endeavors. Tell us about your challenges. We'll help you get on the "Short List".
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