Julia CP#2

Date/Time: 1/21/16 1 pm
Location: CIES Lounge
Topic discussed: I participated in the Cultural Exchange program in which we were provided a guiding activity to discuss. The activity that we discussed this session was where different aspects of our own culture were present (i.e. are they visible or internalized).
Cultural and/or linguistic topics you and your partner learned: I spoke with a guy from Kuwait and a girl from Spain. I found that many cultural norms are shared between the three cultures, but especially between the United States and Spain. In Kuwait the cultural norms vary between the city and rural areas. In rural areas there are stricter guidelines in regards to manners. Men should not sit on the same bench as women as well as they should not be on the staircase at the same time, out of respect. In the city this does not matter and these guidelines are not followed. One difference that I noted between the United States, Spain, and Kuwait is that people in the U.S. dress much more informally. Here it is more acceptable to dress in sweatpants in public. In other places this as seen as unusual.