Julia CP#3

Date/Time: 1/28/16 1 pm
Location: CIES Lounge
Topic discussed:We covered stereotypes and generalizations in the cultural exchange workshop today. First, Ramin explained what stereotypes and generalizations are and then gave some examples. As a group we had to differentiate between the two. After, we did an activity in which we were paired up with different people in which the CIES students had to ask the American students about an aspect of American culture that they would like to know more about. Then we each had to ask the other person a question about our own culture that we would like to know how other people think about. Finally, the American student would ask the CIES student a question about their culture. 
Cultural and/or linguistic topics you and your partner learned: I was first paired up with Salem, who is from Kuwait. He asked me how people felt about student loans and I told him that it was just a fact of life in America. He then asked me what I thought of arranged marriages and I said that I didn't really know. I thought that maybe it would be okay if the couple was compatible but that I was against forced arranged marriages. He said that about half of the population of Kuwait still has arranged marriages but that the other half now chooses who to marry. After talking to Salem I spoke with Le, who is from Vietnam. She asked me why we call football soccer. I told her that I didn't know but we later found out that the term "soccer" was short for "association football" and that American football is actually called "gridiron football". She also asked me why it was impolite to ask about age and I said it was because women in the United States tend to associate beauty with young age and like to make themselves seem as young as possible.