Melissa Hahn is currently completing a Master of Arts degree in Intercultural Relations from the University of the Pacific, in conjunction with the Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI). We thank her for her contribution as a guest writer in this edition of AFS Intercultural Link.
At the end of October, a classmate and I travelled to Slovenia for the Young SIETAR (YS) 2011 Congress. As Master of Arts students in the Intercultural Relations program at the University of the Pacific in conjunction with the Intercultural Communication Institute (USA), the YS Congress intrigued us because it offered a chance to learn about our field through a European lens and to interact with students from around the world.
Flying from the US to Europe is no small (or cheap) task, so we made the most of the journey by exploring both Vienna and Budapest before taking the train to Ljubljana. Our conference began at Celica, a former Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslavian prison turned youth hostel. The setting was an artistic invitation to modern Slovenia: creative, colorful, and playful in the way it put a new spin on its difficult past. After a social evening, we began the next morning with getting-to-know-you activities at the city’s Ethnographic Museum. Next, we divided into teams to complete a scavenger hunt designed to introduce us simultaneously to the city’s history and landscape as well as to Slovenian culture. It also helped us break through our comfort zones to talk to real Slovenes – and to each other.
That afternoon, a bus took us north to Planica, the Olympic Training Center and home to the second highest ski jump in Europe. Nestled in beautiful Triglav National Park, the location was stunning. Many of us opted to participate in a scenic hike; my group walked through fluttering golden and red leaves, and across a hill dotted by traditional Slovenian hay stacks to arrive at the source of the Sava River. Breathing in the fragrant fresh air as I stared down into a completely clear blue pond, I realized that the hike was a window into the Slovenian spirit. One of our local hosts explained that Slovenes cherish the outdoors, a healthy environment, and an active life shared with friends. We were not simply going on a walk, but were, for a short while, living a Slovenian moment.
The Congress itself had a variety of workshops and training sessions. At one point, my group improvised a sketch on the recent history of the field. I also attended a workshop on the relationship between gender and culture, and another on issues of humanitarian aid campaigns perpetuating stereotypes about regions and peoples. During yet another session we focused on becoming better listeners and exploring the intersection of personality and culture.
Congress coordinators had asked us to bring a small item from home, which we shared in small groups. The discussions allowed us to appreciate ways in which we are all similar and yet different; many of us admitted to feeling torn between a desire to settle down at some point and wanting to be perpetually mobile across the globe. The final night brought our best chance for simply socializing and kicking back, as some participants took to the dance floor and others curled up in conference chairs for lengthy conversations. On the morning of our last day, we convened for the General Assembly, where we took care of official business and voted for a new board. I had decided to submit my name, and was elected Education Coordinator.
Now that I have returned home, a few things stand out about the experience. One was an appreciation for the enormous task that developing and carrying out an international conference must be. Another was an awareness of the ways that we are all working in our own frames. Several times, I was struck by how “European” the event felt. This made me wonder how our own conferences in the US may feel “American” even when we are trying to be inclusive. Last, I was heartened that, despite the mistakes that we all make as we attempt to move between cultures, real friendships are possible. I can’t wait to go back.
Hello Melissa, it’s great to read your post-congress impressions!! Would love to hear more about: ‘Several times, I was struck by how “European” the event felt.’ I really have no idea, being a (Central) European myself (AND a local co-host of the event).
Marjeta, you and Robert did such a nice job. We all felt welcome and I think the experience will always be a memorable one for me! One thing that comes to mind is the way that European students construct their learning – it seemed to me that this happened through asking questions. It always surprised me that students felt comfortable interrupting, and that the burden was on the presenter to clarify! I also remember the need for concrete examples, plus that my European counterparts seemed to feel comfortable challenging each other on an intellectual level in a way that I think would feel insulting back home in the US. Maybe the idea is separate from the person? Also, I was struck by how presenters wanted immediate verbal feedback at the end of the presentations – and that they expected it to be critical! I had never seen such a thing – it made me uncomfortable because I would never want to hurt someone’s feelings in front of everyone, but at the same time it was very efficient! I also noticed how hungry for ideas my fellow participants were. After each series of sessions, German students in particular wanted to know all of the details about the sessions that they’d missed – and they wanted me to recount the whole lesson for them in detail! I am so used to providing very abbreviated summaries back in the US that I struggled to put into words the full scope of what I had seen in my own workshop – I simply couldn’t communicate that way very naturally. What else? As an American, I noticed that I was quiet when my European colleagues were talkative and debating, because to me that was the right time to be quiet – and then at other times, it seemed I was talking the most, when they were being quiet. Perhaps this is a question of timing, and the way that we conduct and pace our conversations. One of the things I loved most was the emphasis on the outdoors, and overall health. It was hard to come back to a country that has lost the kind of equilibrium that Slovenes seem to have.