Choose a particular memorable event from your life and relate the series of events associated with it and discuss the impact on your life. Try to choose an event that lead you to an awareness of a culture other than your own.
The cultural differences that Latinos can have with other cultures in terms of affection or greeting people can be really shocking when you first encounter them. I was a brand new student at UVA . When the class finished I was totally loss of where was I located and how to get back to my dorm so naturally I asked a girl if she could tell me the directions of how to get back. She was really open and cordial so she guided be to my dorm and had a really good conversation. When it was time to say goodbye I got closed to her to give her a kiss in the cheek, which is the traditional goodbye in Latin America and some parts of Europe between men and women, she reacted with confusion and the moment create a sense of awkwardness in the atmosphere. She eventually understood the cultural difference and had no problem with it, however it was most definitely an awkward moment in my time at UVA that lead me to reflect between my culture and the US culture. The Latino culture is a really open and warm culture that tend to show affection in very ordinary moments of life disregarding the relationship with the other person, meaning that it is not extremely important if the person is a sibling or just an acquaintance. Now, after 2 months at UVA, I can handle this kind of situation better by recalling that when I greet someone of the opposite sex I must act in accordance with their cultural values. Essentially, I must refrain from getting too close to them and, instead, simply wave my hand. Internally, I still believe that this still feels awkward, however, I’m trying to handle it in a more natural way.
Carlos Cerna Reichmann 