Module 3 Discussion: Moving Students Into a New Culture

I have experienced many forms of culture shock. 

When I visited Italy, I was taken aback by the friendliness and hospitality everyone showed me. Having lived in the NYC area my entire life, I was used to walking around in a constant state of anxiety due to gang violence, crime, and the general seediness of my neighborhood. Turning down the wrong block could spell trouble. 

When i went to Venice, that mindset was immediately flipped on its head. My partner and I got lost our first night there, and an Italian family happened to notice our struggle. They invited us in for dinner, conversation, and then walked us back to the San Rialto bridge so we could catch a ferry home. As a result of that kind gesture, the way I looked at the world changed. There were good people around, and it was okay to open myself up and trust those people to have the best intentions.

I try to maintain that same friendliness, that same air of comfortability, in my classroom, so that my children, no matter what their level, are willing to open up about their strengths and weaknesses. Then together we can tackle them so that they can reach their full potential.