Resolving cultural rifts
Dear Nouse,
I was saddened to hear that there are international students who have experienced uncomfortable and negative behaviour from York residents.
I am also an international student (Canadian, from a Caribbean background) and I have not experienced any behaviour (to my knowledge) that I would interpret as racist. This is not to deny the reality of other international students who are clearly suffering; this is only to make clear that these experiences are not commonplace for all overseas students.
As a Canadian who has lived in Toronto for many years and also travelled (China, Japan, Indonesia, France, Germany, Italy, the United States as well as here in the United Kingdom), I am used to living, working and just meeting up with other cultures. I understand that every culture has its ‘norms’ and its ‘boundaries’ and different ways of expressing these values.
English culture is a very ‘socialised’ culture, so, if you come from a culture that differs from that, then there may be problems of expectation (on both sides).
I am a very independent person and I choose my friends very carefully. This may or may not cause discomfort to the native populations in the host country, but it doesn’t matter because even though it may take me longer to find friends that I relate to, when I do, they are friends for life.
I have travelled enough to realize that the UK is one of the few countries in the world in which it is relatively comfortable to be a foreigner (especially being a black female).
Needless to say, that doesn’t deny that there are perceived deep cultural rifts between various populations in the UK (see the rise of the BNP throughout England).
Perhaps, instead of pointing fingers and blaming students/staff in general as ‘racists’, a meeting can be arranged between various student bodies/individuals/staff members and faculty so we could talk about these issues face-to-face?
I would be more than willing to help facilitate this.
Penelope Walcott
Final-Year Ph.D. Student in Music Composition
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