Isabelle

HR261 proved to be a valuable course that promoted inclusivity and addressed real-world challenges. To deepen our understanding of multiculturalism's significance in society, group members contributed various perspectives to a wide range of topics across intercultural landscapes. The discussions held in class emphasized various life-applicable skills, including communication, empathy, and patience. By applying realistic scenarios in the classroom, I am able to translate the acquired skills easily into other courses and to grow my own professional abilities.

The conversations originally stemmed from international students in our group who are visiting from Korea and Dubai and some of their hardships of climatizing into Canadian culture. Additionally, my group included classmates with diverse backgrounds and childhood experiences that fostered a colourful scheme of values. By engaging with international students and classmates from diverse backgrounds, we better understood the challenges and rewards of sharing our own cultures and values. It was a transformative experience that allowed us to step outside of our own worldviews and embrace our differences in a safe environment.

Interestingly, we sometimes struggled even with seemingly simple questions, such as identifying differences. It can be difficult to dig deeper beneath the surface level when we are immersed in our own cultural norms, making it hard to recognize something different until it is right in front of us. Opening up and actively participating in conversations can be difficult because our experiences and worldviews are so multifaceted. Since intercultural conversations can be uncomfortable at the beginning, It can be difficult to recognize the underlying differences that go beyond surface-level observations, and if discourse ceases to continue, it could incubate bias and stereotypes. Therefore, truly understanding someone else's world requires a willingness to embrace alternative values, even if it's hard to recognize the immediate benefit.

Adopting curiosity during discourse fosters a greater appreciation for creative interpersonal problem-solving that can grossly evolve Canada's intercultural society. It is important for me to keep seeking out opportunities to engage with diverse individuals to continue my learning and challenge stereotypes and biases. If others recognize this, we can collectively strive to create a more inclusive society where diversity is celebrated and everyone's voices are heard.

Isabelle Hausser, HR 261, Human Rights & Human Diversity, Brantford