Introduction - 07.11.11
Then was our first on-line meeting with students from the other countries. I was in pair with Deepa Ramaswamyd from East Carolina University Honors College. We were a little shy, but it was better than I expected - she was very nice and helpful. She used simple American language, so I understood her.
College life - 09.11.11
Students from University of Northern Carolina are studying different majors - nursing, tourism, sociology and travel, but all of us (Polish group) is studying English Philology, which in America
is called “English studies” or “English language”.
About campuses and generally college life. In Northern Carolina lots of people live in a campus, almost everyone. But in Krosno students usually live in their family house. We have our campus, but it's mostly implicated by Erasmus students. American campuses are bigger than ours, of course. They have canteens, buffets, coffee shops or places, where can use free internet.
Of course, we have many similar things too. We like spend our free time with our friends to go to some pubs, go to parties and just have fun.
About costs. They have to pay a lot of money for studies - about 20,000 dollars per semester
in public school and about 50,000 dollars in private schools. It's really a lot of money. I'm greatful that in Poland we can study for free.
Family - 14.11.11
In America we have similar members of family. There's parents and usually two kids. But also single parent and divorces are very popular in nowadays. I think it's like in Poland. Deepa is the only child but she has lots of cousins in her neighborhood, so she's not alone. She lives in a campus, so she doesn't eat dinners with her family, like she used to.
Typical time for marriage is usually after college, around 25 and sometimes around 30. Young people have the freedom to choose with who they want to get marriage. In Indian culture (Deepa's culture, because she's an Indian) arranged marriages are very common with financial reasons, but Deepa said that she has a freedom to choose.
About weddings. It lasts one day - in Poland usually two days. After a ceremony in a church the bride and the groom invited their guests for small party, I can say. For drink, eat and talk.
Driving. In America is speed limit, like in Poland. In towns 45 miles per hour, on highways 60-65 miles per hour. In America you can take the driving classes at the age of 14,5 but then you have to wait until you're 16 when you can take the driving test and get the driving license. It's a little bit weird for me, because of age. 14 years old kid is just a kid. But different country, different culture, different laws - I understand.
Meanings of life, Religion, Cultural Traditions - 16.11.11
Most important things of life for most of our American Global Understanding students are: religion, family, education. I think in Poland is the same situation. About religion. There are Christians, some Protestants: Baptists and Mormons (it's about University of Northern Carolina). Deepa's religion
is Hinduism.
The most important holiday in America is of course “Thanksgiving day”. They eat turkey, eat pies , spend time with their families - there's a big celebration together. There's a “Black Friday” too.
It means that all shops are open all night and all day -it's nothing surprising in America. But…
It's always some `but'. There's a huge sale then. Everything: computer, TVs, fridges, clothes, shoes. There's about 80% reduce - so it's a good bargain to buy something new almost for free.
They have Christmas and the trees then, but unfortunately, they don't believe in Santa Claus. When the Christmas and the New Year comes, there's the longest break for American.
Easter is connected with Easter Eggs. Children have some sweets, chocolates. They look for a Easter Bunnies.
In America the most important birthday is 16 birthday. In Poland 18 birthday. It's called “Sweet 16”. You have right to vote, to have a drive license and you're officially adult.
Americans don't have any “Name Days”, like in Poland.
Stereotypes and prejudices - 21.11.11
When Deepa was a child there was some jokes about Polish people but now they're gone and she doesn't know any joke about us. She heard something about Poland but the only one thing: “Somewhere in Europe is small country called Poland” - that's all. And she was apologizing about that.
She said about stereotypes about themselves. Americans like to drink beer, get drunk and party, especially in college atmosphere, because of the new freedom.
Americans eat a lot of fast foods. People don't want to cook in homes, sometimes they even don't know how to cook, so they going to McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell and Wendy's. but of course not everyone.
Sum up
America and Poland are very similar. I think in many ways and Deepa said exactly the same. So we agree with each other.
Dominika Dzidziul