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Over
the summer, I had the privilege to study German and Political Science in
Bregenz, Austria. While abroad, I lived with a local Austrian woman. Having
just taken one semester of German, I was in no way prepared to live with a
woman who spoke very minimal English. What I found was that, regardless of the
language barrier, it did not affect our ability to form a relationship. I spent
many nights drinking tea and conversing in broken German, aided by many
gestures and a lot of patience. Catherine is an avid bridge player, classical
music enthusiast, proud grandmother and
mom, mean baker, and a kind host. Catherine’s
pride in her country gave me opportunities to experience the culture in an
unconventional way. Local art exhibitions and trips to a secluded bog in
Bavaria were among the many adventures we took together, letting me get a peek
behind the curtain tourists tend to stay in front of. In one particular
instance, I came home from dinner and was trying to express that my stomach was
upset, but due in large part to my language ability, or lack thereof, the
message was misconstrued. Almost immediately she was searching for the
restaurant’s phone
number readying herself to go to bat for me and the negative experience she had
thought I had. Here was a woman, who despite knowing me for a short amount of
time, speaking a completely different language, and having an entirely separate
world view, was willing to defend me. This instance was not unlike several
others that occurred during my stay. In fact, it quickly became the standard.
The hospitality extended to me was far beyond what was expected. She genuinely
wanted to get to know my roommate and me and to become a part of our experience
in Austria, investing time and effort in all our accommodations. In another
instance, after returning from an early morning run, I was greeted by a hot cup
of coffee, freshly baked pastries, and a note wishing me luck on my test.
Catherine’s
extensions of warmth and comfort quickly became a defining feature of my trip.
After long weekends of traveling, I would return to a warm smile and eager
questions of my experiences. Far from my home in Kentucky, I found a sense of
familiarity.
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| Celia Cusick - Class of 2020 |
A sense of southern
hospitality seemed to have followed me to Austria. I learned an important
lesson those nights spent hashing out politics, devising travel plans, and
recounting family stories with Catherine: hospitality
facilitates understanding. It is completely free to show kindness, empathy, and
genuine interest in others. Aside from my host, on numerous occasions I was
shocked at the willingness of others to assist me. While trying to get oriented
to being abroad, it seemed that help was never too far off when I required
it.The opposite seemed to prove true. In fact, as people discovered I was
American, they were dying to ask their itching questions about our culture and
especially our current presidential administration. It seemed we worked out a
trade: each sharing the information the other needed to gain an orientation of
the other's surroundings.
Our bargain, a small-scale cultural
diffusion of sorts, is precisely why hospitality and travel are imperative when
shaping a world view. Choosing to remain ignorant to culture, customs, and
practices foreign to your own is no longer an option in a quickly globalizing
world. Communication is now virtually instantaneous and our interactions with
those who share different world perspectives happen almost daily. Kindness and
basic hospitality, like that of Catherine’s,
is an effective place to start learning about other cultures. Welcome
differences and embrace the distinctions between your culture, political
systems, religious practices, and customs. You have nothing to lose by keeping
an open mind and being exposed to opposing thoughts. The conversation, which
does not require even a shared language, that passes between individuals of a
different background is always constructive. The hospitality shown to me and
the opportunities I was extended as a result of such kindness are an
unparalleled way to become acquainted with another culture.
Catherine was a part of shaping my
world view. Hospitality and welcoming others to take part in learning about
your culture and your home is imperative in an increasingly polarized world
system. Show others what you have to be proud of, the traditions that have been
meticulously preserved, and the distinctions that make your home unique. Extending
an invitation to become oriented with your way of life is a step in the right
direction, but remaining receptive to another’s
customs is of equal weight. The impression we leave on other people, as
Americans and members of the international community, will be integral in
developing world views. Keep in mind that kindness, empathy, and understanding
are without cost. There is always something to gain from another person and you
never know when this opportunity will present itself or from whom it will come
from. Perhaps, like mine did, you will find this kindness in an older woman who
is willing to share her home, wisdom, kindness, and pride with you. Hosting
others is a pleasure and a privilege, and it is time we start acting like it.
Celia Cusick, of Elizabethtown, Ky., is a sophomore McConnell Scholar studying political science and psychology.