A Carefully Curated Experience

by IVAN

This class was a great carefully curated experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. One aspect I particularly appreciated was the introduction to Taiwanese and Brazilian culture and history. My wife is Chinese and since Tawainese culture is very similar to Chinese, it was nice learning about her culture’s history, understanding what it means that she comes from a high context culture, and what exactly that means for me on my dealings with her and my in laws.

 The lectures by Professor Rachel Chang, Jennifer Norris, and Bor-Han, all experts in their respective cultures, were so captivating and very informative. I found myself fully engaged in their well-planned zoomed sessions, not only learning how to provide feedback to Taiwanese and Brazilian individuals but also gaining valuable insights into having difficult conversations in general, really delving into culture context which is a “in between the lines context” if you will for people of different cultures and what we need to know to navigate it.

The cooking portion of the class was a highlight for me, as I strongly believe that food has the power to bring people together. Bor-Han's follow-up was incredibly insightful, sharing the significance of the dishes we prepared and offering tips on sourcing the ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious pork belly can be and now find myself actively seeking out these dishes whenever I visit Asian supermarkets or Chinese restaurants.

Overall, Professor Clavell has done an exceptional job of exposing us to different cultures and facilitating a seamlessly coordinated virtual abroad class. Something that is crucial for getting a good experience. Coordinating is difficult enough, let alone different time zones, personalities, and curriculum. I just wanted to say that because I don’t want it go unsaid.

Ivan & Louise