Melissa as a guest author at AFS Intercultural Link

I was very honored to be included as guest author in the AFS Intercultural Link newsletter (AFS Intercultural Link, VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 1, JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2012, p. 10). Even though I have been in the intercultural field in a formal way since July 2010, I still feel like a relative newcomer and am still learning about the many different institutions, thinkers, and leaders buzzing around this hive.

One such organization is Young SIETAR - the global branch of SIETAR which is geared toward those who are young and young at heart. For the uninitiated, SIETAR stands for the Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research. There are SIETARs around the globe, from the very local (D.C.) to the national (USA), to the regional (Europa). While each has a slightly different way of doing things, what they all have in common is a desire to build intercultural bridges, advance intercultural research, and serve as a center of professional development in the field.

I was invited by AFS - another intercultural organization - to say a few words about my participation in Young SIETAR. It appears to be something of a novelty, as I was one of only two Americans (the other being my classmate, who accompanied me), but I felt very much at home as I mingled with young professionals and mentors from around the world. As I expressed in the piece, it was a heightened experience where I not only continued my learning about the field, but developed my own culture-crossing muscles as I interacted with a group that was primarily European.

I would like to encourage my U.S.-based colleagues to look beyond our own shores and engage with the broader intercultural field. There is so much that we can learn from each other - not only in terms of cultural perspectives, but in differing approaches to the intercultural field itself. Thank you to YS for hosting me, and to AFS for this opportunity!

CONFERENCE UPDATE The Young SIETAR Congress An Experiential Perspective - Melissa Hahn, Guest Author

At the end of October, a classmate and I travelled to Slovenia for the Young SIETAR (YS) 2011 Congress. As Master of Arts students in the Intercultural Relations program at the University of the Pacific in conjunction with the Intercultural Communication Institute (USA), the YS Congress intrigued us because it offered a chance to learn about our field through a European lens and to interact with students from around the world.

Flying from the US to Europe is no small (or cheap) task, so we made the most of the journey by exploring both Vienna and Budapest before taking the train to Ljubljana. Our conference began at Celica, a former AustroHungarian and Yugoslavian prison turned youth hostel. The setting was an artistic invitation to modern Slovenia: creative, colorful, and playful in the way it put a new spin on its difficult past. After a social evening, we began the next morning with getting-to-know-you activities at the city’s Ethnographic Museum. Next, we divided into teams to complete a scavenger hunt designed to introduce us simultaneously to the city’s history and landscape as well as to Slovenian culture. It also helped us break through our comfort zones to talk to real Slovenes – and to each other.

That afternoon, a bus took us north to Planica, the Olympic Training Center and home to the second highest ski jump in Europe. Nestled in beautiful Triglav National Park, the location was stunning. Many of us opted to participate in a scenic hike; my group walked through fluttering golden and red leaves, and across a hill dotted by traditional Slovenian hay stacks to arrive at the source of the Sava River. Breathing in the fragrant fresh air as I stared down into a completely clear blue pond, I realized that the hike was a window into the Slovenian spirit. One of our local hosts explained that Slovenes cherish the outdoors, a healthy environment, and an active life shared with friends. We were not simply going on a walk, but were, for a short while, living a Slovenian moment.

The Congress itself had a variety of workshops and training sessions. At one point, my group improvised a sketch on the recent history of the field. I also attended a workshop on the relationship between gender and culture, and another on issues of humanitarian aid campaigns perpetuating stereotypes about regions and peoples. During yet another session we focused on becoming better listeners and exploring the intersection of personality and culture.

Congress coordinators had asked us to bring a small item from home, which we shared in small groups. The discussions allowed us to appreciate ways in which we are all similar and yet different; many of us admitted to feeling torn between a desire to settle down at some point and wanting to be perpetually mobile across the globe. The final night brought our best chance for simply socializing and kicking back, as some participants took to the dance floor and others curled up in conference chairs for lengthy conversations. On the morning of our last day, we convened for the General Assembly, where we took care of official business and voted for a new board. I had decided to submit my name, and was elected Education Coordinator.

Now that I have returned home, a few things stand out about the experience. One was an appreciation for the enormous task that developing and carrying out an international conference must be. Another was an awareness of the ways that we are all working in our own frames. Several times, I was struck by how “European” the event felt. This made me wonder how conferences in the US may feel “American” even when the organizers are trying to be inclusive.

Last, I was heartened that, despite the mistakes that we all make as we attempt to move between cultures, real friendships are possible. I can’t wait to go back.

Photo and text copyright 2011, Melissa Hahn. May not reuse without written permission. Disclaimer: This post is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on it as a basis for making business, legal or other decisions. Melissa Hahn and Hahn Cultural Consulting are not responsible or liable for any loss or damage that arises from your use of this content.