Reflection on Intercultural Maturity

1. Cognitive/Intellectual Learning

Throughout this course, I have learned that identity, bias, othering, and oppression are more complex than I initially thought. Discrimination does not only happen through intentional actions but can also exist in everyday interactions, social norms, and institutions.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story, taught me how stereotypes develop when people rely on one narrative to understand an entire group (Adichie, 2009). Powell and Menendian’s The Problem of Othering helped me understand how societies exclude people by treating them as outsiders (powell & Menendian, 2016). Binna Kandola’s video on Diffusing Bias showed me that unintentional assumptions can influence our decisions. Finally, Kimberlé Crenshaw’s TED Talk on intersectionality taught me that different aspects of identity interact and shape people’s experiences (Crenshaw, 2016).

The in-class activity where we read each other’s CVs and got to know one another also helped me understand that people are much more than our first impressions suggest. A CV shows someone’s achievements and experiences, but getting to know the person behind it reveals more about their individual story. This reminded me not to make assumptions based on limited information.

I still wonder how we can challenge deeply rooted biases without making others defensive. I hope Soliya will help me explore these questions by listening to people from different cultural backgrounds.

2. Intrapersonal Learning: Understanding Myself

This course has helped me realize that my identity, upbringing, and culture influence how I see the world. As an Egyptian student, my background shapes how I understand issues related to the Middle East, but my perspective does not represent everyone.

I have also learned that recognizing my own biases can be more difficult than identifying them in others. The CV activity encouraged me to reflect on how first impressions can be incomplete and how learning about someone personally can challenge our assumptions. During Soliya, I hope to become more self-aware, understand how my identity influences my opinions, and remain open to different viewpoints.

3. Interpersonal Learning: Interacting Across Differences

I have learned that communicating across cultures requires active listening, empathy, patience, and respect. Bloom’s article Against Empathy encouraged me to think critically about how we understand others and recognize the limitations of emotional reactions alone (Bloom, 2014). Jay Smooth’s video, How to Tell Someone They Sound Racist, showed me that challenging harmful statements can be done constructively by addressing what someone says rather than attacking them personally (Smooth, 2008).

The CV activity also taught me the importance of making an effort to get to know people rather than judging them based on first impressions. I hope Soliya will help me practice respectful disagreement, ask thoughtful questions, and build connections with people whose experiences and beliefs differ from mine.

4. Discussing Palestine, Iran, and the Middle East During Soliya

I expect discussions about Palestine or the war involving Iran and the wider Middle East to be emotionally challenging because participants may have different political views and personal connections to these issues. As an Egyptian student, I may feel strongly about these discussions, especially when I encounter stereotypes about the region or statements that overlook civilian suffering.

If I could direct the discussion, I would encourage everyone to share their perspectives respectfully, question their sources of information, and avoid generalizing about entire cultures or nationalities. I would want the conversation to focus on understanding different experiences rather than forcing everyone to agree.

I would need a supportive environment with clear expectations for respectful dialogue, especially if the discussion became uncomfortable. I also want to remember that listening to another perspective does not mean abandoning my own values. Overall, I hope Soliya will help me become more open-minded, self-aware, and confident in discussing difficult issues while respecting people from different backgrounds.

Adichie, C. N. (2009). The danger of a single story [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

Bloom, P. (2014, August 20). Against empathy. Boston Review. https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/paul-bloom-against-empathy/

Crenshaw, K. (2016). The urgency of intersectionality [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality

Kandola, B. (n.d.). Diffusing bias [Video]. Course material.

powell, j. a., & Menendian, S. (2016). The problem of othering: Towards inclusiveness and belonging. Othering & Belonging, 1, 14–39.

Smooth, J. (2008). How to tell people they sound racist [Video]. Ill Doctrine.