Dearborn Experience
Trip to Dearborn provided me precious experiences, which helped me to grow up in my cultural sensitivity. Dearborn was one of the strangest place I have ever been in my life because it was largely populated by Muslims, who immigrated from outside of U.S. Although I was in U.S, I felt as if I was out of the country as many of the buildings, signs, and people were Islamic. Therefore, I was able to have an indirect experience of Islamic culture in Dearborn. I had a chance to meet some Muslims in the church we stayed in as we helped their English Second Language classes. The class was directly to serve and help immigrated Muslims to improve with their English skill. As I was talking to some of the students, it striked me greatly as I found out
that many of those Muslims came to U.S as refugees due to the war in their countries. I always believed that many refugees from the Eastern region must be Christians as they were being persecuted from Muslims but from the conversations I had with students at the classes, Muslims were affected and suffering equally as Christians do. This shattered my stereotypical worldview and made me to be more cautious about addressing Muslims as a whole when it comes to persecution. Many Muslims are suffering just as many Christians do. I was able to visit two Muslim restaurants both in Dearborn and Grand Rapids. It was very interesting how they cook all their food with Halal meat and that they value and care so much of animals that we eat. Foods were incredibly delicious and it reminded me much of Asian foods as their food included rice, vegetables, and many side dishes. Their cultural and social practices such as abstaining from alcohol or any substances also impressed me and made me realize how much they value their faith both in their private and social life. I have grown up in different cultures ever since I was young so I knew there would have been many differences in Muslim cultures and nothing stood out as a cultural shock to me. However, it was indeed great for me to experience and explore new culture from different side of the world.
that many of those Muslims came to U.S as refugees due to the war in their countries. I always believed that many refugees from the Eastern region must be Christians as they were being persecuted from Muslims but from the conversations I had with students at the classes, Muslims were affected and suffering equally as Christians do. This shattered my stereotypical worldview and made me to be more cautious about addressing Muslims as a whole when it comes to persecution. Many Muslims are suffering just as many Christians do. I was able to visit two Muslim restaurants both in Dearborn and Grand Rapids. It was very interesting how they cook all their food with Halal meat and that they value and care so much of animals that we eat. Foods were incredibly delicious and it reminded me much of Asian foods as their food included rice, vegetables, and many side dishes. Their cultural and social practices such as abstaining from alcohol or any substances also impressed me and made me realize how much they value their faith both in their private and social life. I have grown up in different cultures ever since I was young so I knew there would have been many differences in Muslim cultures and nothing stood out as a cultural shock to me. However, it was indeed great for me to experience and explore new culture from different side of the world.