Type 2 Experience Analysis
My largest Type 1 and Type 2 experiences involved the entirety of my homestay in Spain. The family’s norms, rules, and style of living annoyed me and made me feel out of place. Additionally, my customs, habits, and lifestyle annoyed the family at multiple points during my short five month stay with the family. Quite frankly, I had no idea that cultural differences could lead to so much frustration and my Type 1 and Type 2 experiences were emblematic of that belief. I had my first Type 1 experience immediately when I arrived at the homestay. After meeting the family, the father stopped a conversation I was having with the mother to talk to me about the rules of the household. I had never seen anything more patriarchal in my life and was surprised
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I was confused because I did not eat in my room and told them that was the case. They then informed me that they had gone through my garbage bin, found crumbs in the bin, and were going to contact my program director about the issue to recommend disciplinary action. Naturally, I was shocked my actions could elicit such a strong response. I did not know it at the time, but my actions had been a major source of annoyance for the family and caused them to have a Type 2 experience during my stay.
It was only after this experience that I realized the strength of cultural differences. My values and the values of my homestay family were diametrically opposed in most respects and it was only after speaking with them that we learned how to coexist on a decent level. If I had the opportunity to live in a homestay again, I would make my values, habits, and daily practices abundantly clear. I would also make sure to establish ground rules to protect myself from a Type 1 experience.
Overall, I learned a lot staying with a homestay family in Spain. I learned how differing familial experiences could be, obtained a better understanding of my values, and determined what I need to live a comfortable life. Moreover, I learned that my actions affect others in ways that are not always clear and to always be cognizant of my
I was confused because I did not eat in my room and told them that was the case. They then informed me that they had gone through my garbage bin, found crumbs in the bin, and were going to contact my program director about the issue to recommend disciplinary action. Naturally, I was shocked my actions could elicit such a strong response. I did not know it at the time, but my actions had been a major source of annoyance for the family and caused them to have a Type 2 experience during my stay.
It was only after this experience that I realized the strength of cultural differences. My values and the values of my homestay family were diametrically opposed in most respects and it was only after speaking with them that we learned how to coexist on a decent level. If I had the opportunity to live in a homestay again, I would make my values, habits, and daily practices abundantly clear. I would also make sure to establish ground rules to protect myself from a Type 1 experience.
Overall, I learned a lot staying with a homestay family in Spain. I learned how differing familial experiences could be, obtained a better understanding of my values, and determined what I need to live a comfortable life. Moreover, I learned that my actions affect others in ways that are not always clear and to always be cognizant of my