University exchange ≠ intercultural exchange
I’m enjoying this exchange. Like, a lot. Yet, promoting it by stating that you will be able to make your ‘international dreams come true’ (Tilburg University website) is simply wrong.
Unless these dreams are about learning even more about European or North American culture, I do not see the cultural exchange. Of course, there are a couple of exchange students who really integrated into the local society (well, to be honest I have not really met any). They are the exception rather than the norm though. Still, this does not mean that the semester abroad is not valuable. For many, it is the first time being away from home for such a long time, moving out of their parents’ house and so on. And of course I have very limited insight, since I can only talk about my experiences here in Hong Kong.
I simply think it is a dangerous tendency in our society to see the 6 months of partying and living your life as an essential and valuable asset that will help you polish your CV. Naturally, I see the importance of getting to know other cultures. But the way these uni-exchanges are set up is going into a wrong direction. Exchange students are often very excluded from the ‘real’ life, they live in what is like a cage of plane tickets, tequila and shopping bags. Local customs and real insights are rare. And these disparities are often institutionalized: having separate classes, roommates from the same cultural background, separate introduction weeks for locals and internationals. Some universities set up these parallel lives very consciously.
And again, this does not mean that the time here is wasted. But in my opinion students should not be encouraged in a purely hedonistic / carpe diem mentality. Rules of countries work differently. If no one screams drunkenly around in the Metro, International students should not do that either. Service personnel should be treated like human beings as much as they would be back at home. These things seem obvious but from my experience, they are apparently not.
University exchange should have to do with mutual learning, gaining knowledge from other cultures. Instead, I hear a lot of: ‘They (the locals) behave like this, they always do that’. Where is the learning? Where is the tolerance? Where is the exchange?
Advertentie.
