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Kyrene Kagahastian
Amid the bustling atmosphere of the dining halls, where aromatic meals fill the r and silverware clinks in harmony with lively conversations, I found myself immersed not just in gastronomic delights but also a smorgasbord of cultural experiences. As a freshman residing at Tropicana Del Norte, an off-campus dormitory that served as a melting pot for students from diverse parts of the world, my senses were awakened dly by the melange of languages beyond my native English and Tagalog.
The sounds of Japanese, French, Portuguese, Chinese, and others filled the r like sweet music to my ears, inviting me into their unique rhythms and melodies. Among these, I befried foreign exchange students from Brazil, Japan, Italy, Korea, China, each bringing with them a tale of their homeland's essence through their native tongues.
I vividly recall dinners with my Brazilian fris, where meals were not just sustenance but an opportunity to relax, connect, and share. The Italian professors later shared that this was indeed common in Italy as wella tradition emphasizing the importance of family gatherings for leisure and conversation during meal times.
My foreign fris gifted me with a richer appreciation of cultures through their gestures, mannerisms, and language. Their stories about life back home expanded my horizons beyond textbooks. Mihana Higashi from Japan taught me that Japanese culture valued collectivism over individualism; it's about prioritizing the well-being of society as a whole rather than personal gns.
As I considered my academic path, these cultural insights resonated with my dreams of traveling and understanding global communities. My curiosity was piqued by Italian culture, food, and language after watching Eat Pray Love. The melodious sound of the Italian language captivated me – from its rolling Rs to soothing trills on Ts.
Beyond the linguistic sounds themselves, I found beauty in words without direct s like saudade Portuguese for longing nostalgia or wabi-sabi Japanese appreciation for imperfection and transience. These foreign words opened a window into new perspectives, providing me with a fresh set of eyes and ears to perceive this world differently.
The journey through global studies and Italian language exploration at UC Santa Barbara enriched my understanding that each language carries its own cultural depth beyond just unique sounds. Herein lies a testament to the universal beauty in language's diversity – an odyssey I'm grateful to have embarked upon.
Kyrene Kagahastian, a fourth-year student majoring in Global Studies and currently enrolled in Journalism for Web and Social Media at UC Santa Barbara, shares her story here as part of our ongoing series on academic explorations.
As you delve into the flag-draped hallways of UC Santa Barbara's Student Resource Building SRB, you'll find a testament to cultural exchange and scholarly inquiry that enriches not just academic life but personal growth.
The essence of language transcs mere communication; it embodies culture, history, and emotions. At UC Santa Barbara, I discovered the beauty not just in understanding different tongues but also embracing the profound insights they reveal about ity's shared experiences across continents.
This narrative capture the spirit of cultural immersion at UC Santa Barbara through a personal lens, highlighting how exposure to diverse languages can broaden perspectives and deepen our appreciation for global communities.
This article is reproduced from: https://www.hfa.ucsb.edu/news-entries/2018/5/17/blog-the-beauty-of-languages
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Cultural Immersion at UC Santa Barbara Global Studies Exploration Experience Language Diversity and Personal Growth Discovering Cultural Beauty Through Academics Understanding Humanity Across Continents Expanding Perspectives with Foreign Languages