The classes I teach are two hours long, so I give my students a break halfway through class and another break towards the end of class. This is not only beneficial to my students but also to me! The breaks give me time to recharge and grab a cup of coffee, or quickly review my notes for the next section of the lecture. Even though taking so many breaks seemed strange to me at first, I have come to realize that this new-found habit helps me stay more focused and alert when I am working. I am hoping I will continue this practice when I return home!
Romanians also perceive personal space differently than do Americans. Romanians tend to stand closer to each other. Sometimes, if they accidentally bump into you, they don’t even notice it. Since I often rode the subway in New York, I am used to crowded spaces. However, I am always reminded of this different perspective of personal space at the airport. When I wait in line to go through the security check or passport control at the Bucharest airport, I can often feel the person behind me pushing into my backpack. At first this annoyed me, but I realized that they are not trying to be rude-- they just have a different way of looking at personal space.
These are just two small examples of how I’ve realized that Romanian people have a different perspective on certain things. But there are more ways in which cultures’ perspectives differ. These can involve bigger things like politics or religion, or smaller things like taking breaks and personal space. All of these things help make the world more diverse and exciting. When traveling, it is important to realize and respect different cultural perspectives. By doing this, we can celebrate the rich diversity of the world!
