In middle school, I signed up for a class called Critical Thinking. I wasn't quite sure what the class was about, but I'd heard from past students that it was fun. With an open mind, I walked into my first class and took a seat. Around me were many new faces. Throughout the semester, these new faces became close classmates as we debated each other on a variety of topics. Each of us had our own beliefs and opinions. Our teacher challenged us to not only support our position, but to understand the other side of an issue. This meant putting on our critical thinking caps and asking lots of questions: "Why do I hold this belief? Where does this belief come from? How does this differ from another person’s belief and why?"
Living in a different culture means I always have on my critical thinking cap. Take, for instance, the traditional French greeting, la bise. In the U.S., I say hello to strangers by giving them a handshake. In Le Puy, I greet strangers with three kisses on the cheek! For me, greeting people like this feels very personal. This is how I might say hello to my mom, not someone I just met. However, in France la bise is a daily routine and not something seen as romantic or personal.
