On the other hand, when I tried to hug a French friend, she pulled back and asked me what I was doing.
“I’m giving you a hug!” I said. “This is how I’d say hello or goodbye to a friend.”
Her look of shock turned into a look of recognition.
“Ah, this is not something I am used to,” she replied.
She explained that in French society, a hug is very personal and can be seen as romantic. We both laughed at how I was uncomfortable with la bise and she was uncomfortable with the hug. Our shared moment of embarrassment gave us a good laugh. It also taught us to recognize each other’s perspective and be respectful of our differences. After four months, I can do la bise like a pro! I recognize that this greeting is an important form of politesse (politeness) in my community. When I need a hug, I meet up with other American assistants in town.
My experience abroad is best expressed by a work of abstract art by Miquel Barceló. When I traveled to Geneva, I took a tour of the United Nations (U.N.) building. Our group got to enter the U.N. Human Rights Council meeting room. Created in 2006, the council is in charge of promoting human rights and addressing violations by UN member countries. The ceiling of the room looks like a painted cave. Colorful stalactites hang from the ceiling, creating shadows and hiding other textures and colors. As you walk around the room, the ceiling appears to change as new colors and features are revealed. This artwork symbolizes how each person has a unique viewpoint. We must recognize how and why our viewpoints are different. Only then can we begin to understand each other.
