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Page 4 Matfs Take: Dealing with culture shock Opinion The Clarion — September 1,2006 by Matt Rutherford Managing Editor It's been close to four weeks since I’ve been back in the United States and the differ ences between here and Europe are only growing in my mind. I have never considered myself a conservative and even though I hate admitting it, I have conservative tendencies. I no ticed this during my three and a half month stay in the United Kingdom. While I was there, I basically became a British per son— acted like one, ate like one, enjoyed the same activities as a Brit. Now I am back in the United States. It’s home and it’s wonder ful to be back and see familiar faces, but I swear there should be a counselor at the airport wait ing for you so you can have your breakdown, let it all out, and con tinue on into reality. However, since there isn’t such a counse lor or a book that tells you how to deal with culture shock, I will. According to Merriam Webster culture shock is, “a sense of confusion and uncer tainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation.” My experience would not exactly be defined by these terms, since I have been exposed to the British a number of times. However, the day I left school I was on my plane to the U.K. and the day I returned, I was home for less than 12 hours before coming back to school. So my shock lies in the quickness of arrival and depar ture and lack of time with loved ones. My advice on dealing with my type of shock— and culture shock in general—is to familiar ize yourself with whatever the said country’s culture. Nearly any library can offer an innumer able number of updated books on the subject. If reading from a book is not your cup of tea, then I suggest reading online. You could check out Wikipedia or even someone else’s travel blog. The amount of information on this kind of subject is almost infinite. Something else you could do to ease your shock is to stay in touch with your loved ones. Don’t call your mom every hour because not only with you worry and annoy her, you will also have a hefty phone bill. Simply send an e-mail or have a brief conversation with whomever you desire. Finally if all else fails, find the nearest counselor and let it all out in the safest way possible. Brevard College The Clarion Staff Adam Beeson Editor in Chief Matt Rutherford Managing Editor Dr. John Padgett Faculty Advisor John Billingsley Photography Editor Staff Writers Zach Browning Tom Cowan Aaron Hall Joseph Chilton Zack Harding Lange Eve Jamie Michaels Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of the staff of The Clarion. Other opinions expressed on this page are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff, or administration of Brevard College. Change is afoot in religious life by Jamie Michaels Opinion Editor Is God “m” at BC? Several experiences in the past few weeks have led me to believe that change is afoot in BC Religious Life. The first, as so many things in the past year, had to do with football. Not only did the foot ball team regularly attend church services upon arriving at Brevard, but there was a surpris ing holiness to the “Pigskin Pig- Out” two weekends ago. With a gospel group sing ing hymns of victory in Jesus and even a pre-meal prayer, it was by far the most religious college-sponsored event I’d at tended in some time. The second experience was my general interaction with this year’s freshmen. I saw a girl read ing her Bible while waiting for her laundry in Beam. A Jones resident asked me about fellowship, church, and Bible study opportunities on campus. A Move-A-Mountain day participant recounted her On the Record... experiences from a mission trip to St. Lucia. And my final observation was the turnout at campus wor ship this past Sunday. Even when not required to attend, stu dents showed up in large num bers. Many even stayed after the service was over to write their names on interest sheets for re ligious life groups on campus. Brevard, a United Method ist affiliated school, has often been criticized by students as neglecting its affiliation. As the only UM school in Western North Carolina not to house a chapel or offer weekly chapel services, it’s not difficult to see why. I am heartened by the new enthusiasm with which stu dents, faculty, and staff are ex hibiting their faith. I hope that this spurs meaningful conversa tion, and that through the ad vent of religious life groups we will be encouraged to deeper understanding of one another. Perhaps God will indeed be the next “it thing” at Brevard. “I thought it was harmless.” —Frank Sendejo, August 30, after giving a group of children a 40 mm shell to play with. Two children were killed while playing with the shell. “I want to ask for forgiveness and to offer you, members of the SGA as well as my fellow students, my sineerest apology. I am not here to offer any excuses. There are none. I am solely responsible for my actions. I accept responsibility." —SGA president Aaron Motley, August 30, at a joint SGA session after being found guilty of a violation of the student code of conduct. ■ Letters Policy The Clarion welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. All letters intended for publication must be signed. All correspondence should be sent to: The Clarion, Brevard College, 400 North Broad Street, Brevard, NC 28712 Send Email to: clarion@brevard.edu
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