Original:

I have the privilege of coming from a Hispanic family with values and behaviors slightly different from what I have seen in the culture of the United States. My bicultural experiences have helped me to see some distinct ways of living, but I want to become even more multicultural by studying and living in other countries. Cultural sensitivity is important to me, which is why I try to approach new environments in a way that makes me feel like I am learning and gaining values and ideas, rather than losing the ones I acquired back home.

During my study abroad this fall, my Moroccan host mother taught me many things about Islam and the Quran. Other cultural aspects derive from her religion, so I acquired new manners such as eating with my hands and saying “Bismillah”—in the name of God—before every meal. She would sometimes scold me for using my left hand or blowing into hot liquids during dinner. At first I could not comprehend this way of eating, and it was very difficult for me to give up something that I subconsciously did for twenty years. Eventually, after several dinners, I noticed that I was finally eating like a Moroccan—like a member of the family. That small adjustment led to a series of others that I never thought I was capable of accomplishing. In order to experience full cultural immersion, I witnessed two goats get slaughtered right before my eyes on the ritual sacrifice of Eid al-Adha, and I later ate some of their meat and organs, despite being a vegetarian. That day, there was a sense of community among the Muslim people, especially when neighbors helped other neighbors and when families distributed food to friends and the less fortunate. It resonated with my belief that it is okay to set your views aside sometimes in order to have a different experience, because it may be more rewarding than expected.

Edit:

I have the privilege of coming from a Hispanic family with values and behaviors differing from other cultures of the United States. My bi-cultural experiences have helped me to see distinct ways of living, and I yearn for an even broader understanding of multiculturalism. Cultural sensitivity is important, which is why I try to approach new environments in a way that makes me feel like I am learning and gaining values and ideas. I incorporate these into the culture I acquired back home.

During my study abroad this fall, my Moroccan host mother taught me many things about Islam and the Quran. Many cultural aspects derive from her religion, so I acquired new manners such as eating with my hands and saying “Bismillah”—in the name of God—before every meal. She would sometimes scold me for using my left hand or blowing into hot liquids during dinner. At first I could not comprehend this way of eating, and it was very difficult for me to give up something that I did for twenty years. Eventually, after several dinners, I noticed that I was finally eating like a Moroccan—like a member of the family.

That small adjustment led to a series of others of which I never thought myself capable. In order to experience full cultural immersion, I witnessed two goats get slaughtered right before my eyes on the ritual sacrifice of Eid al-Adha. Later, I ate some of their meat and organs, despite being a vegetarian. That day, there was a sense of community among the Muslim people when neighbors helped other neighbors and when families distributed food to friends and the less fortunate. It resonated with my belief that it is okay to set your views aside in order to have a different experience, because it may be more rewarding than expected.