Assignment #3- Caroline Blitch- Only the Beginning

I went to Maxwell Elementary School from kindergarten through 4th grade in their Spanish immersion program. Math and science were taught in Spanish, while language arts and social studies were taught in english. Our “Spanish teachers” were all native speakers from various countries in South America and Spain. This early exposure to a different language and many different cultures made me eager to travel to as many Spanish-speaking countries when I got older. 

This past summer I had the opportunity to travel out of the country for the first time, and although it was not to South America or Spain, I was thrilled to participate in the Sister Cities program to Ireland. Initially I expected the political climate to be more progressive than it is in the United States based on current national policies. However, shortly after arriving I realized the emphasis that Irish culture places on Catholicism and the extent that it can influence political/social sentiments. I was most surprised by the opinions of the younger generation, which aligned with their elders. It was a distinct contrast with American youth who tend to be more progressive than their parents and grandparents. 

Although I have only had the opportunity to travel out of the country once, I have also been all over the United States and feel that different states can seem like a whole other world. One of these places being Mobile, Alabama. Both of my parents grew up in Alabama and thus my family and I travel down there quite frequently to see our relatives. The southern culture that my parents grew up in is something that stood out to me even as a small child. As I’ve grown older, I increasingly see distinctions with the social norms and mentalities of people that live in Lexington compared to people that live in Alabama. This made me appreciate the unity of the United States despite the differences.