Spring Break
Column: Beer and foreign cultures are acquired tastes
Chris Kromphardt / Columnist
Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: Opinions
Beer and student exchange are very similar. I believe an argument can be made that the two share much in common, that characteristics thought unique by one are actually reflected in the other.
Start (for those of you who are 21) by thinking about what distinguishes different kinds of beer. There are hundreds of different kinds, but as anyone who's ever taken that first sip knows that first taste, generally, isn't very good. It's strange and it's new, and it's not until you give the tastes a chance to stand out that you can truly appreciate a good beer.
This is similar to studying abroad. Students who take a summer or a semester to travel to another country are faced with weird new aspects of the culture they're being introduced to, and the transition isn't always cozy. A country that embraces haggis and kilts is likely to be off-putting to someone experiencing those things for the first time, at least until you get a chance to get a feel for the entire culture.
This metaphor can be applied to another, less prevalent kind of student exchange: domestic. Eastern and dozens of other colleges across the country take part in the National Student Exchange, which allows students to spend up to a year at another school just as if they were studying abroad. As someone who took part in this program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Fall 2007, I can tell you that the culture shock that comes with going from Illinois to New England is pretty significant, even if it's not quite as profound as a semester jaunt to Holland.
It's kind of like comparing a Bud Light with a Heineken: To the dilettante they taste pretty much the same, but to the experienced beer drinker the difference is considerable.
It's on similar grounds that I would argue for the relevance of programs like National Student Exchange. To someone with strong American sensibilities - like the typical college student - another university in the United States would give them a chance to experience the difference in culture championed by exchange advocates as so important while not being overwhelmed by such differences as the abovementioned haggis. Put simply, it's easier to appreciate nuance if you have context.
Of course, this is not to disparage traveling abroad. However, I think that many of the benefits of such an experience have to be lost on an American whose mind is still very much centered in the Midwest. There are very few common points of reference, and while the idea of total cultural immersion might be thrilling to some, total appreciation of a culture is most likely lost on thousands of Americans who might think the coolest thing about living in England is the use of the word "bubbler" or the tiny cars that drive on the opposite side of the road.
I personally would love to travel abroad, but at the same time I can't help but think there are just so many things I've yet to experience in the United States that will help me expand my admittedly limited worldview.
Like Yuengling.
Chris Kromphardt is a senior political science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
Start (for those of you who are 21) by thinking about what distinguishes different kinds of beer. There are hundreds of different kinds, but as anyone who's ever taken that first sip knows that first taste, generally, isn't very good. It's strange and it's new, and it's not until you give the tastes a chance to stand out that you can truly appreciate a good beer.
This is similar to studying abroad. Students who take a summer or a semester to travel to another country are faced with weird new aspects of the culture they're being introduced to, and the transition isn't always cozy. A country that embraces haggis and kilts is likely to be off-putting to someone experiencing those things for the first time, at least until you get a chance to get a feel for the entire culture.
This metaphor can be applied to another, less prevalent kind of student exchange: domestic. Eastern and dozens of other colleges across the country take part in the National Student Exchange, which allows students to spend up to a year at another school just as if they were studying abroad. As someone who took part in this program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Fall 2007, I can tell you that the culture shock that comes with going from Illinois to New England is pretty significant, even if it's not quite as profound as a semester jaunt to Holland.
It's kind of like comparing a Bud Light with a Heineken: To the dilettante they taste pretty much the same, but to the experienced beer drinker the difference is considerable.
It's on similar grounds that I would argue for the relevance of programs like National Student Exchange. To someone with strong American sensibilities - like the typical college student - another university in the United States would give them a chance to experience the difference in culture championed by exchange advocates as so important while not being overwhelmed by such differences as the abovementioned haggis. Put simply, it's easier to appreciate nuance if you have context.
Of course, this is not to disparage traveling abroad. However, I think that many of the benefits of such an experience have to be lost on an American whose mind is still very much centered in the Midwest. There are very few common points of reference, and while the idea of total cultural immersion might be thrilling to some, total appreciation of a culture is most likely lost on thousands of Americans who might think the coolest thing about living in England is the use of the word "bubbler" or the tiny cars that drive on the opposite side of the road.
I personally would love to travel abroad, but at the same time I can't help but think there are just so many things I've yet to experience in the United States that will help me expand my admittedly limited worldview.
Like Yuengling.
Chris Kromphardt is a senior political science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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