Blogs

By GIA Center

For International Education Week 2023, we are sharing conversations with students who engage in global and intercultural learning in various ways. Benitha Muhimpundu, a junior double major in Finance and Marketing, shared with us about her experiences across cultures. Benitha was born in Rwanda and is currently an Resident Assistant (RA) in the Global Learning Living Community (GLLC) at UD. 

What has influenced or shaped your passion for international education and exchange?

I’m a product of international education and exchange. About 5 years ago, my mom applied for a green card and brought the family to the U.S. She believed strongly that we would have opportunities for education here in ways that we may not have had in Rwanda, as well as better access to health care. We settled first in Texas, but then moved to Ohio, because my mom has friends and acquaintances here, and heard about the good schools. I was excited to attend and graduate from Centerville High School. But beyond the opportunities for our education and health care, coming to the US also meant a better job for my mom, who is a nursing assistant. Here she has had the chance to study to be a nurse. My sister is also a nursing assistant, but studying sonography. They may graduate together this year!

What is a challenging moment of intercultural learning you have encountered?

Rwanda was colonized by English and Belgians, and the three official languages are English, French, and Kinyarwanda. So we speak all three. However, when we came to the US, I noticed that English is different here: terms have one meaning in Rwanda but another in the US. But a major cultural difference is in how we show respect: the way you talk to teachers or parents tends to be different in Rwandan culture. We are taught to not talk back to elders. “Watch your tone” is a phrase I heard often. Moving to the US, we saw how respect was shown differently. In Texas, especially, I saw that students were comfortable talking back to the teachers in class, which was surprising to me. In Rwanda, we’re less likely to say exactly how we feel. Through my experiences here, I have learned that it’s important to express yourself, but with respect. Respect your elders but stand up for yourself!

As a student, how do you promote international education/exchange or expanded intercultural experiences whether through campus, community, or around the world? 

My first year at UD I was a commuter student, but since then, I have been a resident assistant and live on campus. I’m currently an RA in the GLLC. Coming from a different culture and meeting new people here, I’m able to connect with different types of people at UD. Being raised in Rwanda, I experienced another culture by coming to the US, which means I’m more likely to understand what other international people are going through .In Rwanda, there is and was a culture of trust and hospitality that I bring to my work with other students here. Connecting with others from different places allows me to help them through culture shock when they arrive. We can empathize with each other, and learn to understand people from all over the world who are having similar experiences. The best part of my role is the relationships with international students at UD, because they make me feel close to home. I’m not sure why, but we’re less lonely when we connect with others going through the same thing. 

At the same time, being an RA in the GLLC has taught me a lot about navigating and resolving conflicts. Living together in a community always surfaces differences, cultural or otherwise, because of different backgrounds and ways of doing things, and these are big things to struggle with. I learned it was important for me to find the time to disconnect, turn off my phone, and do some self-care to make me better able to help others. 

Where is a place you have always wanted to explore, and why?

I’d love to travel to South Korea. I've been obsessed with the culture for 5 years. I had a friend last year at UD in the GLLC who was from Korea, and she taught me so much about the culture. I’m a K-drama girl, so that’s how I unwind. My life seems like a movie sometimes, and disconnecting by watching a K-drama is a way to cope with the challenges. 

What is one aspect or memory of home that you still embrace today?

There are so many parts of Rwandan culture that I love. Traditions are very important to me, and I want to eventually teach them to my children so they can use the important parts in their own lives. Traditions are valuable because they teach you how to navigate life. Food is a big one. Everything at home is organic and fresh, but here it’s harder to find the ingredients. I also love Rwandan traditional dancing with drums for big occasions. 

Rwandan culture is very friendly and is more likely to physically touch others, which is not always true here in the U.S.. Once, someone here said, “respect my personal bubble!” I thought I had offended them, but I just had to learn that there are different rules for contact with others and the messages it can send. I learned the hard way, but I’m still a big hugger. You’re going to give me a side hug? You might as well just shake my hand! 

Rwanda, like many places, is getting used to diversity as more people visit or live there. With more experience, we learn more deeply about the culture. For example, in Rwanda I used to watch telenovelas in French, but found out later they were actually dubbed from Spanish! I felt so embarrassed, but that’s part of learning about another culture. You thought you knew something, but you didn’t have the whole picture. Now you do, so you learn. It’s different from learning from a book. It’s learning by experience.