Objectives:
1. Explain the profound impact of culture on human perception.
2. Demonstrate appropriate language strategies in differing and multi-language speaking environments.
3. Evaluate the effects of geography, politics, language and history on intercultural communication.
4. Identify and articulate your own ethnocentric biases.
5. Compare cultural biases such as ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and racism.
6. Analyze the complexities of cross-cultural interaction and communication.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural norms and customs in key world regions.
8. Demonstrate how to interact with and learn from individuals from differing cultures including those with sex role and gender differences.
9. Demonstrate a knowledge of research methods in a research paper and presentation.
- You will want to refer to objectives as a guide for reflecting on your experiences from foreign deployment. It can be a one page.
My info
Was stationed in Kosovo in 2007-08 as US military for peace keeping mission.
Part of special group called LMT (liaison monitoring team)
Daily engagement with the local community
Mediate between waring communities of Albanians and Serbians
Attend and observe parliamentary sessions twice a week.
Worked alongside NATO troops.
Meet with city Mayor 3 times a week. Discuss and share information relating to new developments in the community.
Meet with school boards, local business leaders, and community leaders.
Meet and greet ordinary people by walking the streets.
On Thursday nights we visit the local radio station for Question & Answer session. The locals can call the station to ask us questions.
Write a report daily and send the information to higher chain of command.
We brought onto the base local sports talents such as girls volley ball teams, soccer and basketball teams to play a friendly match with Multinational task forces.
I organized an event and brought onto the base a top national band in Kosovo to perform for the soldiers. The event went great.
With my linguistic skills I was able to make a bond with UNMIK police force from India and Pakistan in which they were able to lead us capture illegal weapons and contrabands.
We attended many wedding invitations and visited many families in their homes.
Was asked to run for city Mayor by the locals.
I still keep in touch with some of my Kosovar friends.
I hope to return back to Kosovo as a civilian someday in the near future.
My military career came to an end in 2011 and I was honorably discharged.