Today I popped into my local library to do a little research and gather some resources for my upcoming trip to Brazil and Argentina. First up was to check out some cassettes on basic Portuguese and Spanish. I took Spanish back as a freshman but never was very good at it as 1) I'm not an auditory learner and 2) I kept throwing in high school French from the two years of study just prior to starting college. I did try and take one review semester of Spanish as an adult about 5 years ago since as an instructor I can get free credits at our college. But I feel that I've lossed that again too.
Hopefully the Spanish will come back quick enough. Trying to learn Portuguese is going to be a brand new experience for me. I know I won't be able to pick up a great deal of either language, but want to just have enough to get through some basic expressions--enough to at least make an attempt. The "ugly American" tourist not knowing any words and expecting everyone to speak English to him or her eminates fear and motivates me to do my best in combating this all too true stereotype. Also, seeing as I teach Intercultural Communication where we discuss tourist protocol, I really want to try and demonstrate that I practice what I preach. So these two language cassette packages were the first items I picked up.
I also put in a request for a few items on reserve that will be brought to this library from others in their networked system. Coming in for me are the following books:
Evita: The Real Life of Eva Peron
Evita: In my Own Words
Brazil: Guide to the People, Politics and Culture by IN FOCUS
Rio de Janeiro by Rum & Reggae
Culture Shock: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette Argentina
Two DVD's were ordered as well:
Duy Maxa's World Exotic Places: Agentina
7 Days: Brazil Experience an indepth 7 day sightseeing Video Tour
I also decided that I was going to come back to do a little research from the World Book Encylopedia's here since I know I'm probably going to need some data for any kind of powerpoint or formal presentation.
But before I do too much background research, I need to finish up my visa application and get that to the Consulate. If you haven't read that blog entry already, check it out here:
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Visas--Adventures not for the Procrastator
Wow. Researching and applying for visas are not for the faint of heart. I certainly have learned a lot about this process in getting ready for my Brazilian adventure. Here's a little bit of advice and a few stories about what I now know.
The first rule I learned, is there is no consistent rule to follow except my TIp#1: Do your research ahead of time! While some countries do not require U.S. citizens to have a visa, others do. Some allow you to get the visa at the point of entry (ie the airport or at the border) and some just charge an entrance fee like Argentina ($131 in 2012 but allows me multiple entries for 10 years and can be paid in US Dollars, with a credit card, or traveler's check). Some countries require visas to be obtained in advance of your travel. Attempting to enter China without a Again, different countries seem to have some different requirements.
In some cases, you must go to the Embassy in person, in others you can only mail it. Yet others allow you both options or in some cases, a third party may bring it in for you. Each country has their own list of what is needed as documentation for their visa. Some countries require birth certificates, others require a driver's license or utility bill. Some require a travel itinerary, a sponsor letter, letter of invitation, a hotel reservation or proof of a purchased plane ticket. Others require proof of certain vaccinations and some won't allow you entry if you've visited certain countries prior to your visa application or if you are not with an "approved" travel group (Bhutan). You may be asked to provide a passport photo. Mailing away your valid passport (usually has a requirement of a certain number of valid months left on your current visa and/or a certain number of blank pages left in your passport). And of course the fee (which can also have specific requirements on how it is paid--Brazilian visa application accepts only United States Postal Office money order checks).
I had no idea how expensive it was going to be to get my visa (nor did I realize how complicated it was). I'm an educated woman, and it still took me a couple of days to make sure I had done all my research and completed the application as it was meant to be, because if I didn't, it wouldn't go through and there would be an incredible delay and further expense. I'll give you an example of the process I had to take to get my Brazilian visa, break down some of the expenses for you and then give you a few other examples from other countries I found while doing my research.
To obtain my visa for traveling to Brazil I could either pay a company to do my visa or I could do it myself and save some money. The travel company I was going with had an account with a visa company that would offer a "discounted rate" of $63 plus all the expenses of mailing the material to them and back at higher rates. So I decided to do it myself as I figured it would save my almost $100.
Tip #2: Doing the application yourself is cheaper but you MUST be very careful and you must follow all directions.
First I did an online search and found out that Brazilian visas were only granted by the Brazilian Embassy and Consulate and that there were 8 offices that governed different "jurisdictions" http://www.brazil-help.com/brazil-emb-consul.htm. Minnesota is covered by the Chicago Consulate General of Brazil. So although I had to fill out the online application for that particular consulate I found the directions at the Los Angeles Office to be more user friendly, so I would refer back to them. Unfortunately I didn't find that resource until I was almost done.
There are different types of visas and what I would be applying for was the tourist visa, otherwise known as a VITUR. After filling out the online application (4-5 pages long) I would get a receipt called a "Protocolo" of my online visa request form. From there I had to make sure I had all the required documents to go along with my application. Here's the itemized list: http://chicago.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/vitur.xml
Tip #3: Spend the money to get a real passport photo to use as your visa photo if a photo is required. In my case it was. By the time you try and use one of your photos and get it to the exact size face in the exact size frame with the right type of background and color density it just isn't worth it. Passport photos are more easily available these days and have come down quite a bit in price. I got two photos for $10.
TIP #4 (as learned from the Los Angeles site): Do not staple or tape the secondary passport photo to the Protocolo form. Instead, write your last name on the back and then GLUE it to the square identified on the form. For Brazil, the visa could be mailed, dropped off in person, or through a third party (travel agency or visa agency). As mentioned I found it to be cheaper to mail then go through a company. If I lived within commuting distance to Chicago it would have been cheaper to go personally, but that was not an option for me.
TIP #5 Make sure you keep a copy your receipts which you can then use to track your visa progress. Since my one and only passport was leaving my possession, this allowed me to verify that it did indeed reach the Consulate office (Thursday, May 31 at 4:00 pm). And will allow me to anticipate it's arrival (The Chicago Consulate requires the application to be mailed through the United States Postal Office using Express Mail which is overnight.) This also requires a signature, so it ensures that the package won't be left outside to get damaged in unfavorable weather or left to get into the wrong hands.
Above you can see all the material that was mailed to the Consulate for this one visa. All together it turned out to include over 15 pages of material:
4-copy of online visa application
2-copy of plane ticket receipt
4-page of Intrepid Itinary
1-copy of MN driver's license
1-actual PROTOCOLO (visa receipt)
1-passport photo glued to above protocolo
1-actual passport
2-express mail envelopes with prepaid and completed delivery and return delivery receipts
Phew! Let's hope everything was done properly, that it goes well at the Consulate office and that it makes it home safely.
The first rule I learned, is there is no consistent rule to follow except my TIp#1: Do your research ahead of time! While some countries do not require U.S. citizens to have a visa, others do. Some allow you to get the visa at the point of entry (ie the airport or at the border) and some just charge an entrance fee like Argentina ($131 in 2012 but allows me multiple entries for 10 years and can be paid in US Dollars, with a credit card, or traveler's check). Some countries require visas to be obtained in advance of your travel. Attempting to enter China without a Again, different countries seem to have some different requirements.
In some cases, you must go to the Embassy in person, in others you can only mail it. Yet others allow you both options or in some cases, a third party may bring it in for you. Each country has their own list of what is needed as documentation for their visa. Some countries require birth certificates, others require a driver's license or utility bill. Some require a travel itinerary, a sponsor letter, letter of invitation, a hotel reservation or proof of a purchased plane ticket. Others require proof of certain vaccinations and some won't allow you entry if you've visited certain countries prior to your visa application or if you are not with an "approved" travel group (Bhutan). You may be asked to provide a passport photo. Mailing away your valid passport (usually has a requirement of a certain number of valid months left on your current visa and/or a certain number of blank pages left in your passport). And of course the fee (which can also have specific requirements on how it is paid--Brazilian visa application accepts only United States Postal Office money order checks).
I had no idea how expensive it was going to be to get my visa (nor did I realize how complicated it was). I'm an educated woman, and it still took me a couple of days to make sure I had done all my research and completed the application as it was meant to be, because if I didn't, it wouldn't go through and there would be an incredible delay and further expense. I'll give you an example of the process I had to take to get my Brazilian visa, break down some of the expenses for you and then give you a few other examples from other countries I found while doing my research.
To obtain my visa for traveling to Brazil I could either pay a company to do my visa or I could do it myself and save some money. The travel company I was going with had an account with a visa company that would offer a "discounted rate" of $63 plus all the expenses of mailing the material to them and back at higher rates. So I decided to do it myself as I figured it would save my almost $100.
Tip #2: Doing the application yourself is cheaper but you MUST be very careful and you must follow all directions.
First I did an online search and found out that Brazilian visas were only granted by the Brazilian Embassy and Consulate and that there were 8 offices that governed different "jurisdictions" http://www.brazil-help.com/brazil-emb-consul.htm. Minnesota is covered by the Chicago Consulate General of Brazil. So although I had to fill out the online application for that particular consulate I found the directions at the Los Angeles Office to be more user friendly, so I would refer back to them. Unfortunately I didn't find that resource until I was almost done.
There are different types of visas and what I would be applying for was the tourist visa, otherwise known as a VITUR. After filling out the online application (4-5 pages long) I would get a receipt called a "Protocolo" of my online visa request form. From there I had to make sure I had all the required documents to go along with my application. Here's the itemized list: http://chicago.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/vitur.xml
Tip #3: Spend the money to get a real passport photo to use as your visa photo if a photo is required. In my case it was. By the time you try and use one of your photos and get it to the exact size face in the exact size frame with the right type of background and color density it just isn't worth it. Passport photos are more easily available these days and have come down quite a bit in price. I got two photos for $10.
TIP #4 (as learned from the Los Angeles site): Do not staple or tape the secondary passport photo to the Protocolo form. Instead, write your last name on the back and then GLUE it to the square identified on the form. For Brazil, the visa could be mailed, dropped off in person, or through a third party (travel agency or visa agency). As mentioned I found it to be cheaper to mail then go through a company. If I lived within commuting distance to Chicago it would have been cheaper to go personally, but that was not an option for me.
TIP #5 Make sure you keep a copy your receipts which you can then use to track your visa progress. Since my one and only passport was leaving my possession, this allowed me to verify that it did indeed reach the Consulate office (Thursday, May 31 at 4:00 pm). And will allow me to anticipate it's arrival (The Chicago Consulate requires the application to be mailed through the United States Postal Office using Express Mail which is overnight.) This also requires a signature, so it ensures that the package won't be left outside to get damaged in unfavorable weather or left to get into the wrong hands.
Above you can see all the material that was mailed to the Consulate for this one visa. All together it turned out to include over 15 pages of material:
4-copy of online visa application
2-copy of plane ticket receipt
4-page of Intrepid Itinary
1-copy of MN driver's license
1-actual PROTOCOLO (visa receipt)
1-passport photo glued to above protocolo
1-actual passport
2-express mail envelopes with prepaid and completed delivery and return delivery receipts
Phew! Let's hope everything was done properly, that it goes well at the Consulate office and that it makes it home safely.
The travel bug bite that just wouldn't go away
It seems like a long time since I've traveled internationally. Lately, it seems I have been preoccupied with teaching online. When I have traveled it was to econference around the United States. This has also been very enjoyable as I recently discovered I only have 5 more states to get to in order to have visited all of the "fifty nifty United States". As much as I loved Beale Street in Memphis, indoor skydiving in Denver, playing ukulele in St. Pete's Beach, and sampling the local brews in Portland, there was still a deeper longing to to international.
For my 40th birthday I traveled with some friends to Jamaica and the following January took my first cruise which brought me to 5 new Caribbean coutries (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bon Aire, Grenada and Aruba). I'd also taken a couple of winter vacations to Mexico. However, staying at an all-inclusive and being on a cruise ship, just wasn't the same and in a way, I almost didn't feel like it "counted" as international travel.
My first international travel experience came when I was a freshman in college. It was an organized study-abroad spring break trip from Brainerd Community College (now Central Lakes College where coincidentally I am employed). My friend and I signed up for the trip under the art credits. (At that time there were several ways students could get credit for going on this trip and although you had certain requirements you needed to fulfill for your particular discipline, all the opportunities were available to all students. This is a system I still think is very beneficial.) Although it was billed as "the London trip" it really included a much broader opportunity to explore England and even Scottland (yes I looked for the Lochness Monster but just didn't see him!)
Then during the summer in between my sophomore and junior year of college, two friends and I backpacked through Europe. We had so much fun and made so many memories that we did it again two years later. We were fortunate to take advantage of exchange student connections we had made in school and ended up getting real local experiences through home stays with friends or family connections. This also helped our "poor college student budgets". On those nights when we weren't able to stay in homes, we would be at a hostel or in dire cases of trying to save money--on an overnight train. We loved the flexibility that our student Eurorail pass allowed and took full advantage of it. We hit many countries, saw many amazing world landmarks and made fabulous memories we still cherish today.
I had a bit of a dry travel spell in the late nineties and then finally got back on track in 2004 when I accompanied a colleauge on their service learning trip to Guatemala. This was my first experience to an underdeveloped nation and was really an eye-opener to me. It was also where I first discovered the power of digital storytelling--but that's another blog. Another fun international digital story happened
shortly after that trip, when I went to Norway as the maid of honor for a friend who was getting married there. After that was an amazing family adventure to Egypt. This was the last trip that I felt was more "real" and for which I am again longing.
All in all, I figure I have been to 35 countries, and 5 continents--not enough to quench my travel desires. So this when I realized that summer school wasn't in the cards for me, I decided it was time to take my next big adventure. Making the decision where to go was daunting but I knew I wanted to hit another continent. What actually decided it for me was a discounted tour with a company who's email list I'd been on for the last couple of years. And like that, I was committed to going. "The best of Brazil and Argentina" it is!
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/GPKD#overview
For my 40th birthday I traveled with some friends to Jamaica and the following January took my first cruise which brought me to 5 new Caribbean coutries (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bon Aire, Grenada and Aruba). I'd also taken a couple of winter vacations to Mexico. However, staying at an all-inclusive and being on a cruise ship, just wasn't the same and in a way, I almost didn't feel like it "counted" as international travel.
My first international travel experience came when I was a freshman in college. It was an organized study-abroad spring break trip from Brainerd Community College (now Central Lakes College where coincidentally I am employed). My friend and I signed up for the trip under the art credits. (At that time there were several ways students could get credit for going on this trip and although you had certain requirements you needed to fulfill for your particular discipline, all the opportunities were available to all students. This is a system I still think is very beneficial.) Although it was billed as "the London trip" it really included a much broader opportunity to explore England and even Scottland (yes I looked for the Lochness Monster but just didn't see him!)
Then during the summer in between my sophomore and junior year of college, two friends and I backpacked through Europe. We had so much fun and made so many memories that we did it again two years later. We were fortunate to take advantage of exchange student connections we had made in school and ended up getting real local experiences through home stays with friends or family connections. This also helped our "poor college student budgets". On those nights when we weren't able to stay in homes, we would be at a hostel or in dire cases of trying to save money--on an overnight train. We loved the flexibility that our student Eurorail pass allowed and took full advantage of it. We hit many countries, saw many amazing world landmarks and made fabulous memories we still cherish today.
I had a bit of a dry travel spell in the late nineties and then finally got back on track in 2004 when I accompanied a colleauge on their service learning trip to Guatemala. This was my first experience to an underdeveloped nation and was really an eye-opener to me. It was also where I first discovered the power of digital storytelling--but that's another blog. Another fun international digital story happened
shortly after that trip, when I went to Norway as the maid of honor for a friend who was getting married there. After that was an amazing family adventure to Egypt. This was the last trip that I felt was more "real" and for which I am again longing.
All in all, I figure I have been to 35 countries, and 5 continents--not enough to quench my travel desires. So this when I realized that summer school wasn't in the cards for me, I decided it was time to take my next big adventure. Making the decision where to go was daunting but I knew I wanted to hit another continent. What actually decided it for me was a discounted tour with a company who's email list I'd been on for the last couple of years. And like that, I was committed to going. "The best of Brazil and Argentina" it is!
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/GPKD#overview
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
GRIOT CONNECTIONS
GRIOT: A storyteller, historian, entertainer, and change agent
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN:
Student and Student
Student and Teacher
Student and Concepts
Concepts and Real World
Real World and Self
Self and Future
Future and Growth
Growth and Service
Growth and Life-Long Learning
Just a Few Digital Story Comments from IC Class
Digital stories told from a first hand experience have impact and help promote credibility as an instructor and foster engagement in the classroom. But instead of just talking about it myself, I’ll let my students speak to the power they seem to have in the classroom and why I want to develop more of them. Here are just some of my students’ comments about the impact of these type of learning objects:
I believe those types of videos open my world to things I have not experienced and probably will never experience, but it is valuable to know of their existence. They have definitely put new wrinkles in my brain. They show the caring of the instructor to expand our horizons and develop our communication world.
In all the videos you've had us watch, I feel that I've become more aware of PEOPLE, in general. You don't know peoples history, or what has happened to them. Sometimes you don't know about their culture enough to know that, their culture is WHY the do what they do. I feel like I was connected to you as an instructor also, because if you didn't put some of your own personal reflection into it, it would just be a video not part of YOUR class. I really enjoyed all the videos.
The videos definitely make the class more fun. Not only are they very fascinating to me but they help me remember and feel more connected to the concepts.
The videos have helped to put the concepts into perspective and really get a better feel for the other cultures. They also stick in my memory better.
I LOVE THE VIDEOS! They do make me feel like i understand other people much better, and they give me a more personal and connected feeling. I enjoy them.
I love having the videos in class. Since this is an online class I feel that is more difficult to take in all the information on my own. When I watch the videos it's almost like I have an instructor teaching me.
I feel like I am connected to the people in the video. That I can see the issues through their eyes, feel what they feel, and get a real "handle" on the reality of how different cultures influence all of us to some extent.
The videos have been great! I would love to go to the places that you have seen and did feel more connected to you because of that. They are truly a great way to learn. They are a great way of bringing us to somewhere that we may never visit and learn more about it.
They help me feel more connected to the real world by making me realize that there are so many different languages, accents, and cultures. They have helped me be more open to learning about others.
I enjoyed watching about these events rather than reading about them. I feel it gives them more impact and absolutely helps me connect more with the concept. The personal touches makes it easier to connect with you as a person.
I think the videos in general all help make the information more real. For me when you add real people I can see it just makes the info more important and therefore more memorable to me.
The videos bring the content alive. In some cases we are not able to experience the traditions, religions, and cultures of the individuals portrayed in the videos
They do a great job of showing that the stuff we are learning actually happens in real life.
These videos aided me in keeping a global and open mined look on the topics being discussed.
I think that it helps me think outside of the box, and look at things from a different point of view. It helps me be more open to other ideas.
The videos are the most exciting! I feel better connected to the concepts as well as to you our instructor. Sometimes when you take a class all you get is a name and names are great but it's nice to know that our instructors are people too and that they lead exciting, fun lives. I feel like the videos that you have posted make more aware of the world around me. I have learned a lot about not only people in general but culture as well because of the videos that are posted to us each week.
I think this really helps with connecting me to the concepts in class, you as the instructor and to he real world. It helps us to see and hear what's going on in the world, not just hear about it. Also, with you at the one mosque it helps see your interests and how adventurous you are as our instructor, therefore making it more fun for us as a class.
I love the videos! I think it's a bonus of an online class and without a doubt they make me feel more connected to the teacher and the rest of the class. I also enjoy being able to experience an almost first hand experience about what I'm learning about.
I feel as though the videos have helped bring everything together for me. I am a visual learner and these videos help all the concepts that I have been reading come together right before my eyes.
I think that I definitely felt more connected and I think that it is wonderful that you share these things with us. Sometimes it is hard to relate to a teacher in an online class but when you integrate your life experiences into our learning it helps make this impersonal online class an easier experience.
These videos have helped me to connect to the world more rather than just my community. I look to you as a person who has seen more of the world than I will ever probably see, so I am thankful our paths have crossed and I am able to learn from your experiences. The videos make it easier to see and understand things we can't physically touch, having pictures or video is so much more powerful when added to the written word.
I believe those types of videos open my world to things I have not experienced and probably will never experience, but it is valuable to know of their existence. They have definitely put new wrinkles in my brain. They show the caring of the instructor to expand our horizons and develop our communication world.
In all the videos you've had us watch, I feel that I've become more aware of PEOPLE, in general. You don't know peoples history, or what has happened to them. Sometimes you don't know about their culture enough to know that, their culture is WHY the do what they do. I feel like I was connected to you as an instructor also, because if you didn't put some of your own personal reflection into it, it would just be a video not part of YOUR class. I really enjoyed all the videos.
The videos definitely make the class more fun. Not only are they very fascinating to me but they help me remember and feel more connected to the concepts.
The videos have helped to put the concepts into perspective and really get a better feel for the other cultures. They also stick in my memory better.
I LOVE THE VIDEOS! They do make me feel like i understand other people much better, and they give me a more personal and connected feeling. I enjoy them.
I love having the videos in class. Since this is an online class I feel that is more difficult to take in all the information on my own. When I watch the videos it's almost like I have an instructor teaching me.
I feel like I am connected to the people in the video. That I can see the issues through their eyes, feel what they feel, and get a real "handle" on the reality of how different cultures influence all of us to some extent.
The videos have been great! I would love to go to the places that you have seen and did feel more connected to you because of that. They are truly a great way to learn. They are a great way of bringing us to somewhere that we may never visit and learn more about it.
They help me feel more connected to the real world by making me realize that there are so many different languages, accents, and cultures. They have helped me be more open to learning about others.
I enjoyed watching about these events rather than reading about them. I feel it gives them more impact and absolutely helps me connect more with the concept. The personal touches makes it easier to connect with you as a person.
I think the videos in general all help make the information more real. For me when you add real people I can see it just makes the info more important and therefore more memorable to me.
The videos bring the content alive. In some cases we are not able to experience the traditions, religions, and cultures of the individuals portrayed in the videos
They do a great job of showing that the stuff we are learning actually happens in real life.
These videos aided me in keeping a global and open mined look on the topics being discussed.
I think that it helps me think outside of the box, and look at things from a different point of view. It helps me be more open to other ideas.
The videos are the most exciting! I feel better connected to the concepts as well as to you our instructor. Sometimes when you take a class all you get is a name and names are great but it's nice to know that our instructors are people too and that they lead exciting, fun lives. I feel like the videos that you have posted make more aware of the world around me. I have learned a lot about not only people in general but culture as well because of the videos that are posted to us each week.
I think this really helps with connecting me to the concepts in class, you as the instructor and to he real world. It helps us to see and hear what's going on in the world, not just hear about it. Also, with you at the one mosque it helps see your interests and how adventurous you are as our instructor, therefore making it more fun for us as a class.
I love the videos! I think it's a bonus of an online class and without a doubt they make me feel more connected to the teacher and the rest of the class. I also enjoy being able to experience an almost first hand experience about what I'm learning about.
I feel as though the videos have helped bring everything together for me. I am a visual learner and these videos help all the concepts that I have been reading come together right before my eyes.
I think that I definitely felt more connected and I think that it is wonderful that you share these things with us. Sometimes it is hard to relate to a teacher in an online class but when you integrate your life experiences into our learning it helps make this impersonal online class an easier experience.
These videos have helped me to connect to the world more rather than just my community. I look to you as a person who has seen more of the world than I will ever probably see, so I am thankful our paths have crossed and I am able to learn from your experiences. The videos make it easier to see and understand things we can't physically touch, having pictures or video is so much more powerful when added to the written word.
WINDOWS & MIRRORS EXPLAINED BY KARI
Windows and Mirrors
Emily Style’s theory uses the analogy of windows and mirrors to help us make connections. We can use the theory to connect to people or to material. Often I'll use this as an assessment technique for content I give in class to help you connect more personally to the class concepts . In general, the theory helps you find similarities and understand differences between you and another
perspective.
There are two major pieces to this theory: mirrors and windows.
We know mirrors as objects that when looked at reflects back to you an image of yourself. In this theory, a "mirror" does the same thing. When looking at a particular experience, if it is something similar to what you have experienced then it is said to be a personal mirror for you. When looking at a piece of information, if it is something familiar and you can connect with it personally, than it is most likely a justifiable mirror.
A Window in the traditional sense is an object that you look through in order to see something that is distant from yourself, something outside of yourself. So in terms of the theory, a "window" describes an opportunity to do the same, to see something outside of yourself. Theoretical windows provide a new perspective on the world. In some cases it might be a viewpoint that is different than yours or in other cases it might actually introduce you to a viewpoint or experience that is totally brand new to you.
It is said that we can find both windows and mirrors in most situations. This is because people share some basic commonalities in just being human. However, we are also all different and have our own worldview shaped by our personal experiences, values, beliefs, and enculturation. Although at first it may appear that the windows and mirrors theory is simply a dichotomy which polarizes our viewpoints, upon further reflection you will hopefully discover that it is a way of truly helping us explore the middle areas of that spectrum. We are not just the same or different from another human being—it is the how and the whys that this theory makes us address.
For example, I grew up in Brainerd and Sara grew up and still lives in New York City. There are windows and mirrors to our experiences of growing up where we did. I took driver's education classes in 10th grade and had my own car by 11th grade." So when Sara says "she's never driven a car because it's cheaper to take taxi's or subways around town", that's a window to me. I know what taxis and subways are, but that is a different experience than what I know.
When Sara says her favorite meal at her local deli is "baked potato knishes followed by babka cakes for dessert", that too is a window because I don't know what potato knishes are, nor do I know what a babka cake tastes like. In this case, I'm being introduced to something new by defining it as a window.
However, when Sara explains that she was "involved in her high school music program and that they traveled around for music competitions", I personally could identify with this because I too was in high school choir and we competed in three national choir competitions the three years I was involved at the high school level. Since that was something similar it can therefore be justified as a "mirror".
In some instances, a single event can be both a mirror and a window. Sara and I have both attended a Musical Production on Broadway in New York (mirror). I saw "The Lion King" and she saw "Wicked" (window--since I have not seen the how Wicked). Another example, Sara and I graduated from high school at age 18 (mirror). But Sara hated her senior year and I loved my senior year (window).
Once you identify the actual events as windows or mirrors you can go deeper and explore the emotional connections. Trying to understand how the other person feels and actually becoming empathetic to their emotions is an important interpersonal and intercultural communication skill. Empathy is an important part of being "other- oriented"--a key skill for being a good communicator. The windows and mirrors theory can help us develop this skill. But we must also be careful in how we express our empathy because not all situations are equal. So we need to be sensitive to that and how we communicate it.
The most important step in this process is the explanation of why something is a window or a mirror. Being able to support your opinions is part of the process. So know that you will need to do more than just state something as a mirror or a window, because this is where the true learning and connections are made.
It also helps us prevent using "allness" and "polarization".
"Allness" is the false assumption that we can know all there is to know about a subject. It often results in the use of “allness terms”: (everyone, no one, everywhere, nowhere, always, never, totally, etc.) Have you ever heard someone say "We're totally alike" or "I know them better than they know themselves."? How about, "We have nothing in common"? Those statements are probably not 100% accurate. The windows and mirrors theory could be used to prove why they aren’t true.
"Polarization" is seeing subjects in complete extremes. Some examples include: fat/skinny, black/white, good/bad, right/wrong. It can often be dangerous as it doesn't allow for options in between where a lot of people and ideas really fall. Often polarization is dangerous as it perpetuates faulty or hurtful stereotypes. Think about the young student who looks in the mirror and thinks because they aren't skinny that they are "fat". There's a lot of life that happens in between extremes and forcing people or ideas to just one extreme or the other is not necessarily accurate or healthy. So again, the windows and mirrors theory can help us break this down to see and connect to subjects on a more personal and more meaningful level.
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