Case Study Romania One day in the shoes of “The Other” experience and it cannot be tolerance. Expectations compared with any other type of By attending this course I learned activities that I have attended that a wrong perception regarding My expectations for this course were before. A very important section of differences may affect or influence related to finding ways to the course was dedicated to the our coexistence and that we are all understand the people around me potential challenges that a learner important pieces in the process of that don’t have the same culture/ can meet when moving in other creating a peaceful, secure and religion/ ethnicity as I have. I wanted country. These are very important pleasant coexistence space. also to find out more about the aspects for a migrant, for example, in country that I live in to be able to order to obtain a new qualification Participant’s quote better adapt and behave in a proper for a job. The most important thing “Western way, to be accepted and considered European communities is that together with emphasizing integrating part of the society and tend to show reluctance when talking these challenges, we have been also avoid marginalization. about other ethnicities, skin color, provided with a set of instructions on On the other hand, I really hoped religions. They rarely put in discussion how to deal with these difficult that this course will provide me the living together or accepting to receive situations. opportunity to interact and with open arms new people from All the topics were approached in a exchange opinions with other other country, but this course really very practical way which included all persons facing the same situation as brought to light how interesting can the participants in the activities. This I do: living in a community with be interacting and living in was the starting point for an different people (from so many multicultural societies. I realized that inclusive community and helped us, points of view) and having difficulties despite all the differences between us, the participants, to better in making myself respected. ” we’re not so different after all! understand What have I learned? each other’s cultures and ethnicities, the societal The course was such a surprising diversity and the real need for
Case Study One day in the shoes of “The Other” Romania Expectations My expectations for this course were related to finding ways to understand the people around me that don’t have the same culture/ religion/ ethnicity as I have. I wanted also to find out more about the country that I live in to be able to better adapt and behave in a proper way, to be accepted and considered integrating part of the society and avoid marginalization. On the other hand, I really hoped that this course will provide me the opportunity to interact and exchange opinions with other persons facing the same situation as I do: living in a community with different people (from so many points of view) and having difficulties in making myself respected. What have I learned? The course was such a surprising experience and it cannot be compared with any other type of activities that I have attended before. A very important section of the course was dedicated to the potential challenges that a learner can meet when moving in other country. These are very important aspects for a migrant, for example, in order to obtain a new qualification for a job. The most important thing is that together with emphasizing these challenges, we have been also provided with a set of instructions on how to deal with these difficult situations. All the topics were approached in a very practical way which included all the participants in the activities. This was the starting point for an inclusive community and helped us, the participants, to better understand each other’s cultures and ethnicities, the societal diversity and the real need for tolerance. By attending this course I learned that a wrong perception regarding differences may affect or influence our coexistence and that we are all important pieces in the process of creating a peaceful, secure and pleasant coexistence space. Participant’s quote “Western European communities tend to show reluctance when talking about other ethnicities, skin color, religions. They rarely put in discussion living together or accepting to receive with open arms new people from other country, but this course really brought to light how interesting can be interacting and living in multicultural societies. I realized that despite all the differences between us, we’re not so different after all! ”