Language has also been of interest to me as it is such a big part of how people identify themselves. Although I am only an English speaker myself, my father’s side of the family is Polish, and this has definitely influenced my thoughts on culture and identity. As we worked on our initial podcast episode about Polish food and culture in Pittsburgh, I was amazed at how traditions manage to sustain a sense of belonging from one generation to the next. Talking about foods like pierogi, I realized that food can be a language in its own right. It says so much about history, migration, and familial pride. As Cultural Humility: People, Principles, and Practices says, learning culture is not so much learning facts, but it is listening to people’s stories and honoring how they tell them.

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In our second episode, “Coffee beyond the Bean,” I got a chance to interview and talk with Saurin Nanavati. Saurin is the founder of Ethos Agriculture. He has years of experience managing sustainable coffee and cocoa programs across twenty countries. Through talking with him, I learned how such a common thing as coffee can be filled with cultural meaning. I’d never thought of coffee as more than a daily habit, while for Saurin, it was a ritual of hospitality and relationship. Hearing that made me more aware of my own assumptions and how easily we can think we already “get” another culture. It also helped me see the difference between cultural competence (having some knowledge) and cultural humility (being open, curious, and willing to keep on learning). That principle really changed the way I interviewed since I actively listened more instead of trying to interpret everything through the lens of my own experience.

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Podcasting has also helped me to understand that cross-cultural communication is not just about interest; it’s about reflection. I sometimes assume that others have the same ways of showing respect or being comfortable that I have, and that’s not always true. Practicing cultural humility is a matter of slowing down, asking questions, and being okay with the fact that I’ll never entirely understand another’s experience, and that’s alright. It’s Cultural Humility: People, Principles, and Practices, talking about lifelong learning and self-reflection, and I understand now more than ever. From our podcasting assignments, I’ve learned that embracing diversity is not so much about being an expert. It’s truly about being curious and learning alongside others as we move forward.