This semester helped me better understand how language and culture are intertwined on a personal level. Being an English speaker with a Polish background, I never thought about my identity being shaped by both. While working on our podcasts, I saw just how easily people form assumptions about different cultures and how important it is to always listen to others’ stories.

The interview that Sophie conducted with Helen helped me reconnect with my own heritage, as she spoke about keeping traditions alive and how people often misinterpret both Polish food and culture. Since I was the editor for this episode, I got to really listen to her stories and think about them more deeply. Our second interview was on coffee culture in Pittsburgh. I got to interview Saurin, who explained to us how communication and cultural differences can shape global work and everyday choices. Listening to his experiences reminded me of how diverse the world is, even within Pittsburgh.

What I learned the most, however, is to always keep an open mind and practice cultural humility. Meeting people off the CMU campus and learning about their stories deepened my appreciation for their perspectives and backgrounds. This course revealed to me that the way to know others begins with truly listening to them. Having this mindset throughout the course has made me feel like I’ve truly traveled and grown a lot during this semester.