Though, I expected certain setbacks due to my status as a U.S. citizen, I had no idea how different I would be treated for being a black woman in a fairly homogeneous space. Black Argentinians are typically from northern provinces. Many other individuals immigrate from Central America and other countries in South America. They often work in lower paying jobs, therefore, people assumed I was a maid, a doorkeeper, or a nanny. I was quickly faced with stares and locals questioning as to whether or not I was from countries like Brazil, France, or Angola. They were shocked to hear that I was a student from the United States. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the confidence or maturity to deal with this negativity in a positive way at the time. I chose to stay at home, rather than explore the beautiful country I was in.
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It’s one thing to travel on a plane to an unfamiliar country, but its absolutely daring, fearless, courageous, adventurous and brave to immerse yourself in a new experience and culture! If you do not grow in some type of way from traveling abroad, you did it wrong.
Read MoreBeing African American and having similar physical traits as the Aborigines, there were times when I felt as if I were mistaken as an Aboriginal. When this happened, I taken aback because I would have been treated differently if I had been. It is also seems like a taboo to discuss the relationship between the white – Australians and the Aborigines. From my experience, it seems like Australians don’t even want to acknowledge that they even exist.
Read MoreMy one piece of advice to college students is to study abroad no matter what your major is, especially Black Americans. I believe when traveling abroad, we can’t allow ourselves to get offended by questions and stares because it is such a unique space. You must be patient and willing to answer any and all questions ranging from the ridiculous to the mundane. By doing this, it allows you to become better knowledgeable about another culture and ideals, but also the people of the host nation have a better understand of what it means to be Black American that is not misrepresented by the media. This is the time when we as Black Americans have to suck up our pride and represent our race, because we may be the first and only Black American that people around the world have had the opportunity to meet.
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The most wonderful thing about being seen as exotic in this space is how it has made me feel personally. It demands I embrace my blackness as something that is in fact beautiful and unique. When I walk down the street, people cannot help but stare at me. In the United States, we are persecuted and even slain for being born black, but here we are gold and rare. That is the thing so far that has caused me to slowly fall in love with this place and the people the most. I feel valued here and appreciated by its citizens for allowing me, “la morocha,” to experience this beautiful city.
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There’s a notion that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors don’t have time to study abroad, or many schools will not accept the credits from other institutions because STEM disciplines build on themselves. Without the fundamentals from one course it’s impossible to be successful in subsequent courses. With comparable coursework abroad this doesn’t have to be the case. The most beautiful thing about STEM is that there is no cultural barrier.
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I originally set out for Vienna, Austria with the purpose of studying Music Performance in one of the most well known music capitals of the world. While there, I was also privileged to not only stay in Vienna but also travel to six other nations throughout my time abroad: Budapest Hungary, Prague Czech Republic, Paris France, London England, and Stockholm Sweden. As I applied for the program, applied for the scholarship to go, and booked my trips, I was faced with multiple friends and family members who warned me that some European nations had racist people. They warned me that Austria and some of the other countries did not have a lot black people and had a mass of people who were not comfortable being around those with darker skin tones. Being in the countries both affirmed and disproved these statements.
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My black was completely different there; I was not identified as black, but Brazilians saw me first as American. It was nothing like the United States, a place where I can always clearly feel my blackness. In a place where I am shown many opportunities equal to my white counterparts, it is yet so clear to see the not-so-visible divide that we create for our own. We as Americans still segregate ourselves even in a land where minorities are given more chances than Brazilians at better lives. Our barriers come not in the appearance of separate communities, jobs, or education like the physical divides in Brazil. Our cultural barriers are, however, existent. They exist in our minds, where even if we live similar lives there still exists a need to willingly separate ourselves from others that are not like us or share our culture.
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