FSU Students Explore Jamaican Culture, Develop Friendships

FSU students and students from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica, interact and develop deeper understandings of each other’s cultures this week on FSU's main campus as a part of the Beyond Borders program.

Through Beyond Borders FSU students engage in meaningful cultural exchanges with incoming international students on FSU’s campus then travel to either Jamaica during Spring Break 2019, or Dresden, Germany, for three weeks following the spring semester.

This week, 12 UWI students interacted with FSU students in the Beyond Borders program and the greater FSU community. One way they did this was by giving a classroom presentation in which they shared their culture through music and dance. As a part of this dynamic presentation, FSU students joined UWI students as they performed various styles of Jamaican dance.

Through the program, UWI and FSU students spend time together dining, going on campus tours, attending performances, engaging in team building activities at The Rez, and more. One highlight is “shadow day,” during which each UWI student is paired with an FSU student to experience a typical day at FSU, including attending classes.

“This program has been absolutely amazing, highlighting all the wonderful things that are either similar or different between our cultures,” said Kaynas Phillips, FSU junior studying cell and molecular neuroscience. “Spending shadow day with my partner was not only fun, but eye-opening as we learnt about each other, our beliefs and explored the city together, venturing to areas I had not even seen before.”

Sophena Locke, a political science student at UWI, said that one of her favorite parts of shadow day was getting to experience FSU’s exceptional sports facilities since she is the sports representative for her hall in Jamaica. She also enjoyed attending classes, playing pool in the dorm, and hanging out around campus and Tallahassee with her partner.

“This experience teaches us to understand and appreciate different cultures and how to make important cultural adjustments quickly in various situations,” Locke said.

Through this short-term cultural exchange program, students have the opportunity to develop intercultural communication skills and increase cultural awareness. Students apply for both Beyond Borders Jamaica and Germany programs in the fall each year. Deadlines for participating this year have passed, but students can email Laura Dean at lmdean@fsu.edu if interested in applying for Beyond Borders next year.

To learn more about the program, visit cge.fsu.edu/beyondborders.