Global Competence

What is global competence? Is it knowing current events? Is it being able to hold one's own in a foreign country? Global competence is a vast term that would be hard to label, but for me it is all that and more.

Global competence is knowing what is going on in the world around you. Granted, I am not always up-to-date, but I try to know what is going on because we are all people and knowledge is power. Knowledge of current events like disasters, wars, or anything else can make a huge impact on others globally that to not know would  be irresponsible.

Being able to hold your own in a foreign country is not just good for survival, but is just mannerly and gives a good impression. Traveling overseas is not just fun, but can be great for business and to make friends. I love having friends overseas because it is insight into another culture on this planet. Everyone should learn how to handle yourself in public domestic and foreign.

Global competence encompasses knowledge, personal relations and everything in-between. Study abroad trips are a great way to increase those skills and much more.

Think Global, Act Global

Thinking globally and acting globally means acting in a way that makes you a "global person". A "global person" is not just a person that has traveled overseas, but is also a person of worldly culture. To be appreciative of others, to understand others, and to know how to handle oneself globally.

How does a person act global? Well that is not something that can be easily answered. You can simply travel overseas or also act in a way that shows global appreciation. I act global by traveling every few years and also by how I present myself to people. From this trip I do act more as a global person.

Now, how does someone think global? To think global can be thinking of what is going on in the world like with the flood in Bosnia, or the FIFA World Cup in Brasil, but to also think about the people in other places and how they affect you to this day. How does the UK legal system affect us? How do natural disasters in Asian countries affect us? Actions of others in different places affect us by economic and political stances that can make or break a lot of places. I would like to say I think globally because I do like to keep up with current world events, and have quite a few friends that are from other places in the world.

From this trip, I have become a more global person and I think it will make me a more better person in the end. It has helped my career and education purposes, but also has helped me in person.

The Royal Treatment

Well today was more than I could have asked for. We went to the change of the guard in Buckingham Palace IN THE GATES, got to see Downing Street, and went to New Scotland Yard. And all of this was possible because of Constable Richard Watson.

Yesterday,  Jordan, Josh,  and I watched the changing of the guard from behind the gates and watched through the bars while dealing with thousands of annoying tourists. Today we got to go past the gates and watch up close and personal. It is a rare treat for anyone to do that and all the unlucky tourists behind the gates were snapping pictures of us. That was beyond cool.

After the amazing change of the guard, we got to go down Downing Street which is extremely hard to get into. You have to put in an application and have a real reason to go besides wanting to see it. Another amazing once in a lifetime moment from Constable Watson.

Then we got to go into New Scotland Yard and got cool lectures from a few men in the force which was a great learning experience itself.

All of this was because of Constable Richard Watson who I can never thank enough. I got to do dojo training, witness once in a lifetimes sights, and met a wonderful person who truly does have the best job in the world. Thank you Constable Watson for all you did. I will never forget you and all you did for us in our tiny group of Chadron State College students.

Abbey Road

Today was a great free day.  Got to see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, got to see Abbey Road, and went to Camden Town for amazing shopping. Abbey Road was definitely top notch though.

We got to see the road, take pictures, and sign the Abbey road wall. Definitely the most tourist thing I have done by far but absolutely worth it.

The Anti-American Sentiment

When traveling abroad, people tend to characterize a persons nationality with stereotypes. Americans are not free from this peril and quite frankly it can be true. We can be loud. We can be obnoxious. We can be ignorant, but almost anyone can be like that.

The biggest worry people fear when going overseas is being judged for those stereotypes, but on all my travels I have yet to be discriminated because of where I come from.

Maybe it is the way I carry myself, maybe it is because we were taught how to conduct ourselves, but so far i have had great experiences with the London locals and hope it continues.

Pub Crawl-London 2014

Last night the group (minus three) went to the London Pub Crawl and that was so amazing! The Pub Crawl is where you pay a fee £15 for four bars with one free shot and then entrance to a club.

We went to Verve, another club, Ruby, Grace, and then The Zoo. The best bar was Ruby by far.  It had the best music and amazing atmosphere. The shots were awesome and we made some cool friends. The greatest thing was Jordan and I were dying to go to club when we first got here and we got to enter it for free! It was pretty cool and worth going.

After the Pub Crawl, we were trying to find our way back to the hotel and ended up riding a street bike that has a cart, which we also wanted to do. We got an awesome tour of the city for super cheap and had a fun safe night.  Overall, I suggest the Pub Crawl.

Magistrate's Court!

Today we got to visit the Magistrate's Court and that was beyond awesome! Unfortunately we could not take pictures, but I definitely will not forget the experience. The American legal system and UK legal system has so many similarities, yet just as many differences.

The biggest thing that got me is the relaxed state of the court. In the few court visits that I have made in America, every time was super uptight and you were afraid to even move. Today I felt relaxed and was interested in what I saw.

The coolest thing was the defendants were put behind a glass was when it was there hearing which I think would be amazing to implement in US.

This trip was absolutely so cool so far and I can't wait for the rest of these two weeks!

Americans and the Royal Wedding

When it came to the Royal Wedding of William and Kate, almost every friend I knew was super excited for it and stayed up to watch the whole thing at four am. I did not, but read it on there news the next day. Here in London, pictures of the royal family are everywhere, but from the impression I got Americans were more excited for it than Londoners were. People are not as excited about the royal family as Americans are and I could only speculate as to why. 

I know there are some people who want the monarchy to disappear, and others who loyally love the royal family, but I can guess that the reason is because the royal family is a rarity for the American people and not as common as in the UK. People in America do not get as excited about President Obama so it is probably the same thing. 

Learning the differences in America and London has been wonderful so far and I cannot wait to discover more.

The Group Picture!!!

 
On Tuesday April 22, 2014 we took our group picture! This year is a smaller groups which has its pros and cons. With the smaller group it will be easier to transport places, we get to know each other very well, and we get to do more stuff together! The only con I can think of with a smaller group is that there are not as many people to interact with, but I would rather have a smaller group than a large one.

From Ms. Nobiling's blog:

Front Row from left:  Jordan Staman of Crawford, NE; Jessica Orose of Rapid City, SD; Charlotte Carlson of Falcon, CO; Cierra Herrmann of Scottsbluff, NE;  Jamie Henry of Torrington, WY.  Back Row: Nick Yardley of Gordon, NE; Michaela Linders of Rushville, NE; Josh Keating of Romeoville, IL; Mary Miller of Saratoga, WY; Dr. Tracy Nobiling.  On video screen from Lander, WY, Chloe Titus.

As you can see, our group has a wide variety which makes it all the more fun. We have a good group of people so I expect this trip to be very pleasant. We have a great in class experience so I expect London will be just as good or even better. I cannot wait to start this experience and see all that I can see!

Ethnocentrism: Pros and Cons

Global Issues

Ethnocentrism: Pros and Cons

 

Ethnocentrism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture or a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own. ("Ethnocentrism." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.) From a first glance, a person would not think this is a good quality, but at further analysis there is good and bad things about ethnocentrism like most qualities people can possess. The good light of ethnocentrism is having strong national pride, it creates a sense of a circle of society, and certain practices, traditions, or acts are kept within the group. The bad side of ethnocentrism are it creates segregation of groups, can make people ignorant of those different from them, and there is no diversity.

 

Those for Ethnocentrism!

            The good parts of ethnocentrism are national pride, sense of a circle in a society, and the ability of certain practice, traditions, or acts that are kept alive in the group. National pride is a good quality to have from ethnocentrism because a sense of national pride keeps unity in the nation that is always needed in times of need. Such as Pearl Harbor. If there was no national pride then the victims of those attacks would have not been avenged and then the outcome of WWII would have probably been different. Another good quality of ethnocentrism is a sense of a circle within a society because the feeling of belonging in a group is great for overall moral and also health. A feeling of belonging is a natural need from people and ethnocentrism creates that sense of belonging. One last good quality of ethnocentrism is it keeps old traditions, practices, and acts alive since there is a closed-knit group. Keeping old traditions alive is integral for communities and for future generations.

 

Those against Ethnocentrism!

            The bad parts of ethnocentrism is that it creates segregation of groups, can make people ignorant of those different from them, and there is lack of diversity from the segregation and ignorance. Ethnocentrism creates segregation because people who are ethnocentric feel a superior quality over others and then do not associate with those they feel are beneath them. The lack of associating with those different from them can have serious consequences. From a lack of association comes ignorance. Refusing to associate with others and then believing what you want or believe to be true without finding out the actual facts causes’ ignorance of people, race, or societies. Ignorance leads to problems and potential hostility. From ignorance, there is a lack of diversity which hinders growth. Diversity is needed to grow as a person even on the most basic biological level and a lack of it can create problems with growth and education.

           

Generally, ethnocentrism has good and bad qualities like a lot of other stuff. When it comes to this London trip ethnocentrism is going to have a big effect on the whole group. When we first arrive people are going to initially judge and compare. That is natural human reaction and hopefully they will take a good spin on it. I have traveled overseas to numerous places and London will be a new place for me. I cannot wait to witness firsthand the differences and what is shared between America and London. In class, we have studied a few qualities of difference, but witnessing it in person is a totally different story.

Administrative Justice and Tribunals-England and Wales

Global Issues

Being a part of the Chadron State College Justice Studies Short Term Study Abroad: London May 2014 is not only the opportunity to travel overseas and the ability to put an amazing adventure on my resume, but it gives me the chance to actually apply my education from Chadron State College to real world applications within the justice systems internationally. At first, it was hard to find justice global issues, but eventually I found one that applies to England (and Wales) and that could be helpful to the U.S.

How to Make the Justice System Better

As with any justice system in the world, it is a safe bet that there are constant strives to make the system more efficient and solve more problems for its people. From my research, I found an article that represents how England is trying to make its administrative justice and tribunals run more smoothly and effective. It was very interesting and presented some create ideas that could be possibly implemented in the U.S. Here read it for yourself!

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-the-administrative-justice-and-tribunals-system-more-effective

If you don't want to read it, here is a summary of the article:

The administrative justice allows people to challenge decisions by the government (which is great for actual participation of the people and they can change what they do not like) and sometimes these administrative justices are solved at tribunal, but there are problems in the tribunal that effect everyday people.

(Tribunals are sort of like courts that deal with individual people challenging choices of government departments or deal with individuals versus individuals like employment.)

The goal of fixing the administrative justice system is to make it run more smoothly, more quicker, and to effectively help all of those in the actions themselves. This is the list of how they plan to do it:

• Getting it right the first time
• Enhancing fairness and efficiency of tribunals
• Putting users first
• Identifying the new appeals and working with the government departments   

Honestly, I think these are steps that would great enhance the American justice system. It sounds so easy and simple, but there is a lot of application and change that comes with it. Maybe England getting it right will set an example for the U.S. and we can get it together? Only one can hope!

American Stereotypes: The Good and Bad!

Global Issues

Being six weeks away from my trip to London, I have to start thinking more what my trip is about rather than the awesome side excursions I might be able to participate in (like Ireland or Paris). The first thing that comes to mind are the common stereotypes of U.S. Americans.

I have traveled overseas myself on numerous occasions and have been able to beat the American stereotype! The most common bad American stereotypes I have encountered from previous experiences are U.S. Americans are lazy dressers (like to wear comfy clothing rather than decent clothing), loud and obnoxious (clearly we like to talk and make it known), and no manners (especially when it comes to eating or encountering people). Fortunately, there are good stereotypes that I have encountered as well! Which are: generous people (we are very giving), optimistic (have a good outlook on life and loving it!), and hardworking (we like to earn our money).

Bad Stereotypes

Americans are Lazy Dressers!

The biggest stereotype that I ran into overseas (which has some truth) is that Americans are lazy dressers and do not like to dress decent in the public eye. As I have always believed, stereotypes do have some truth to them! Yes, Americans do like to wear sweatpants and sweatshirts to Wal-Mart or sometimes class, but we dress up when it is necessary or when we want to! Americans are not always in pajamas or relaxed clothing. As for me, I will always dress up for work, a job interview, or when being seen in a more public eye. Americans that are in a very relaxed place, like their hometown, like to stay relaxed and that begins with their clothing! Luckily, there is a way to fix this stereotype for personal and professional use.

To fix this stereotype, just dress how you want to be perceived! When overseas, wear nice clothing and not sweatpants and sweatshirts in public. Wear nice pants and a blouse with some accessories. Dressing nice gives a great first impression, and plus we will only be in London for two weeks! So why not look good the whole time? And dressing nice boosts confidence which only helps make the trip even better! TIP! Pack clothing that can have multiple uses to save room in your luggage and to make life simpler!

Loud and Obnoxious Americans!

As Americans, we are talkers! Shy people are actually unique and most people I know try to get people out of their shells by….talking! This unsavory stereotype comes from the fact that Americans have a lot to say (not always knowing what they are talking about), and they like to say it LOUDLY. Being a loud and talkative person can annoy anyone of any race/ethnicity/culture and can leave a lasting impression. Luckily, my shy personality has saved me from looking like a loud and obnoxious American. Who knew it would be handy? Anyways, how to cure this stereotype one may ask? Well….

To cure this outwardly action, learn the typical behaviors of the place you are visiting. Most European countries (that I have encountered) are respective quiet people that keep their personal bubbles and absolutely use their “inside” voice at all times. A safe rule of thumb would be to use a soft voice and to keep your distance. Do not be up in someone’s face and yelling! But who likes that anyways?

Americans Have No Manners!

As when any person visits another country, the first thing they do is compare their culture. Americans definitely have different mannerisms than Europeans so the comparisons are not always good. In America, it is okay to be close to people, to tip at certain events (like restaurants), and to say certain things. In European countries personal bubbles are an absolute must (as said before in Loud and Obnoxious), tipping in not acceptable in certain places (like tipping waiters), and saying certain phrases will just scream AMERICAN TOURIST! To set yourself apart (and most likely in a bad way) is how you present yourself to people.

To prove that Americans do have manners, just be respectable (as said in Loud and Obnoxious too!), and teach yourself in a few etiquettes. Learn what phrases are okay and not okay, and how to present yourself in public settings like taxis, restaurants, or even walking in the street. Every country is different so be knowledgeable! Most people are understanding and if you show respect and care they will help you along the way.

Good Stereotypes

We are Generous!

Finally some good stereotypes! One of the biggest nice stereotypes that I have ran into in my personal travels are that U.S. Americans are generous people (which I like to believe is true). In times of need, we give more than we take and are willing to help those we do not even know. Helping those is inbred into most Americans which is why when there is a time of need Americans are quick to join together and provide whatever possible. I guess you can say, we believe it is better to give than receive.

Unfortunately, not every single American believes in generosity though. There can be selfish people who take what they can and run, but there are always a few rotten eggs in the batch.

Optimistic Americans!

Another stereotype that I believe is very much true is that Americans are very optimistic. We set goals and truly believe we can achieve them! Americans have a happy outlook on life and then strive for what they want. Being optimistic opens up a lot of opportunities, and they are fully taken advantage of.

But as with every other stereotype, there are two sides to every story and not all Americans are optimistic. Some have no hope or faith for our government, people in our society, or even within themselves. It is sad, but one has to accept happiness, hope, and faith to be optimistic. Being pessimistic can always change, just like optimism.

We Work Hard For Our Money!

A great stereotype is that we work hard for our money! Americans work for what they want and continue to do so. Most Americans this day and age have more than one job, have personal businesses, and earn their income. Personally, I have a job and run my own small business which is quite a bit of success for a 22 year old almost college graduate. I have worked hard to get where I am at and will continue to work hard for my future. A lot of Americans have this mindset and actually act it out.

Wretchedly, this topic is in hot debate. The biggest counterpoint that comes to mind is Welfare. Most people feel there are those who abuse Welfare to get out of working (which has some truth in my opinion), but as I said previously there are always a few bad eggs in the batch. Most people I know work for their money and handle themselves well.

Generally, I feel that all stereotypes (good and bad) have an element of truth. There are a reason why those stereotypes were formed, and there is always ways to change them (whether for the good or bad). I love traveling and to be able to use the information I know, and maybe break a few stereotypes will be an awesome experience!