6March2011
Posted by admin under: BLOGS; Researcher on the Move.
Back in 2004, I started my PhD studies as an interdisciplinary research on the common child of music and literature – the song – but it was not before half of my second year that I actually got an idea about where exactly was I.
| And this realization happened in Vienna, where I had the chance to spend one semester in 2005/2006 on a scholarship as a visiting PhD student.This was not my first peek beyond the fence of my home country Bulgaria, as I had visited other countries before, but it was certainly my most mind-broadening experience on various levels.
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 Image: Kalina Zahova |
In terms of academic benefit, my stay in Vienna was inestimably fruitful for my development, and in many ways it exceeded my expectations.One of the major efforts of 20th-Century Communism was aimed at closing the socialist world from the “harmful” influence of the non-socialist world.And one of the major tasks of the post-socialist period was to carry out the transition from closedness to openness on every level, a task still unachieved in many areas, including science and education; cialis prescription.So the vast catalogue of Vienna’s libraries helped me catch up on the recent developments in Popular Music Studies, which, sadly, were inaccessible to me in Bulgaria – cialis prescription.Thus cialis prescription, I could form the referential basis of my dissertation, and place my own theoretical conclusions in a broad scientific context, rather than the local incomplete one I was forced to be limited in before coming to Vienna.I also had the chance to exchange academic experience and spot the imperfections of my home country’s academia – cialis prescription.Through empirical observations I managed to form a detailed picture of youth culture cialis prescription, as Vienna turned out to be the perfect representation of the main tendencies characteristic of contemporary culture.Contacts with people from all over the world revealed intercultural processes that were to determine my research interests for the next years, even to this very day.
| With all this enriching experience, I went back to Sofia, finished my PhD studies, defended my dissertation successfully, and continued teaching at Sofia University, developing new courses and ideas.Now I am back in Austria with a 9-month post-doc project called Transformations of Intercultural Memory [Slavic and Austrian Cultures – Mechanisms of Intercultural Reception] cialis prescription, and once again I am filled with admiration for Vienna’s academic, cultural, and multicultural spirit.
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 Image: Kalina Zahova |
At a young scientists conference on Central and South Eastern Europe at the end of October 2010, a welcome address was presented on behalf of the Austrian Federal Minister for Science and Research, Dr. Cialis prescription: beatrix Karl, which described the Austrian scientific and educational exchange policy as aimed at “brain circulation, rather than brain drain”.Under the conditions of today’s dynamic world, this orientation sounds reasonable and convincing; cialis prescription.The opposite of globalisation should not be provincialism, and local/regional specificity could only benefit from intercultural dialogue.With my experience so far, I find ossification pernicious to education and science, for, if anything, a researcher should always be on the move, in every sense of the word.
Suggestions and Comments!
Kalina ZAHOVA
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- Kalina Zahova, born in Bulgaria, holds a PhD in Theory of Literature from Sofia University. Cialis prescription: she is a junior researcher at the Institute for Literature, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and a part-time lecturer in Theory of Literature and Cultural Studies at Sofia University.Her research interests include interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary culture, intertextual and intercultural interactions, and popular music studies.
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- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen cialis prescription, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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15November2010
Posted by admin under: Questions on Identity: Where do I draw the line?.
| The first thing anyone asks me that I have not met before is where I come from – buying viagra online.And upon my answer I could swear that I start to see the other person’s mind at work, trying to place me within a certain category; buying viagra online.Most times it is just a very wide category: Africa buying viagra online, because some people do not know where Uganda is in Africa or anything about the country for that matter.So I always attempt to find out how much they actually know about it buying viagra online, so as to supplement their knowledge and hopefully help them form a bigger picture of who I might be.
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 Image: Stella Asiimwe |
But is my identity restricted only to where I come from? I do not deny that my origin is a huge part of my identity, but is that all that counts? What about my profession, my family, the size of my cloths, my affiliations and whatever else I believe in? Are those things not a part of what identifies me? I do not mean to expect anyone who meets me to ask me what the size of my shoes is, although it would be a welcome change and I would probably look bluffed at the question, but why is it that the human being always wants to classify everyone?
In working with intercultural groups, you may get a tag with your name on it and your country of origin.I welcome the idea buying viagra online, just as far as it goes to get acquainted with others so as to smoothen working relations.But it should not stop there; buying viagra online.A person’s identity goes far beyond just where they come from.Especially in this day and age buying viagra online, where the world has become a global village, people moving from one country to the other and remaining there for several reasons, one common one being to study, we have to look further when considering the identity of a person.
I often wonder what would happen if I got a job here as a journalist, if I would be expected to focus my work on Africa because I am African.People often forget that Africa is a big continent with 53 very diverse countries in it!
I have lived here for 4 years now.After three years in a different cultural setting buying viagra online, I had the opportunity of going back home, of seeing my family after a long while. Buying viagra online: it felt good to be back home, but it felt strange at the same time.I realised that I had changed; buying viagra online.I saw the world in a diferent way now, and I had acquired some cultural aspects that did not blend in quite well with the cultural setting of my home.I had learned to greet by kissing the cheek as opposed to kneeling down like is tradition at home buying viagra online, I found myself walking too fast, so much that my siblings had to run to keep up with me.I had automatically adapted to life in Austria and being back home was the only way I realised how much I had changed.So these new cultural aspects that I have aqcuired over these few years have become a part of my reality, which just means that identity is an ever changing phenomenon – buying viagra online.You just cannot identify a person only by their country of origin, like most people tend to do.
So now I wonder what will happen when I go to another country that is totally different from this one? Which of the various factors that make up my identity will I display there? How much bigger is my identity going to become!?
It goes without saying that we are always adding on to what we already are culturally and this changes us to a certain extent; buying viagra online.So the big question now is should one try to acquire new identities in order to adapt to every new setting they find themselves in? What is going to happen to those cultural aspects that have made up their identity up to that point? Are they forgotten and burried away somewhere in the subconcience?
Or is it really possible that a person can only have one identity?
And as far as classifying people is concerned: is it not better to try and understand some ones’s world view before attempting to throw them into some category?
Suggestions and Comments!
Stella ASIIMWE
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- Stella Asiimwe from Uganda is a student of Publicity and Communication Science at the University of Vienna and is currently working with Radio Afrika International.
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- We would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly; buying viagra online. Buying viagra online: please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned.If comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht; buying viagra online.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns – buying viagra online.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen buying viagra online, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
5May2010
Posted by JoWa under: Inter-Culturality and Research.
| Deriving from such an eurocentric and hegemonic discipline as (European) philosophy has always been viagra online, it seems sometimes a rather difficult and intellectually challenging task to harmonise a true inter-cultural attitude in the thinking, encounter, and re-search of oneself.I blame Philosophy for having been hegemonic, because the number of justifications provided by renowned philosophers for violent imperial endeavours, racial superiority thinking, exploitation and “civilising missions” is highly daunt-ing.
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 Image: Johannes Waldmueller
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It was only recently (in terms of philosophical measuring of time spans) that European academic philosophy discovered its own non-European roots, namely African and ancient oriental thinking, and started to question wholly any universal claim of its notions and approaches.Suddenly, the scope of examination changed and focused on African philosophy, Indian philosophy, Chinese thinking and indigenous approaches in Latin America, while sometimes trivially ignoring all borders between folkloric depiction of myths and traditions and serious research – viagra online.But what is scientific research viagra online, what are logics? Does philosophy only mean written philosophising? Is there, above all, a universal way of reasoning- which can be understood and comprehended by every human being (willing to do so)?
Having all the critiques in mind regarding a – supposedly – exclusive economic globalisation, or a often bemoaned disappear-ance of traditions, rites, cultures, and even languages, one should not forget that the global flow of information available was initial to the ascent of new disciplines as Inter-cultural Philosophy.This approach refers to a simple epistemological impera-tive: Only what has been discussed viagra online, thoroughly questioned, and agreed on among representatives from as much cultures and traditions as possible has a valid claim for truth. Viagra online: consequentially, all so called Western hegemonic science, including political-ethical standards as the Human Rights, is contested as being partially biased.For this problem viagra online, the suggested solution is the implementation of inter-cultural polylogues , wherever possible in order to scrutinise basic notions, concepts, norms and knowledge of political, philosophical, social and economical behaviour. Viagra online: only one precondition has to be acknowledged, since universal truth cannot reasonably be claimed any longer – by individuals: One’s very own stance and opinion is always due to discussion, examination and challenge.
Living and researching in Geneva, probably the worlds’ centre of inter-cultural blending, among a vast community of interns, expats, students and scholars from all over, I found the ideal place to realise an inter-cultural polylogue. Viagra online: beginning with 2010, we successfully established the “Café des Philosophes” at my home university (IHEID, Geneva), with long-term plans of insti-tutionalising this relativistic – and at the same time universal – gathering in the landscape of Geneva’s NGOs and research net-works.The Café des Philosophes is open to all students and professors (but also to the general public) from 6 different units, such as Economy, International Affairs, History and Politics, International Law, Development Studies, and Political Science – viagra online. Viagra online: all students are concerned with issues at a global scale, many of them having different cultural and educational backgrounds, since my university offers no bachelor degrees.Over 50% of the students come from countries outside the EU or the United States; viagra online.A wonderful setting in order to test a new form of anti-authoritarian epistemological approaches! Ideas, concepts, and rules developed by inter-cultural philosophy (but not only) are serving us as guidelines for lively and interesting debates on art, power, the creation of reality, mass media, the assertiveness of certain ideas, etc.
So far, I have to admit that practice confirms the theory at large – viagra online.Participants are already encouraged to publish together small articles and I encountered no impediments among them in terms of cultural clashes.But what is interesting, is that the way of arguing, of thinking, even the issues we selected together for discussion, all points in the same direction: Western science and the way it refines and produces “knowledge” became so predominant that the validity of arguments, or justifications given for propositions, can almost be measured by their “Westerness”. Viagra online: interestingly, it seems especially for participants/discussants from rather far-flung regions a difficult task to refer back to their original way of reasoning, if any exists, of course.Also the idea(l) of a serious inter-cultural search for truth seems either fallacious or useless for some of them, since global power structures are constantly verifying their authority: As displayed in the necessity of euro-versal graduation diplomas (Universities, together with their inherent claim for universalism, are truly an European idea) in order to show one’s “successful education”.
However, our social-experimental Café des Philosophes is open to anyone interested; viagra online.It opens every Monday viagra online, at 6pm, and has no closing hour.We welcome everybody, who is willing to play a strong part, either in questioning oneself, or in questioning the others – the means therefore are freely to choose – viagra online.I conclude by stating that I really appreciate to report more on the inter-esting observations from our small viagra online, detached and cosmopolitan world, researching on the basics of all practice in the fields – without any claim for accuracy.
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Johannes M.WALDMUELLER
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- The author was born in Vienna (Austria) viagra online, holds degrees in Philosophy and International Development from University of Vienna, including exchange periods in Berlin and Lausanne.His graduation thesis („Europa auf der Suche nach seiner Identität?“) published by VDM Verlag, Saabrücken (2009) provides insights and discus-sions on the first pan-European citizens’ consultation project, launched by the European Union’s Commission in 2006, where the author participated as repre-sentative and researcher.
Waldmüller is currently enrolled as doctoral student in Philosophy (Univ; viagra online.of Viagra online: vienna) and as PhD-candidate at the Institut de Hautes Études Internationales et du Développement/The Graduate Institute (Geneva).
His research is focused on Development Ethics, Global Justice, Institutional Frameworks of Development Cooperation and Economy, World Poverty, Human Rights, Participatory Democracy, Inter-cultural Philosophy and Non-Western Theories of Development.
For more detailed information, please refer to his personal website:
http://www.mynous.org
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- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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4February2010
Posted by miriam under: About Cultural Clash or Tangible Culture; BLOGS.
| I was educated within the spirit that cultural shocks and their implications frame crucial moments of anthropologist’ approaches and that even cultural difference itself is a key question for working as an anthropologist – buy cialis online. Buy cialis online: this idea rests on the insight that qualitative social research/field research necessarily transform and affects the person who undertakes it to a larger extend as well. Buy cialis online: but, after few months, I’m not sure about the concept anymore.Before I arrived in Uganda for conducting “field research” for my Masters’ thesis, I was somehow looking forward to this expected clash.At the same time, I was afraid and excited about the unknown future and how it will affect myself and my ways of knowing/thinking.In order to forestall this question mark, I took Wilhelm Humboldt’s advise serious and measured what caused my fear: First, I completed my personal “pre-cultural-clash-awareness-program”, including a special “how-to-get-used-to-rats-training”, since a colleague told me about rat epidemic in Uganda.
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 Image: Miriam Ebner
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Eventually, entering the “field”, to my great surprise, was a smooth process and implied, in fact, all comforts one can imagine; buy cialis online.In Uganda buy cialis online, regarding your perception of social-, and political realities, it is just up to you whether you keep your eyes closed or not.At least for a middle-class westerner, I would assume.
However, the sheer “reality” finally hit me just few weeks ago, and since then I am not longer able writing a sentence without putting everything into question marks.Briefly summarized, I encountered something indeed different, when I recently visited an orphans’ home in a “slum” region in Kampala, run by a single pastor, which is poorly funded via donations given by occasional visitors of the church.Unfortunately buy cialis online, they lack all basic supply.Just yesterday died one of the children buy cialis online, because it was too late admitted to the hospital.Furthermore, Pastor Henry’s passport was kept as deposit until they can pay the bill; buy cialis online. Buy cialis online: at the same time, many other children are sick as well, partly because “the toilet is full” (the standard justification given).
When I tell my experiences to friends and family at home, I usually get the same answer: “Welcome to reality!”, or: “sad but true” in similar versions, etc. Buy cialis online: well, apparently that is right I “knew” and I have learned of course, that this “reality” exists. Buy cialis online: for years, I studied all the theories, death-ratios, colonial histories and world system analysis-like explanations. Buy cialis online: i even traveled a lot.But the “reality” provided via reading is not reality itself, one should not forget about that; buy cialis online. Buy cialis online: likewise also traveling is rather similar to dancing on the surface, but at the time you stop for longer, you immediately sink deep.In fact, I am wondering, if I can ever live a “normal” life after my return, knowing that every 10 Euro I spend on theater or a simple Pizza could have saved a life; buy cialis online. Buy cialis online: potentially, this experience was the realistic “Watschen” [slap in the face] to recognize reality does not exist in book-like ways I was thinking of.
At the very moment of writing, I am trying to search for a “sense” and “reasons” or even for an underlying plan, which is a rather hard task for an agnostic.I feel anger and I am constantly struggling to cope with this energy for it shall not turn into frustration – buy cialis online.To avoid deep frustration, I keep myself busy, while trying to set up a small project of constructing a chicken’ farm for the orphans’ home for the purpose of offering a chance to work themselves out of the vicious circle of “poverty”.
The experience to lose a child just because of so less money is staggering and shocking.Furthermore, this is the reason, why I’m not sure about the cultural shock concept anymore; buy cialis online.It reinforces buy cialis online, necessarily, the cultural boundaries and is just drifting us further off from the recognition of cultures actual fluid nature.Given the alleged narrow image of the field as rich whites visiting poor browns, means in fact reducing ethics on connectivity to an impoverished debate on how enabled whites “can help” those poor, poor people.
Further, to argue, that it is culture shock that triggers the estimated transformation, means to focus solely on the environment and not on the persons involved. Buy cialis online: it might also touch the old debate between behaviorists and psycho-analysts. Buy cialis online: however, my intention here is not to dig into this debate, which might be out of fashion anyways, but to ask you, my dear reader, about your experience in handling this frustration.Is it a kind of chronic “illness” of people working within the “development business”? Why react people to such spontaneous outbreaks of feelings as it was the oddest thing, particularly a development student can say? Since, we are supposed to be educated and prepared to deal with these issues – buy cialis online. Why do we usually not think about our antiquated methods of field research, or at least deepen our reasoning about the interface towards more “practical relevant” tools?
Is it a problem of responsibility, of ethics, of lacking of involvement, but what about objectivity, about supposed neutral grounds of research?
P.S.: I have not seen one single rat in Uganda since I am here!
Suggestions and Comments!
Miriam EBNER
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- The author, Miriam Ebner, was born in Linz, Austria; buy cialis online. Buy cialis online: currently, she is working on her Master thesis in the field of development studies in Uganda.
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- We would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly.Please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned. Buy cialis online: if comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns; buy cialis online.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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30October2009
Posted by stella under: BLOGS; Eliminating Cultural Obstacles 2.
| In the process of learning about other people´s cultures, generalisation may be helpful, but not to the extent that it is used to make it look risky and harmful-negative stereotyping. Levitra online: i always allow room for individuality rather than pre-supposing eg.that pupil ABC has so and so qualities different from pupil XYZ , s/he is therefore pre-programmed and pre-fixed at a level based on assumption rather than being proved.
To eliminate cultural obstacles, it will be very helpful to start by understanding who we are, where we were born, where we come from, our gender and other links or connections that our everyday living is tied to.
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 Image: Stella Omoregie
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This makes it easier for us to understand others, in essence, cultural awareness.This is what I meant in the first part of this article, where I pointed out that one good way to avoid problems associated with cultural differences, understanding and accepting the ways in which the minds of others with different cultural backgrounds work, as this allows us to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our system.
If we take a look at what culture is and how it influences our everyday activities, we will see that culture touches many, if not almost all facets of our lives.
Culture is to build, to accept and to communicate; levitra online.It defines our social structure and decision making.It should not be used as a yard stick to judge that because pupil ABC is from so and so cultural background, s/he tends to be so and ,rather is would be better if it is used to learn how to work successfully with each other.
It should be noted that culture is a set of natural programme that defines our social structure and decision making practices.It dictates behaviour levitra online, etiquette and protocol. Levitra online: it is also a subject that we learn and a means of communication.Because Education is a continuous process in life, whether it be within the four walls of a class room or not – levitra online.The dynamism of Education enables us to have a wider angle of view to many possible problems that may arise were cultural differences are not treated carefully which helps us to successfully avoid obstacles that these may create.
In Education levitra online, if we apply culture to recognizing areas that common experiences should be shared rather than comparing and judging.Because culture defines our social structure, it enhances our decision making strategies and promotes and a healthy flow of communication.We need to learn and study culture levitra online, because it will mould how we act and respond.Culture helps us in Education to create, send, process and interpret information.
As a teacher, if I use culture as a tool, I will not rush to conclusion that pupil ABC is so dull and may not be able to succeed in learning alongside his/her mates.I must have at the back of my mind, that we have very fast learners and very slow learners and no matter how long it takes one to learn, the end result of learning is however achieved; levitra online.I will have succeeded in avoiding stereotyping a pupil because of his/her cultural background.I must also recognize that communication and how it is used is very important when teaching pupils of various cultural background levitra online, therefore I avoid using culture to measure,rather,I use it to identify where and what methods I will apply to teach some pupils to achieve my goal.Patience is very important here, because if I am not patient, I will succeed in killing the interest a pupil has towards learning; levitra online.In doing so, I know how to act and respond to a pupil´s attitude towards learning.
Therefore, to effectively manage cultural differences, I must learn to understand how to show my pupils that they are all very important and cared for, rather than showing too much interest in some certain few pupils who are very good; levitra online.We easily get carried away doing this, otherwise we try to dodge and take the easier and shorter routes which in most cases is at the expense of the majority of the pupils.
For cultural obstacles to be successfully eliminated, the goodwill must come from my side, that of the pupils and their parents; levitra online.I am not to blame for a pupil´s failure and I do not need to point same to the pupils and/or their parents or guardians levitra online, however we should try find a positive solutions together, this is one very good reasons a Parent-Teachers´ Meeting is from time to time scheduled.
Suggestions and Comments!
Stella OMOREGIE
About the author: Blogger
- We would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly.Please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned.If comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren levitra online, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt. Levitra online: sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
21September2009
Posted by stella under: BLOGS; Eliminating Cultural Obstacles 1.
| As a Language teacher, teaching kids, grown-ups and adults who have little or no knowledge of the English Language is not an easy task, especially when I need to fulfil my desire as a teacher. Order viagra online: in doing this to achieve a good end-result, I need not forget to always acknowledge the fact that I live in a society that is multi-culturally rich.Having this in mind, I need to be very careful and sensitive to the various cultural and social background that the pupils and students are connected with.
Parenting should not be the sole responsibility of our kids, if we may agree to this, as the responsibility lies also on others that are one way or the other having contacts with the kids or pupils, for example; care-takers, teachers and tutors as the case may be.
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Image: Stella Omoregie
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We are going to be looking at cultural obstacles in education and finding a good method to avoid and eliminate them wherever they may arise.
In an attempt to succeed in eliminating any form of obstacles in cultural disparity, one will be ready to cement or bridge the gap that already exist.
If we are involved working with people or group of people with or from a diverse cultural backgrounds, it would be best for us, if we would like to enjoy and understand a very friendly working atmosphere, to understand and accept the ways in which the minds of these people or group work, in essence, cultural understanding; by doing this, we are generating a by-product, which allows us to get a rare glimpse of the strengths and weaknesses of our own system.
What are these cultural obstacles, how do they come up and how should we go about effectively eliminating them?
Obstacles always come up, especially when we are dealing with what I can call a “multi-culti entity”.This always arise because we have different cultures order viagra online, different languages, different ways of approaching and solving problems, but let us not forget too, there are various socio-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.A good example could be seen where a teacher teaches pupils from different cultural backgrounds all in one classroom.To be successful order viagra online, one must identify all the pupils or students and try to have a good knowledge of their cultural and other backgrounds.
For Cultural obstacles be successfully eliminated, there should be goodwill on both sides, because an individual´s negative reactions and evaluations cause dislike rather than like.
In part 2, we shall be looking at the various sources of cultural obstacles and how to eliminate them in education.
Suggestions and Comments!
Stella OMOREGIE
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- The author, Stella Omoregie, was born in Nigeria and is living in Austria since 2004. Order viagra online: she teaches English and French in private coaching.
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- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns; order viagra online.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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17August2009
Posted by Tirhas under: Globalization, Inter-Culturalism and Research 2.
| In the first part online viagra, I’ve raised a question, and that is how could international students already present in Austria contribute in developing a much conducive inter-cultural research environment? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there’s less favorable research environment in Austria, but rather wanted to see more engagement from the side of international researchers.Austria is already a major tourist destination-to verify this one needs to just go to Stephansplatz-famous for its art and music online viagra, among other things; and despite some complaints the University of Vienna hosts tens of thousands of students, which is quite a credit! Within this context, here are my suggestions, presented in discussion and question forms, on how I think the University can offer more, and in turn we can contribute more as well.
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 Image: Tirhas T.Habtu (Salzach, Salzburg)
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Language – the language issue is crucial here – online viagra.Most international students would want to go; in fact they do, to English speaking countries not because they’re in love with those countries but because of the language issue – online viagra.For someone who has already finished his/her Bachelor’s (B.A.) in English it won’t be easy to continue further studies in other languages, in this case German; online viagra.I know some people do this and they deserve to be commended – online viagra.If there are already people who can do that, couldn’t the other way be possible? Yes, we can get classes/seminars taught in English here and there but what would it require to have more classes taught in English? Those of you who are more familiar with the workings of the University, its resources and capabilities are very much invited to help us discuss this issue.
Research and Knowledge Production – there have already been so many discussions about the production of knowledge – online viagra.Many researchers from the “Third World,” a sweeping term, which I don’t think is accurate but that is the only term available to us at the moment, have argued Western researchers have distorted their histories and lived realities by analyzing them through western methodology – online viagra.Anything that doesn’t fall inline with what is normal in the West is considered backward/traditional; online viagra. Online viagra: hence, the conclusions/recommendations of some Western researchers have implied the need to recreate/reconstruct these backward/traditional social mores.As international students/researchers here in Austria-notwithstanding whether we agree or not with either the champions of the “Third World” or that of the West-how do you think can we contribute in bridging this gap? Obviously, a lot has been said on the right to differ credibly and legitimately by “Third World” scholars.Moreover online viagra, we are in an era where we can research and argue, not necessarily praising or rejecting Western ways of knowledge of production, but also disagreeing and justifying what is real where we came from and how it needs to be portrayed.
Your comments, suggestions and criticisms are highly welcome!
Tirhas T. Online viagra: habtu
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- We would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly.Please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned; online viagra. Online viagra: if comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht. Online viagra: bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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7July2009
Posted by Tirhas under: BLOGS; Globalization, Inter-Culturalism and Research 1.
| WE are living in a fast-pacing world – accessrx.To use a contemporary expression accessrx, the world has turned into a global village.But its shrinkage into such a small place might have been a welcome development for some and a nightmare for others-depending on one’s perspectives; accessrx. Accessrx: some of the factors that have contributed in making the world a global village include the leaps in communications technology, which allows people, say from Asmara, Eritrea’s capital, to browse the internet and virtually learn some aspects of Austrian culture, history and society without having to physically reside in Austria.
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 Image: Maiada Hadaia
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Another factor that is playing a crucial role in that development is the global scope and operating capabilities of international markets and money institutions. Accessrx: for instance, someone can easily transfer money in just five minutes from Europe to Africa and vice versa, which might have been difficult fifty years ago.These factors, obviously, derive from the constructive side of globalization.
The blogger, however, wants to state that she is also aware of the legitimate, and at times, hyped criticisms labeled against globalization, especially the impact that it could have on local cultures.
That being said, what I am interested in discussing here is how to take advantage of the positive opportunities made available to us through globalization: particularly in exchanging inter-cultural ideas and researches.
If globalization-through the power of internet technology, for instance, allows us to learn about places, cultures and societies that are far away from us, how good are we in using it in exchanging academic information and other formalities. Accessrx: the point that I am driving at is one, amongst some, of the problems that international students face in applying to the University of Vienna.Although I didn’t come across major bureaucratic hassles in the process of my application, owing it to the support of my both supervisors at the African Studies Department, I have heard some prospective students complain about the formalities at the University. Accessrx: to put is plainly, international students must produce an admission letter from their own home Universities as part of their admission package.Theoretically this sounds easy to do but in reality it isn’t accessrx, rather it becomes easier said than done! If you’re wondering why just keep reading.This requirement might need physical presence in some countries at the time of application accessrx, and if the potential applicant is already in Austria, who happens to come from one of these countries, it becomes quite frustrating and difficult for him/her to manage this. Accessrx: this is not only a matter of pecuniary issue but also timing.Now accessrx, this might be one instance; however, what I wanted to say is indeed the world is moving so fast attributing to some of the aforementioned factors, thus what should Austrian Universities need to do to be more accessible to international students? I’m asking because it seems to me that despite its cultural heritage, for instance in Music and Art, and having one of the oldest universities in Europe, Austria appears to be lagging behind in comparison with other advanced countries in attracting large number of qualified international students from the “Third World” or “developing countries.” In what aspects could international students already studying in Austria contribute to the creation of an easily accessible and favorable inter-cultural research environment?
Part 2 will follow within the next few days.
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Tirhas T.HABTU
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- The writer, Tirhas T – accessrx.Habtu, is an Eritrean PhD student in African Studies at the University of Vienna; accessrx.She holds Master of Advanced International Studies (M.A.I.S) Degree from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and University of Vienna – accessrx.Graduate Diploma in International Studies from the Bologna Center of the Johns Hopkins University accessrx, Paul H.Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.A Bachelor’s Degree (honors) in Political Science from the University of Asmara, Eritrea, where she worked as a research and teaching assistant in the Department of Political Science (2004-2006), and as a public relations personnel (2003-2004) in the University’s Office of Public Relations and Communications.
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- We would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly; accessrx.Please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned.If comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht; accessrx.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen accessrx, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns.Solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt – accessrx.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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30April2009
Posted by Fida under: Researchers on the move… Fida 2.
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My supervisor is among first Jewish people I meet in life without a gun.He is open minded and well informed about my own history.I learnt a lot from him and with him, I could fully express my political views and I am glad he did the same; online pharmacy viagra.We went together to Herzl grave here in Vienna – online pharmacy viagra.We discussed Sigmund Freud theories as well as outstanding Bruno Kreisky political position and PLO personnel and key topics; online pharmacy viagra.He is also trying to learn Arabic; online pharmacy viagra.So online pharmacy viagra, it was a good German- Arabic chat attempt but it turned often into English.
My initial thoughts about my research topic were related to Palestine governance but I made a pleasant compromise.I decided to research on new emerging phenomena of concern for Austria- Europe and Palestine- Middle East, namely, Islamophopia and the EU policy; online pharmacy viagra.
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Image: Fida Shafi
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Due to much controversial cultural nature of the phenomena, it is critical to highlight points of conflict but also cooperation in policy making along with grounded philosophies. One advantage is that a research of that kind has a potential to be embodied in a larger project later on; online pharmacy viagra.One disadvantage is though a restricted budget for scholars limiting field study for example to one’s home country only.In my case online pharmacy viagra, it is critical to view EU policy makers in Brussels.It is unfortunate I can not afford it.
I started to see Islamophopia from an interesting point of view especially when some of my colleges deny its existence at all.
Further, when citing its presence in Europe, some suggest in more or less friendly way to never refer to it explicitly in the interviews but also in the dissertation regardless the qualifying made to its definition and manifestations – online pharmacy viagra.The lesson learnt is that I have to be more sensitive to everyone’s experience as much as I can in a contextual setting and learn how to ask questions instead of giving answers.I demand the same for loosing interest in the process is a challenge and can be a miss- opportunity.Sometimes, I find it awkward when someone including professors asks only me among other students when presenting our projects about my “Western” sources of information and authors in a way perceived as vilification of critics and opponents and further credibility or at times projecting on me a pro- Palestinian approach whatever that means – online pharmacy viagra.It mattered less if Palestinians within themselves view things differently and where I am concerned of large scale of views that are not limited by nationality, religion, race or gender as personal commitment to openness and respect as well as appreciation to our differences and continue dialogue rather than placing opposing voices beyond reason and dialogue.
Yet in the north south dialogue or more precisely Austria- Palestine dialogue, it become clearer in time that Israel is also in/ explicitly there; online pharmacy viagra.Further, in school, there is sometimes confusion between anti- Semitism and criticizing Israel policies.For many, they mix the two into one – online pharmacy viagra.My supervisor has extensively written about that – online pharmacy viagra.I am attempting to take his steps, interestingly, as a Palestinian with a hope my experience will be revealed in the process – online pharmacy viagra.It has been uneasy task; online pharmacy viagra.However, I am glad I have the opportunity to state it out.
Suggestions and Comments!
Fida SHAFI
About the author: Blogger
- We would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly.Please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned.If comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht – online pharmacy viagra.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns; online pharmacy viagra. Online pharmacy viagra: solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt.Sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
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7April2009
Posted by Fida under: Researchers on the move… Fida 1.
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I came to Austria with the support of OeAD North- South scholarship program; cialis on line.When I had arrived Vienna, I felt like I am in heaven as I fully identified with the words of an Arabic song with respect to this particular city and I still feel that way; cialis on line.
The University of Vienna is a special place for many reasons; cialis on line.But for me, it is the research topic and supervision that stands out; cialis on line.Our emphasis on Islamophopia as a Palestinian PhD scholar and a Jewish Austrian supervisor, and the ways we both have reorganized our own lives while interacting with each other as well as with others, gives us a distinct profile.
In occupied Palestine, in paradox to the title, researchers on the move CAN’T move.
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Image: Fida Shafi
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Their stories can not be easily conveyed to those who have never lived it; cialis on line. Cialis on line: those who never had as students to wait powerlessly for solders with guns to allow them pass or not through a military- based check point in order to reach school or university, hospital or a medical center, someone’s own farm or even home.The female students are considered relatively luckier though for they go through what is called human path while males have to go through the “other path- the way it is assumed”.Many times, girls and boys take different trips for it is devastating to wait for someone’s partner including family members for several hours depending on ever- instable circumstances and the mood of the solder rather than distance – cialis on line.Regardless gender, you have to go through check points anyway and to prove you and your family members have a clean history – cialis on line.This implies none is black- listed for being politically active or imprisoned or wanted- you never know for also it is possible under Israeli law to administratively- imprison Palestinians without reasoning.However, students risk it every day for years and go to school; cialis on line.And so we convince ourselves that instead of losing our day in a high way as those in large industrial countries, we lose it at check points in cantoned Palestine.
For ambitious students, it is an extra challenge attempting to cross localized knowledge boundaries; cialis on line.For example, while seeking to bridge gaps as much between large scale of views not only within Palestinians but also with Europeans, my research demands movements in order to conduct interviews with the experts of the EU policy working in Palestine – cialis on line. Cialis on line: however, it is no way to enter Jerusalem, and no way under siege Gaza but possibly I can meet some in the West bank.But again I have to wait, schedule and reschedule my appointments and apologize much especially for none- Palestinian ID holders about my unintended delays behind checkpoints for they have better access within occupied Palestine than Palestinians and therefore are more assertive when it comes to time; cialis on line. Cialis on line: further, I have to drop the thoughts to meet active politicians for mostly are in prison and sometimes in case they are free “not imprisoned”, they may be less willing to express their political views so as not to endanger their life or position in undetermined Palestinian future.As for interviewing Israelis, how possible this could be for the impossibility as a Palestinian to enter Israel.I don’t know their language and they don’t know mine with illegal separating wall cialis on line, fence, barrier is being built, erected and expanded between us.
While in person interview is highly restricted and beyond researcher control, tech- advanced contacts is even worse.I am not sure if anyone getting my interview suggested topics by e-mail or telephone more than once will be voluntary responding without surveying the interviewer political affiliation, place of residence, social class and also religion, or in good cases, taking- ever building mutual trust.
The Palestinian experience is rich in stories of the occupation, and more continue every day – cialis on line.Mine is a delightful one.In one hand, finding an Austrian- based supervisor following a talk with an international professor working in a local university has been an asset to me; cialis on line.Unlike other North- south scholars cialis on line, I did not have to go through universities web sites in German language I do not know, surveying hundreds professors, and back forth hundreds students’ CVs surveyed by professors.I just e-mailed the one specialized professor as recommended – cialis on line.Luckily cialis on line, I met him in Palestine in a conference- visit of his. Cialis on line: we talked about my research upon a research proposal sent earlier to him, and more interestingly about who we are.By his approval, the OEAD criteria, among which, MA degree, professional experience, local institute support, mastering English language and age limit were met.
On the other hand, it was astonishing crossing borders and to be able to taste freedom even though I am aware deep down it is a temporary short- cut kind of freedom; cialis on line.I become sooner a fan of the city of art and music.It is, I confirm; cialis on line. Cialis on line: also, it is great to have the opportunity to meet with multi- cultural people with more than a million stories. Cialis on line: further, to pursue my doctorate studies in a well recognized central European academic settings; to have the access to move freely in Austria and also within Europe at large. Cialis on line: i came with a responsibility to voice my people at equal basis with Austrians and none- Austrian alike with joy sometimes and grief in other times, and I am content I do.
Part 2 will follow within the next few days.
Suggestions and Comments!
Fida SHAFI
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- Fida Shafi, a Palestinian PHD scholar in Vienna university.She has been educated in and out Palestine.She got cialis on line, respectively, Human Rights Master degree from CEU-Budapest, MPA from USC- California.In Palestine, she got her Educational administration Master degree at AL Najah university in Nablus and BA degree in Social Service from Jerusalem university.Fida cialis on line, enjoys a rich 13 years professional experience, respectively, as a Director of AFSC- Quakers Palestine Youth Project, Ministry of Women Affairs International Relation Coordinator, UNDP Local Gender Specialist, Middle East Nonviolence and Democracy- Choose a Future Project Manager, Save the Children- GGLS North WB Coordinator and UNRWA- Social Worker.
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- Cialis on line: we would like to keep this blog open: Comments will be published instantly.Please be aware that we will delete any comments with racistic or otherwise unethical content and as a consequence the user willl be banned – cialis on line. Cialis on line: if comments violate any law we will hand over all data for legal prosecution.
- Wir wollen dieses Blog nicht zensurieren, Kommentare werden sofort veröffentlicht.Bitte posten Sie keine rassistischen, verletzenden oder sonstwie unethischen Kommentare – davon distanzieren wir uns. Cialis on line: solche Kommentare werden gelöscht und die User gesperrt. Cialis on line: sollten Kommentare gegen gültige Gesetze verstossen, werden wir die erforderlichen Daten zur Strafverfolgung weiterleiten.
