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Why I Want To Be An American Culture

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I am applying to the FLAS fellowship for the opportunity to immerse myself in Turkish and Russian culture and to enhance my skills in cross-cultural communication. My primary focus in my Master’s program is Russia and other post-Soviet countries; however, I would like to broaden my foundation by beginning Turkish as a third language, and conducting a comparative study on international exchanges and its effect on diplomatic relations within the REECAS and Turkish regions. Through my professional endeavors, I would like to encourage a more thorough knowledge on the various cultures around the world utilizing international exchange organizations to assist incoming migrants, students, and refugees. Knowing their background, what they had experienced, and how they got to where they are now is important in assisting them in the most relatable and reliable way. …show more content…
My parents and brother immigrated to the United States as refugees from Odessa, Ukraine. Not knowing the local language or culture, they encountered many barriers that could have been avoided had they been working with someone who understood not only what they were saying, but where they were coming from. In coming to the United States, they had to figure out which state and federal resources were available to them, how to establish new careers, get their children enrolled in school, and learn local phrases and customs. To those of us who have been exposed to the system for a long period, these experiences seem like mundane things, but to an immigrant family it is a significant amount of information to figure out on their own. Their difficulty integrating themselves with American culture is what drew me towards a career that would allow me to guide individuals towards discovering opportunities they may not have known were

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