“I’ve gotten used to it but eye contact was a big difference for me. In America it’s appropriate when you’re talking to someone to look into their eyes for a long time but for me and back home it’s disrespectful- especially if it’s an older person. If you look into their eyes solidly for a long time it’s rude and forward. When I’m talking I look around and look back. Here people think it’s because I’m distracted or that I’m not caring about the conversation. It’s just that I feel so weird staring into someone’s eyes and I’m not used to that. I was like, ‘Wow is everyone in love with me cause everyone is just staring into my eyes!”
AJ Stambolie
Sophomore, Psychology and Mass Communications major
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Photo By: Marissa Pilcher