When trying to watch the documentary in the Smith side basement, there was an issue with the sound playing, so we could not watch it as planned. As a result, our group from the 8th floor went upstairs to still watch it together. Once we started watching, I realized this documentary is so interesting because it deals with the combination of cultures in a problem-solving setting. Everyone at the factory wants to be successful, yet they have different ideas about how to achieve those goals. For instance, Cao Dewang wanted productivity to be higher without unions, while the American workers wanted to form a union for their financial and physical protection. This is a demonstration of the cultural differences because unions are very normal in the US, yet Dewang thinks it is unacceptable. Additionally, there is a language barrier between half of the workers, which adds another layer of complexity to the dynamic. The concept of this movie is very similar to what we talked about in the first week of our seminar class. It is about how people of different backgrounds interact and try to be constructive with one another. During the documentary, I wondered if the workers have had prior experience working with people of other cultures. I understand everyone was in a difficult situation, but a better understanding of the other culture would have helped them in the long run. All in all, it was an interesting movie, and I enjoyed watching some of the discussion points of IA play out.  

At this Global Engagement night, there was a good mix of both learning and discussion. There was a relatively large turn out, and I went with around 5 other friends from the Smith-Steeb 8th floor. In the beginning, the student leaders gave a presentation on the ways people dress themselves around the world. Some of the countries mentioned included Nigeria, El Salvador, and China. Therefore, there was a broad range of cultures examined. What I really enjoyed about the event, though, was the group discussions we had throughout. Everyone had different point of views about the styles we were discussing, and the disagreement made for a good conversation as people were trying to explain their train of thought. We also talked about how fashion relates to expression, and how what someone wears can tell you a lot about their mood, culture, and personality. It was good to get new perspectives on these topics, especially because I can relate them to my future in the business world. I know that style isn’t the most important thing, but it is important to understand that every country has their own culture and style. Knowing that can help you better understand the people around you, and I hope to use that knowledge later in my career later in life.