Culturs Central Recap

By: Jolie Chene

Since October, students of the PRSSA chapter at Central Michigan University have been working on bringing the magazine, Culturs, to CMU’s campus. Our goal was to bring Culturs Magazine to the attention of students who would benefit from it.

At CMU there is a large audience of international students. We decided this would be the best group to spread the mission of this magazine with. Throughout our implementation period we worked to get in touch with and hear the stories of international professors and students here on campus. 

We worked with the International Student Organization to have a cultural workshop. During this time students shared their stories and struggles of being a third culture adult and a student in a brand new culture. We learned from them about resources on campus, their home cultures, different education systems and much more. During this workshop we got the chance to learn first hand what it is like to be a third culture adult on our campus and in America.

Our team was also divided to interview many international professors and students at CMU and share their stories. They shared about culture shock, moving to a new country, past jobs and working in other countries. These interviews allowed us to get real stories and experiences from third culture adults and to get a better understanding on what it is really like.

Throughout these past few months we got the chance to learn and fully appreciate a variety of other cultures and get a better understanding of the culture shock and transitions that third culture kids and adults go through. We got the chance to spread Culturs Magazine to an audience that benefits from it while also gaining knowledge about new cultures. In addition to spreading the message of Culturs across CMU’s campus, we also spread awareness of what international students and professors go through to be a part of our community and culture of CMU.

Joining the Mount Pleasant Community

By: Emily Meyers

Whether you’ve been gone for a while or it’s your first time ever being in Mount Pleasant, I’m sure you’re wondering what there is for you to do. I was in your shoes once, too. 

I grew up in a super small town with 2,000 people, so while I’m sure Mount Pleasant may seem boring, I can assure you I am pretty much a professional at finding unusual things that are fun.

In the realm of things you may not consider doing every day, you could go to Valhalla Axe Throwing to get in some reps throwing axes with your friends. You could go to The Jump Station which is a trampoline park.

You could always try thrifting as we have lots of discount shopping stores such as Burlington, TJ Maxx, the Salvation Army and Goodwill. College kids love finding cute cheap clothes – you can even completely restyle the clothing item! Get creative!

There are lots of great local places to eat. Pixie’s and Jon’s Drive-In are great options for classics that everybody loves. 

Michiganders are super nice, so if you have more questions about the area – ask! People who grew up or live full-time in the area often give great, unknown ideas for places to visit.

Welcome to Mount Pleasant!

Multicultural Resources at CMU

By: Kendall Weishaupt

Central Michigan University strives to create an inclusive campus for everyone. All multicultural, third culture and international students have a place on our campus. 

A great resource that centers around multicultural student needs is the Multicultural Academic Student Services (MASS). MASS is a “comprehensive office that provides academic, personal, social and cultural support to students.” Everything from registered student organizations, scholarships, mentors, events and cultural celebrations can be found in this office. 

Another great resource is the International Students and Scholars unit within the Office of Global Engagement. This unit offers resources for international students on finances, health insurance for international students, community resources, scholarships and more.

To learn more information about MASS and all of its resources, visit the website: https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/multicultural-academic-student-services

To learn more information about the International Students and Scholars resources, visit the website: https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/international-student-scholars

Navigating the Silent Struggle: International Students and Mental Health

By: Megan Mearnic

Second language anxiety 

“Keeping up” with conversations and understanding cultural references has proven to be difficult with international students and can result in second language anxiety. This can lead to many international students choosing not to call on or off-campus offices, including resources that can help improve mental health issues. 

Academic and work stress

Six percent of international students have reported an increase in health issues impacting their academic performance-- and nearly 83 percent of these cases were “mental or psychological.”   

Acculturation differences

Adapting to a new culture can be a daunting process. Adapting to a new society can contribute to mental health struggles of international students. The clash of cultural norms and values may create a sense of displacement, further impacting their well-being. 

Reluctance to seek mental health services

International students often find themselves less motivated to seek services for health related issues, largely due to their unfamiliarity with the local medical system, different cultural norms and the stigma attached to seeking help.

Importance of Multiculturalism and Feeling Seen

By: Shirley Olatunji

Imagine a world where we all dance to the same tune and beat, a world where no one stands out, or everyone looks alike, sounds alike, does things the same way, has the same food, has the same language and has no innovation; that is what a world without multiculturalism would be. However, just a slight change in food, language, the establishment of another culture, or a new innovation makes the world more beautiful and filled with unique personalities, people, countries and more. People become excited to move from the usual norm to experience a different life. This establishes the importance of unique people and cultures, making life rich and unique.

As humans, we yearn for recognition, connection and relationships, which define us as whether we are seen or not. This feeling does not make us terrible, but is rather a feeling that becomes natural even as we stand out in the world. Everyone wants their uniqueness out in the world as one of the human needs is self-actualization, where we want to feel and see the extent to which we have grown and how far we have achieved our goals and aspirations. Remember that you are not alone if you feel the urge to be seen.

Many people see the beauty of multiculturalism in festivals, multicultural events, singing and dancing in different languages and cultures, and colorful outfits particular to different cultures. I put it to you that it is a lot more than that. Multiculturalism is not about recognizing that our differences are only showcased or coexisting with those different cultures, but should give meaningful connections, understanding, shared experiences, strength, empowerment and hope for the bright future ahead of us. 

Highlighting the importance of multiculturalism and its value to our society is imperative, especially among students.

Vast culture and global awareness: Multiculturalism brings about a wide range of cultures, clothing, traditions, languages, food and more that allows individuals to learn from one another, thereby expanding their knowledge and understanding. This vast culture helps foster appreciation and valuing of diverse cultures, creating global awareness.

Inclusivity: Multiculturalism promotes creating environments for people with diverse backgrounds to feel accepted and respected. This inclusivity not only benefits individuals but also strengthens communities and institutions.

Building a Supportive Community: Multiculturalism allows individuals to connect with others with similar cultural backgrounds. This connection helps to provide a sense of belonging and support.

Cultural Celebrations: The cultural events and traditions that are celebrated allow one to foster a sense of pride in one's culture during those events and festivals within the community.

Remember that our differences are not weaknesses but strengths that make us unique and stand out. This is the multiculturalism that we should celebrate and experience in our community. Let's embrace a society where we feel seen, heard, respected and valued because multiculturalism defines the beauty of our society.

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your thoughts on the importance of multiculturalism and feeling seen in the comments below.

Culturs Key Terms

By: Jolie Chene

The language that Culturs uses to describe its “in-between” community is of utmost importance. In today’s society, assessing someone based on their appearance is not enough. Here are some culturally fluid definitions to understand Culturs and its audience better.

Cross Culture Kid (CCK): A person who has lived, or is living with multiple culture environments, including minorized individuals living within majority cultures. 

Adult Cross-Culture Kid (ACCK): A current adult who grew up as a cross-culture kid.

Missionary Kids: Children of missionaries who traveled to missions domestically or abroad.

Third Culture Kids (TCKs): A person who has spent a significant amount of their development years outside of the parents' culture. First culture is an individual’s passport culture. Second culture is considered the culture that a child has grown up in. Third culture is a result of the person's life experience – the culture that they most belong to. Third culture is often where individuals feel community. 

Third Culture Adult (TCA): Individuals who travel extensively or live in global locations after the age of 18.

Domestic TCK: Children who moved to various regions within the same country while growing up. Having to relearn ways of being, mainly through speech, dress and action.

Refugees: Internationally nomadic group not characterized by a parents occupation. Displaced from their home land, by force or by choice.

Immigrants: People who moved to another country different from their homeland to stay permanently.

Expatriate (Expat): Leaving one's native country to live elsewhere. Sometimes meaning to renounce allegiance to their native country.

Military B.R.A.T.:Children of the military who move with their parents within or outside of their home country. Often experiencing other cultures and the culture of military lifestyle itself.

Non-Military Foreign Service: Children traveling with their parents to different countries in non-military government roles, diplomatic corps, civil services, foreign service, etc.

Diplomat Kids: Childrens whose parents are members of the home country political framework while living on foreign soil. 

Traveler: Those who travel expecting differences among intracultural and intercultural, however not immersing in these cultures for an extended period of time or long enough to integrate the culture as their own.

International Business Kids: Children whose parents work with multinational corporations take them away from their home country.

Borderlands: A citizen of one country that is very close to another. Often the two cultures spread into each other. Creating a separate culture from either home country.

Multiracial: A family that consists of two or more races to which they identify. Within race there are also cultural norms that can greatly differ.

Multiethnic/multicultural: A family that consists of two or more cultures.

To learn about more culturally fluid terms, check out: https://issuu.com/culturs/docs/8859-1542651282/42

What Is Culturs?

By: Leona Falconer

Culturs is a global brand with a mission to enhance community and foster human connection of culturally fluid communities. This includes multiethnic, multicultural, mixed race and geographically mobile people.

The Culturs brand is all about those who are culturally “in-between,” focusing on representing “hidden” rather than “visual” diversity. Its target audience is culturally fluid individuals who straddle multiple nationalities, ethnicities, races or cultures.

Community building and human connection are the foundation for Culturs. It aims to be a safe space for those that struggle with their identity. Within Culturs, they can meet and connect with others that come from similar backgrounds and share cultural fluidity.

Culturs brings people together by covering topics ranging from human interest stories, education, travel, pop culture and, of course, culture! These stories are produced through Culturs Magazine, including both print and digital options, as well as CultursTv.

In addition to media, Culturs has an online shop with culturally diverse products, such as dinner party kits, cooking supplies and bath and body products.

One hundred percent of Culturs profits help to support cross-cultural education worldwide. It helps to fund global philanthropic groups, provides free magazines to educators and allows free access for all to the digital magazine.

To learn more about Culturs, visit cultursmag.com.