I found dinner with Dr. Dambala Gelo Kutela, a visiting Cornell STAAR Fellow from Ethiopia, particularly interesting as he brought a refreshing perspective to the table as a non-American. At least two other students and Dr. Kutela shared the cultural norms and practices of their home countries which deepened my understanding of global issues including the dependence of diverse communities on weather and environmental patterns. On a less serious note, I enjoyed hearing about the aspects of general American culture which come as cultural shock to international students and the visiting scholar.