Study Abroad Tips from Mr. Worldwide

Pitbull’s classic adage is a pithy one: “Ask for money—get advice.” Yet the following line undermines his own argument, radically inverting the money-advice paradigm: “Ask for advice—get money twice.” As the summer months creep closer, FM is looking to pursue the aphorism’s latter course. Here are some study abroad tips from Pitbull—or, at least, the tips we imagine he’d give. Who could be better qualified to offer recommendations on navigating credit transfer, CARAT, and culture shock than Mr. Worldwide himself? Dale!

FM: Thanks so much for joining us today Pitbull; we appreciate you sparing a moment to chat with us.

Pitbull: Y’all call it a moment; I call it life.

FM: Right, uh sure, well I suppose we ought to dive right in. Can you tell us a bit about how you acquired your reputation as the globetrotting Mr. Worldwide?

Pitbull: Of course. What you have to understand is that I don’t play football, but I’ve touched down everywhere. Likewise, I don’t play baseball, but I’ve hit a home run everywhere. I’ve been to countries and cities I can’t pronounce and places on the globe I didn’t know existed.

FM: I see. Well many Harvard students hope to do the same this summer and throughout the coming semesters. Can you tell them a bit about how you navigate cultural differences abroad?

Pitbull: First and foremost, when it comes to navigating intercultural interaction in the international context, let me tell you what we gon’ do: two plus two, I’m gon’ undress the implicit assumptions I hold about “the other.” Then we’re gonna go three and three; you gon’ undress your assumptions about Americans and their actions on the international stage. Then we’re gonna go four and four; we gon’ embrace our role as citizen ambassadors in our rapidly globalizing world.

FM: Wow, you’ve developed quite a system.

Pitbull: For sure. You see, it’s not easy to balance my two identities: Mr. Worldwide and Mr. 305. The codeswitching inherent to life as both an international music icon and a Miami native requires an acute intercultural literacy.

FM: Changing tack a bit here, Harvard tries its best to make international experiences accessible to all students, regardless of their financial circumstances, yet sometimes funding sources can be hard to identify and the CARAT system difficult to navigate. How do you live a thrifty lifestyle while travelling?

Pitbull: I totally relate; I really do. You see, I knew my rent was gon’ be late ‘bout a week ago; I worked my ass off, but I still can’t pay it though. When it comes to financial concerns, it’s important to recognize that time is money—only difference is I own it. (he pauses) What I think I’m trying to say is that often it’s better to just stop time and enjoy this moment… I see the future, but I live for the moment. Make sense, don’t it?

FM: Wow, that’s quite profound. Thanks again for talking with us today. Any final words for Harvard students leaving Cambridge?

Pitbull: Yeah-eeah-eeah-eeah. Don’t stop the party. Dale.

- Magazine writer Andrew W.D. Aoyama can be reached at andrew.aoyama@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewAoyama.