“Cultural Awareness”

through which experience is interpreted and carried out Culture A shared system of meanings, beliefs, values behaviors through which experience is interpreted and carried out

Forces Shaping Individual Culture Personal Culture Values World-views Beliefs Behaviors Urbanization Migration Minority Experience Cross-cultural Adjustments Profession Gender Language Education Industrialization Social background Ethnic background Religion Nationalism Colonization

Customs and Traditions  Holidays and Festivals

Some useful definitions first: A festival is a day or days when people celebrate something, often a religious event. Traditions are practices and beliefs that are passed down between generations of a certain family, culture, or other group. They are hand down from generation to generation, especially by word or by practice. Traditions have been there for a very long time, but new traditions are also made all the time and sometimes they even replace the old ones. A custom is a practice followed by people of a particular group or a region.

Dangers! Stereotypes Prejudice Ethno-centric perspectives

Understanding Cultural differences Eating habits Asia - chop sticks Europe - knife and fork Clean right hand in some countries Common plate

Understanding Cultural Differences Eating habits Beef Pork Horse “Everything that moves”

Understanding Cultural Differences Eating habits Pork not eaten by Muslims and Jews for religious reasons Christians keep horses, dogs and cats as pets Fish is neutral

Understanding Cultural Differences Religion Religion – an important place in many societies Knowledge of religion of host nation very important Respect religious beliefs

Understanding Cultural Differences Family and Gender Elders are highly respected in some cultures Understand family ties Different gender beliefs and views

Understanding Cultural Differences Communication Language is culture specific Avoid use of idiomatic expressions Humor

Understanding Cultural Differences Body Language Gesture/body language have different meanings Smile will never be misunderstood? Polite handshake is accepted in most cultures

Understanding Cultural Differences Dress Code Depends on culture, customs, traditions and climate Adapt to local customs

Understanding Cultural Differences Time People have different concept of time Need to understand “You have the clock, we have the time”

Building Cultural Awareness Understand your own culture Understand and accept logic of other cultural frameworks Cultural differences as unique and creative problem-solving opportunity

Cultural Shock Unfamiliar: Adaptation process Language Climate Currency Road signs Colleagues Adaptation process

The Adaptation Stages Honeymoon Initial confrontation Adjustment crisis Recovery

The Adaptation Stages STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION Honeymoon First exciting contact with new culture Observe Excitement; Curiosity; Slight concern Initial confrontation First intensive feeling with new culture Solve problems in familiar ways Confusion; Mystified about; Others behavior

The Adaptation Stages STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION Adjustment crisis Problems intensify Experimentation with new behaviors Frustration; Anger; Confusion about Recovery Sense of belonging to culture emerges New strategies to help one function effectively New culture is understandable; Enjoying many aspect of it

you will always be fine” Cultural Awareness “If you are Humble Respectful Friendly you will always be fine”