What is Culture?

Culture Culture is a society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values, and perceptions, which are used to make sense of experience which generates and are reflected in behavior.

Culture Shock Culture shock is the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, a move between social environments.

Elements of Culture Society Traditions Religion Politics Art & Literature Ethics Science & Technology

East vs. West What’s the difference? Illustrations by Yang Liu from “East meets West” book – www.yangliudesign.com What differences have you experienced?

Way to think 思维方式 West: Linear (direct associations) East: Spiral (roundabout and subtle)

Way of life 生活方式 West: Individualistic, independent, values freedom East: Group orientated, values harmony and stability

Punctuality 准时 West: Start and end on time East: Appointment times flexible Don’t be late (rude). Call in advance if you can’t make it.

Connections 人际关系 West: Small number of close connections East: Highly connected web

Anger 对待愤怒 West: Argumentative, verbal East: Difficult to say no, non-verbal Show your feelings up front – people prefer to hear your problem before it becomes bigger

Queuing 排队 West: Manors important (be polite) East: Each for his/her own

In the restaurant 在餐厅

Standard of beauty 美丽的标准 West: like dark skin East: like white skin

Way to solve problems 处理问题

Senior’s daily life 老人的日常生活

Shower time 洗浴时间

Boss 领导

The child 孩子

New things 对待新事物

Image of each other 想像中的对方

Cultural Differences * but of course there are obvious exceptions West (US / Europe) East (China / East Asia) Logic Linear (direct associations) Spiral (roundabout) Communication Direct, verbal Indirect, implied Identity Individual, independent Group orientated Agreement / Disagreement Argumentative, verbal Hard to say no, non-verbal Punctuality Start and end on time Appointments flexible Respect Success, achievement Seniority, wisdom Business Relationship Economics come first Relationship comes first Decision Making Distributed, proactive Manager has final say Time Horizon Short term (per quarter) Long term (years ahead) Risk / Spending Risk-takers, spend Risk-avoiders, save * but of course there are obvious exceptions

Common Culture Shock - Activity In groups, make a list and discuss some culture shock observations you have made since being in the U.S.

Common Culture Shock - US Party culture - more parties, more dancing Service industry (bank, store) Strangers say hello in the streets Tipping at restaurants Eat fast food often, eat quickly Food is different Language barriers Clothes/fashion is different Architecture - shopping malls Way of thinking Climate

How to Deal with Culture Shock When in Rome... Ask why, why, why, why, why Take a foreign culture break OSU Counseling Services for international students

References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Cambodia http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Australia_Aboriginal_Culture_011.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Culture_Day_Parade_%28Nagoya%2C_Japan%29.jpg http://pixabay.com/en/saudi-arabia-desert-ca http://pixabay.com/en/hungarian-culture-tradition-whip-173718/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples-mel-95500/ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carnival_of_cultures_Berlin_2005_h.jpg#file https://aiyshahelit.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/culture-shock-photo.jpg http://www.yangliudesign.com/ http://www.calvinandhobbes.com/