Intercultural Meetings The rewards of stepping outside your comfort zone Prof Alison Phipps Dr Giovanna Fassetta

Overview What is GRAMNet Intercultural approach to diversity –De-centring –Openness and questioning –Cultivating curiosity –Experiencing and engaging –Remembering the body Dealing with difference Q&A

GRAMNet Launched in December 2009, the Network brings together researchers and practitioners, NGOs and policy makers undertaking research and knowledge exchange with migrant, refugee and asylum communities in Scotland and internationally GRAMNet has over 200 members and collaborates with almost 40 different partner organisations

GRAMNet’s aims GRAMNet partners work collaboratively to generate relevant research to answer pressing questions facing migrants and those who provide them with support. GRAMNet aims to bring the best of relevant and up to date academic research to those working on the frontline of service delivery, policy and campaigns

GRAMNet online presence GRAMNet website: GRAMNet blog:

Comfort zones

Activity Take 2 minutes and write down your personal answer to the following: 1)In your household describe where exactly you keep eggs and jam at home 2)Describe the stages (in order) involved in making a cup of tea.

De-centring ‘De-centring’ shows us that our ways of doing things (our practices) are not simply given, natural or correct. We have learned them from others. Who taught you where the eggs/jam live? Who taught you to make a cup of tea?

Openness and questioning In former ‘expertise’/ multicultural approaches to diversity you would learn lots of facts about religions and cultures In an intercultural approach it is important that you do not pretend to know or be an expert on other cultures. Ask, don’t assume you know.

Cultivating curiosity Describe and dialogue Curiosity is the basis of intercultural approaches. These have developed out of anthropology and carefully, respectfully and ethically describing in detail how people live, rather than judging people for their differences. From description (where I keep the eggs/jam) comes understanding (because that’s where my mum kept them!) and then empathy and understanding.

Experiencing and engaging Try out new things from other cultures. Be confident that this will not threaten you but will enrich your work and understanding. Meeting, greeting and eating are at the core of the social bond.

Activity Have a conversation together about the weather in a language other than English for 2 minutes. Greet each other first and then talk about the weather. If you manage this try talking about football or the price of milk.

Remembering your body Intercultural approaches are based on human interactions and material interactions (relationships with objects and with people). These are not based on cognitive, pre-digested knowledge (looked up on Wikipedia!) but on experiences shared with others and learned from others. They are experienced physically.

Dealing with difference Difference is a normal part of life Difference is ordinary Fear of difference is a greater problem than difference The fear is rooted in an ‘expert’ model of culture You do not need to be an ‘expert’ in cultures to be able to respect difference and diversity Feeling uncomfortable is a natural response But it can be overcome, and this can be very rewarding

Questions and feedback?