1. “Cultural Awareness”

2. 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

3. 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

4. Customs and Traditions  Holidays and Festivals

5. 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.

6. Dangers!
Stereotypes
Prejudice
Ethno-centric perspectives

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

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

9. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. The Adaptation Stages Honeymoon Initial confrontation
Adjustment crisis
Recovery

19. 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

20. 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

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