Comments for Culture Matters http://culturematters.com Cultural Awareness Training & Teaching Culture Thu, 17 May 2012 09:28:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on What is Individualism? by Chris Smit http://culturematters.com/what-is-individualism/#comment-1530 Chris Smit Thu, 17 May 2012 09:28:28 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2354#comment-1530 Hi Ana, Thanks for your comment. I agree with you that people from Nijmegen would be different from Rotterdam. These are so called "IntRA-cultural differences". Not IntER-cultural differences. If you (or one) has not lived in a country for a real long time those Intra-cultural differences do not appear as strong as the Inter-cultural differences. As an example: for a Dutchman, a Chinese is a Chinese. For a Japanese, a Frenchman is a Frenchman, irrespective where they are from in France. Bridging the Cultural Gap is what it's all about. True. For this we need (in this order) Awareness (of our own culture), Understanding (of the other culture, relative to our own), Acceptance (of the other culture), Skills. In this sequence. The Acceptance is crucial. What usually helps is to understand Why people do what they do. As the saying goes: "I can live with the What, if I know the Why". This is where formal Cultural Awareness Training comes in (which we supply :-) ). I'll elaborate further on What is Individualism in future posts. thanks again! Hi Ana,

Thanks for your comment.

I agree with you that people from Nijmegen would be different from Rotterdam.
These are so called “IntRA-cultural differences”. Not IntER-cultural differences.

If you (or one) has not lived in a country for a real long time those Intra-cultural differences do not appear as strong as the Inter-cultural differences.

As an example: for a Dutchman, a Chinese is a Chinese. For a Japanese, a Frenchman is a Frenchman, irrespective where they are from in France.

Bridging the Cultural Gap is what it’s all about. True.

For this we need (in this order) Awareness (of our own culture), Understanding (of the other culture, relative to our own), Acceptance (of the other culture), Skills.

In this sequence.

The Acceptance is crucial. What usually helps is to understand Why people do what they do. As the saying goes: “I can live with the What, if I know the Why”.

This is where formal Cultural Awareness Training comes in (which we supply :-) ).

I’ll elaborate further on What is Individualism in future posts.

thanks again!

]]> Comment on What is Individualism? by Ana Realpe http://culturematters.com/what-is-individualism/#comment-1526 Ana Realpe Wed, 16 May 2012 14:26:18 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2354#comment-1526 Goede dag Chris! Geweldig onderwerp! Like you, I also have a thirst for cultural topics. This passion has taken me to many places away from my birth place in Latin America. I have lived in the Netherlands and also in the US. From all this traveling, I have come to realize that every place is unique, and even people from Nijmegen act different from people in Rotterdam. The same is true in a country as large as the US. I would never generalize people's behavior in countries, maybe use small towns as a baseline. I also think that only children who spend time among different types of cultures can really skip cultural "misunderstandings" as adults. As adults we realize differences in cultures, but unfortunately, we will always feel a sense of separation with people from a different cultural background. If you know of any tips to bridge this gap, I will be happy to know them. There are more to say to this, and of course, scientific data to compare. This is an ongoing study. Thanks, Ana Goede dag Chris! Geweldig onderwerp!

Like you, I also have a thirst for cultural topics. This passion has taken me to many places away from my birth place in Latin America. I have lived in the Netherlands and also in the US. From all this traveling, I have come to realize that every place is unique, and even people from Nijmegen act different from people in Rotterdam. The same is true in a country as large as the US. I would never generalize people’s behavior in countries, maybe use small towns as a baseline.
I also think that only children who spend time among different types of cultures can really skip cultural “misunderstandings” as adults. As adults we realize differences in cultures, but unfortunately, we will always feel a sense of separation with people from a different cultural background. If you know of any tips to bridge this gap, I will be happy to know them. There are more to say to this, and of course, scientific data to compare. This is an ongoing study.
Thanks,
Ana

]]> Comment on What is Individualism? by Chris Smit http://culturematters.com/what-is-individualism/#comment-1507 Chris Smit Tue, 15 May 2012 14:38:27 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2354#comment-1507 Hi Thokozani Thanks for your comment. I like the way you phrased that Extended Family is "more a way of life", rather then a choice. It shows just how difficult it is for Individualistic cultures to "understand" Collectivistic cultures and vice versa. In the near future I'll add some more post on this topic. Hi Thokozani

Thanks for your comment.
I like the way you phrased that Extended Family is “more a way of life”, rather then a choice.

It shows just how difficult it is for Individualistic cultures to “understand” Collectivistic cultures and vice versa.

In the near future I’ll add some more post on this topic.

]]> Comment on What is Individualism? by Thokozani http://culturematters.com/what-is-individualism/#comment-1506 Thokozani Tue, 15 May 2012 14:24:56 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2354#comment-1506 Hi Chris, quite interesting article you wrote. As an african, the culture of extended family is much more a way of life than a choice. Having grew up in poverty stricken situation myself, our parents thought us to share even a smallest gift made one - like we would slice a an orange amongst seven (7) of us. Hi Chris, quite interesting article you wrote. As an african, the culture of extended family is much more a way of life than a choice. Having grew up in poverty stricken situation myself, our parents thought us to share even a smallest gift made one – like we would slice a an orange amongst seven (7) of us.

]]> Comment on What is Individualism? by Chris Smit http://culturematters.com/what-is-individualism/#comment-1505 Chris Smit Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:27 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2354#comment-1505 Hi Rachel, Thanks for your comment. I'll elaborate a bit more on Individualism in future posts, so stay tuned! I'm not sure about traffic behavior in the Netherlands and Belgium. I do know that in LA pedestrians are kind of "holy" when crossing the street... Hi Rachel,

Thanks for your comment.
I’ll elaborate a bit more on Individualism in future posts, so stay tuned!

I’m not sure about traffic behavior in the Netherlands and Belgium.

I do know that in LA pedestrians are kind of “holy” when crossing the street…

]]> Comment on What is Individualism? by Rachael Hamblin http://culturematters.com/what-is-individualism/#comment-1487 Rachael Hamblin Mon, 14 May 2012 19:22:18 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2354#comment-1487 Interesting article and liked the advert!!! I am from the North of England. I'd never thought about the expression "loss of face" in that way before - fascinating. I work full time as a Costs Lawyer but I'm also studying with the Open University at the moment - International Studies combined with French. We are just covering "the discourse of individualism" at present. It's also interesting that you have lived in the US, Holland and Belgium as I am going to the US in the summer (3rd trip) and have very recently returned from Belgium having visited Amsterdam whilst over there. There are big differences in all three cultures in my eyes. I note you are Dutch and don't wish to offend, but I felt quite uncomfortable in Amsterdam as a pedestrian and tourist. I felt the city was very biased towards the young and 2-wheeled variety leaving pedestrians to negotiate their way round trees and dog-dirt sandpits whilst hoping not to get mown down by cyclists or mopeds. Brussels by contrast seemed to say to me - you can do anything you like here - we like everyone and everything. The US, from what I've seen, could use a few more pavements so people can redevelop a sense of community. That's my take anyway. But congrats on the article. Interesting article and liked the advert!!! I am from the North of England. I’d never thought about the expression “loss of face” in that way before – fascinating. I work full time as a Costs Lawyer but I’m also studying with the Open University at the moment – International Studies combined with French. We are just covering “the discourse of individualism” at present. It’s also interesting that you have lived in the US, Holland and Belgium as I am going to the US in the summer (3rd trip) and have very recently returned from Belgium having visited Amsterdam whilst over there. There are big differences in all three cultures in my eyes. I note you are Dutch and don’t wish to offend, but I felt quite uncomfortable in Amsterdam as a pedestrian and tourist. I felt the city was very biased towards the young and 2-wheeled variety leaving pedestrians to negotiate their way round trees and dog-dirt sandpits whilst hoping not to get mown down by cyclists or mopeds. Brussels by contrast seemed to say to me – you can do anything you like here – we like everyone and everything. The US, from what I’ve seen, could use a few more pavements so people can redevelop a sense of community. That’s my take anyway. But congrats on the article.

]]> Comment on Power Distance: An Illustration/Story by Chris Smit http://culturematters.com/power-distance-an-illustrationstory/#comment-1413 Chris Smit Thu, 10 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2340#comment-1413 Hi Valli, Thanks for your comment and compliment! I've got a few other one's that I'll put up here eventually. Hi Valli,

Thanks for your comment and compliment!

I’ve got a few other one’s that I’ll put up here eventually.

]]> Comment on Power Distance: An Illustration/Story by Valli Murphy http://culturematters.com/power-distance-an-illustrationstory/#comment-1406 Valli Murphy Thu, 10 May 2012 13:56:47 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=2340#comment-1406 Hi Chris, It's a great story and one that resonates with me. I was raised in a traditional Greek household, and along with the power distance dimension, there is also a strong delineation between a man's role and a woman's role. My father never cooked, nor was expected to do or know how to do any household chores. When he would come home from work, my mom would prepare him mezes (little appetizers) before scurrying off to cook dinner. It didn't seem odd to me at the time, because within our Greek culture, the measure of a 'good' woman was one who could whip up a delicious meal, maintain a tidy household and provide all the nurturing for the family members. Men were the provides, the protectors, the patriarchs of the family. Other values that stem from these cultural underpinnings are hospitality - "philoxenia" , hierarchy (the ancient Greek word meaning, 'leader of sacred rites') and patriarchy where the eldest male is the head of the family. Hi Chris,
It’s a great story and one that resonates with me. I was raised in a traditional Greek household, and along with the power distance dimension, there is also a strong delineation between a man’s role and a woman’s role. My father never cooked, nor was expected to do or know how to do any household chores. When he would come home from work, my mom would prepare him mezes (little appetizers) before scurrying off to cook dinner. It didn’t seem odd to me at the time, because within our Greek culture, the measure of a ‘good’ woman was one who could whip up a delicious meal, maintain a tidy household and provide all the nurturing for the family members. Men were the provides, the protectors, the patriarchs of the family.

Other values that stem from these cultural underpinnings are hospitality – “philoxenia” , hierarchy (the ancient Greek word meaning, ‘leader of sacred rites’) and patriarchy where the eldest male is the head of the family.

]]> Comment on Humor in Cultural Awareness Training by Chris Smit http://culturematters.com/humor-in-cultural-awareness-training/#comment-948 Chris Smit Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:41:43 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=1962#comment-948 Hi Lucia, You can find the Dalai Lama video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltzDHTbaI8s Hi Lucia,

You can find the Dalai Lama video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltzDHTbaI8s

]]> Comment on Humor in Cultural Awareness Training by Lucia Ann McSpadden http://culturematters.com/humor-in-cultural-awareness-training/#comment-907 Lucia Ann McSpadden Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:20:10 +0000 http://culturematters.com/?p=1962#comment-907 Hi again, George. Where can I see the video of the Dalai Lama and the joke? Sounds great. Thanks. Hi again, George. Where can I see the video of the Dalai Lama and the joke? Sounds great.
Thanks.

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