Since this week’s class I had been questioning myself: what
is the appropriate way to show respect to other cultures? If I am in a foreign
country, how should I behave? When I meet someone from another cultural
background in Singapore, how should I behave? Are these two situations similar?
Is there a ground rule for intercultural communications? If there is one, what
it is?
I imagined that if I am an Afghanistan whom is meeting someone
from other country. He kisses my wife’s hand when we meet. How will I react to
that? I probably will fight him right on the spot, because it is such a humiliation
to an Afghanistan.
However if the same thing happened outside of my country, I
will probably suppress my anger.
Why the differences?
I realize that there
are 2 factors affecting our intercultural behavior.
1.
What do we expect others to do? This affects our
reactions to others’ action.
2.
What do others expect us to do? This affects our
own action.
In the first case, I expect the guest to know the basic rule
in Afghanistan. Even if I know that he meant to greet by kissing my wife’s hand,
it is not acceptable because I expect him to follow my country’s custom. If I
am abroad, I do not expect people to know and follow my behavioral guidelines. That
is why I have different attitudes towards the same behavior.
In some Muslim countries, people are strictly forbidden to
eat in public during Ramadan. This is certainly not the case in Singapore. In a
multicultural country like Singapore, people respect each other’s habits. When
we lower our expectation toward each other, chances of intercultural conflict is
reduced. The only way to find out what others’ expectations , is by knowing
their culture.
Singapore society is highly modernized. Singapore government
effectively built a multiracial, yet harmonic society. Singaporean, especially
the younger generation, has relatively unified culture value. I think that is
why I survive until now. I do not remember offending anyone culturally, because
I may have done that without noticing.
To be honest, I have never really taken a time to study
other cultures. I know Chinese culture, because I am a part of it. I have some Muslim
friends. I know their habits and values well. But I never have the chance to
know other cultures. Apart from these, people from different age groups have
different values as well. I know my parents and grandparents well because I
have been living with them for 23 years. However other people may be different from
them. I have a certain level of knowledge which I have acquired through the years
living in Singapore, but actually it may be far not enough.
My strength is I have learned how to communicate
effectively. This helps me to reduce the chance of causing misunderstanding. On
the other hand, my English capability may be a problem.
I enjoy talking to
other people, men, women, elderlies, kids (well actually not every kid). This is
an advantage. I learned dialectics and socialism by myself so
that I can talk to my grandfather. I am open and curious to acquire knowledge of
other cultures. To enhance my culturally competence, I will start by learning
from my friends from different cultures. When I talk to them, I will start to understand
their value and culture, instead of just food or customs.
I have watched significant amount of discovery channel and national
geography documentaries. I have read books from lonely planet series. This
habit also enhances my intercultural competence indirectly. However, I only
read books about places that interest me. I will change that.
Last but not least, the most important rule of communication
is respect. From my experience, treating others with respect is the universal safe
line of interpersonal relationship.
Good luck to everyone’s mid-term man.All the best.
