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lunes, 25 de julio de 2011
jueves, 19 de agosto de 2010
Response journal entry #10: END-OF-QUARTER SELF-EVALUATION
Through this quarter almost everything was according what I was expecting, which was to have a good quality course where we as a students and teacher were able to establish a positive relationship and therefore had had a good learning process.
I´m always interested to learn other cultures. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to live abroad and I was able to meet people from different part of the world, which made possible to try harder to learn as much as I could. However the topics we analyzed in class were sometimes repetitive and way too long that at the end we fell behind in some presentations.
However, this course was valuable for personal learning. All different topics we analyzed in class definitely increased our cultural awareness in order to achieve empathy and sensitivity to others. It helped also to facilitate language acquisition, as being positive, concerned about how cultures connect and change. An specific example was the intercultural activity we had at the university, acquiring cross-cultural skills, an aspect I wanted to emphasize because trying out other learning options, resisting falling back on stereo-typing and ethnocentrism, having the ability to use language appropriately and effectively in a variety of cultural contexts taking into account the assumptions, values and behaviors of different cultures.
I´m always interested to learn other cultures. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to live abroad and I was able to meet people from different part of the world, which made possible to try harder to learn as much as I could. However the topics we analyzed in class were sometimes repetitive and way too long that at the end we fell behind in some presentations.
However, this course was valuable for personal learning. All different topics we analyzed in class definitely increased our cultural awareness in order to achieve empathy and sensitivity to others. It helped also to facilitate language acquisition, as being positive, concerned about how cultures connect and change. An specific example was the intercultural activity we had at the university, acquiring cross-cultural skills, an aspect I wanted to emphasize because trying out other learning options, resisting falling back on stereo-typing and ethnocentrism, having the ability to use language appropriately and effectively in a variety of cultural contexts taking into account the assumptions, values and behaviors of different cultures.
lunes, 26 de julio de 2010
Essay. Patchwork quilt piece
On Wednesday July 21st, 2010 we had a cultural interchange activity with foreigners’ students in ULACIT. Through the Patchwork activity as a student I got an interesting and a broader understanding of their culture and how that culture could be compared to ours by talking about each other´s idiosyncrasies. Being able to share with different nationalities, it facilitated to be more sensitive about cultural differences gaining outside conscious awareness by observing, comparing, and sharing information regarding different intercultural learning point of views in order to have a wide outlook experience. The cultural awareness became at some point the main subject by the time I was interacting more and more with them because misunderstandings happened during the conversation, when using meanings to make sense of what I was saying of my culture and vice versa.
Using the Patchwork quilt also helped to break the ice on how to start a conversation with the foreigner students, making more defined and interesting ours and their cultural background. Everything was a valuable experience where all of us learned, observed regarding different points of views on how intercultural we really are. After all, one of the basic reasons for having this activity was developing an appreciation for new cultures.
However, becoming aware of our cultural dynamics is a difficult task because culture is not conscious to us. We have to be very careful and sensitive regarding (sometimes) of our lack of awareness in behavior towards others. In absence of better knowledge we tend to assume things, instead of finding out what a behavior means to the person involved.
Since we are born we have learned to see and do things at an unconscious level. Our experiences, our values and our cultural background sometimes lead us to see and do things in a certain close, inappropriate way, considering correct only our behavior or manners putting aside others.
Sometimes we have to step outside of our cultural boundaries in order to realize the impact that our culture has on our behavior. This activity was very helpful to gather with foreign colleagues and get some feedback on our behavior in order to have more clarity of our cultural attributes in general.
Using the Patchwork quilt also helped to break the ice on how to start a conversation with the foreigner students, making more defined and interesting ours and their cultural background. Everything was a valuable experience where all of us learned, observed regarding different points of views on how intercultural we really are. After all, one of the basic reasons for having this activity was developing an appreciation for new cultures.
However, becoming aware of our cultural dynamics is a difficult task because culture is not conscious to us. We have to be very careful and sensitive regarding (sometimes) of our lack of awareness in behavior towards others. In absence of better knowledge we tend to assume things, instead of finding out what a behavior means to the person involved.
Since we are born we have learned to see and do things at an unconscious level. Our experiences, our values and our cultural background sometimes lead us to see and do things in a certain close, inappropriate way, considering correct only our behavior or manners putting aside others.
Sometimes we have to step outside of our cultural boundaries in order to realize the impact that our culture has on our behavior. This activity was very helpful to gather with foreign colleagues and get some feedback on our behavior in order to have more clarity of our cultural attributes in general.
martes, 13 de julio de 2010
Response paper # 8: Chapter Two, American Culture and American Diversity
PART ONE
A useful way to understand a culture is by examining the expressions people use in everyday conversation. These common expressions, after all, reflect what most people in a given society believe in or value.
1. Talk is cheap.
2. Put your money where your mouth is.
3. He's all talk and no action.
Value/belief: It's easy to talk about something but harder to actually do it.
4. She's always beating around the bush.
5. Tell it like it is.
6. Straight talk, straight answer, straight shooter: that's what we need.
Value/belief: Straight Forward
7. She did something with her life.
8. Nice guys finish last.
Value/belief: Accomplishment
9. Every cloud has a silver lining.
10. Look on the bright side.
11. Tomorrow is another day.
Value/belief: Optimism
12. Where there's a will there's a way.
Value/belief: self-determination
13. Stand on your own two feet.
Value/belief: Independence
14. Don't judge a book by its cover.
15. All that glitters isn't gold.
Value/belief: don´t judge by appearances
16. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Value/belief: risk taking
PART TWO
Just as expressions common in the U.S. reveal aspects of the national culture, so do host country expressions reveal certain host country values or beliefs.
Using a host country informant or a PCV who knows the local culture well, try to come up with at least five common host country expressions, and then identify the cultural belief behind them. You may use proverbs, if you like, but in many cases, you may find that the same proverb exists in one form or another in many cultures, so that the value it reveals is probably universal and not specific to your host country.
1.A friend in need is a friend indeed
Value/Belief: someone who helps you when you are in need is a true friend'
2.A good man is hard to find
Value/Belief: the difficulty of finding a suitable male partner
3. A leopard cannot change its spots.
Value/Belief: The notion that things cannot change their natural course.
4.A picture is worth a thousand words
Value/Belief: A picture tells a story just as well as a large amount of descriptive text.
5.All that glitters is not gold
Value/Belief: A showy article may not necessarily be valuable.
6.Better late than never
Value/Belief: To arrive or do something later than expected is not good, but it is better than not at all.
Thirteen Cultural Categories:
American and Host Country Views Compared
This activity looks at 13 categories or aspects of culture and compare the typical American position on these matters with that of your host country.
In each case, the American view has been summarized and illustrated for you, and it is your task to get together with an informant, either a host country national or someone else who knows the host culture well, and try to construct the host country position. You may, if you wish, do this activity with another trainee. After you have made notes on or constructed the host country position, try to get together with other trainees in your group and compare observations.
1. ATTITUDE TOWARDS AGE
• Emphasize physical beauty and youth.
• Fire older people to hire younger people for less money.
• Judge a worker's worth based on production, not seniority.
American View: The American emphasis on concrete achievements and "doing" means that age is not highly valued, for the older you are the less you can accomplish. Age is also suspect because new is usually better in American culture, and the elderly are generally out of touch with what's new.
Host Country View:
In Costa Rica is almost the same. Unfortunately, nowadays, companies or the society focus in the young community so they have better opportunities than the elder people because we think they can be more productive and can be easier to sell something or persuade somebody base on looks, while the senior citizens are step aside thinking they are not good to anybody.
2. CONCEPT OF FATE AND DESTINY
• You can be whatever you want to be.
• Where there's a will there's a way.
• The American dream is rags-to-riches.
American View: The concept of self-determination negates much of the influence of fate and destiny. Parents tell their children they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. There are few givens in life, and people have little sense of external limits. Lack of success is their own fault.
Host Country View:
In Costa Rica is a bit different, sometimes parents can encourage their children to do whatever they want to be in life, but external limits such as economic limitations or jobs or academic’s opportunities can postpone people’s success.
3. VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE
• Courts consider a person innocent until he/she is proven guilty.
• People should be given the benefit of the doubt.
• If left alone, people will do the right thing.
• We need to discover how a vicious killer "went wrong."
American View: People are considered basically and inherently good. If someone does an evil deed, we look for the explanation, for the reason why the person turned bad. People can and should be trusted; and we are fairly open to strangers, and willing to accept them.
Host Country View:
Actually in Costa Rica is almost the same, when someone does a bad thing , right away we are looking for any kind of logical explanation of why he/she did it. Also is not that common to trust to somebody we barely know, we most of the time, think people left alone will do not the right thing, but the bad thing.
4. ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHANGE
• New is better.
• A better way can always be found; things can always be improved upon.
• Just because we've always done it that way doesn't make it right.
American View: Change is considered positive, probably because Americans believe in the march of progress and the pursuit of perfection. Improvements will always move us closer and closer to perfection. Traditions can be a guide, but they are not inherently superior.
Host Country View:
Costa Ricans most of the time feel scare when there is a change. People like to stay the same without any progression because it feels safer than something unknown.
5. Attitude Towards Taking Risks
• A low level of personal savings is typical.
• You can always start over.
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• A high level of personal bankruptcies is common.
American View: There will always be enough opportunity to go around, so taking risks, involves no real danger. For the truly ambitious, failure is only temporary. Experimentation, trial and error are important ways to learn or to improve your product or service.
Host Country View:
People here, don´t take much of chances of any adventure to see if they make or not. They stick most of the time with what they already know.
6. CONCEPT OF SUFFERING AND MISFORTUNE
• People rush to cheer up a friend who's depressed.
• If you're unhappy, take a pill or see a psychiatrist.
• Be happy.
American View: Because we are ultimately in control of our lives and destiny, we have no excuse for unhappiness or misfortune. If you are suffering or unhappy, then just do whatever it takes to be happy again. If you're depressed, it's because you have chosen to be.
Host Country View:
Costa Ricans try to blame somebody for its misfortunes if they don’t have control over its lives having self-pity and not changing anything about it.
7. CONCEPT OF FACE
• It's important to tell it like it is, be straight with people.
• Confrontation is sometimes necessary to clear the air.
• Honesty is the best policy
American View: In individualist cultures, no premium is put on saving face because people can take care of themselves. What other people think is not so crucial to survival or success. We can say what we think without worrying about hurting people's feelings, and we likewise appreciate directness.
Host Country View:
In Costa Rica, we often try to be sutil with others and not so straight forward because we think it might be rude to treat someone like that.
8. Source of Self Esteem/Self Worth
• People judge you by how much money you make.
• First question at a party is, "What do you do?"
• Material possessions are a measure of success.
American View: In an individualist culture, you are what you've achieved; that is, you create your own worth rather than receiving it by virtue of birth, position, seniority, or longevity. Your self-esteem comes from what you have done to earn self-esteem.
Host Country View:
Here, we think is very impolite to ask those kind of questions. Perhaps by the time we know that person well we might ask them. People pay more attention when they know what achievements that person has had during his/her life.
9. Concept of Equality
• People try to treat everyone the same.
• While jogging, the President stops at McDonald's for morning coffee.
• Putting on airs is frowned upon.
American View: In a strong reaction to the repressive class structure in Europe, Americans created a culture virtually built around egalitarianism: the notion that no one is superior to anyone else because of birth, power, fame, or wealth. We are not all the same, but we are all of equal value.
Host Country View:
My family had thought me everybody needs to be treat it the same way you want to be treat it. Everyone, no matter what they are, we are not superior or inferior in any aspects.
10. Attitude towards Formality
• Telling someone to help themselves to what's in the refrigerator is common.
• Using first names with people you've just met is fine.
• Using titles like "Dr". for someone with a Ph.D is presumptuous.
American View: Because of the strong egalitarian ethos, Americans tend to be casual and informal in social and professional interactions. Informality is also more necessary in a mobile society where people are always meeting new people. We do not stand on ceremony, nor use titles or rank in addressing each other.
Host Country View:
In depends on the situation we use or not the formalities. If we are addressing to the president, doctors, bosses, or any job, school related circumstances we are often are formal, otherwise when talking to friends, family is the other way around.
11. Degree of Realism
• Things will get better.
• Bad things happen for a reason.
• It can't get any worse.
• Tag line of fairy tales: "They lived happily ever after."
American View: Largely because of the notion that the individual is in control, Americans are generally optimistic. We don't see things the way they are, but as better than they are, particularly if they're not so good. We feel it's important to be positive and that there is no reason to be.
Host Country View:
We often are positive with the situations we are dealing with, for example, believing in a higher holy power (god almighty) in order to help us in certain life events, but if at end it does not change like we wanted, we think it was not meant to be or because God did not want to.
12. Attitude Towards Doing
• Doing is preferred over talking.
• The absentminded professor, the ivory tower reflects anti-intellectualism.
• Be practical.
• Arts are an adornment of life but not central to it.
American View Individuals survive because they get things done, generally on their own. Words and talk are suspect and cheap; they don't put food on the table or a roof over your head. Pursuits not directly related to the creation of concrete results, e.g., academia, the arts, are less highly valued. What is practical and pragmatic is favored over what is beautiful and inspiring.
Host Country View:
Unfortunately, Costa Ricans tend to wait around until the end do get things done or even worse somebody else do it for them without any effort.
13. View of the Natural World
• Building dams to control rivers.
• Seeding clouds to produce rain.
• Erecting earthquake-proof buildings.
• Spending billions annually on weather prediction.
American View: The natural world is a kind of mechanism or machine that can be studied and known and whose workings can be predicted, manipulated, and ultimately controlled. It is not to be feared.
Host Country View:
We as a society need to be more aware about our actions in a long term regarding wherever we bad things we do, is going to have consequences at the end.
Thinking About My Job
In the previous exercise, you discovered a number of differences in the way American and host country people view certain key topics. These differences are bound to show up now and again as you go about working at your Peace Corps assignment. Below are five of the categories from the previous exercise, with examples of typical work-related problems.
Read each incident and note what you would do.
1. Attitude towards Age
The American emphasis on achievements and doing means that age is to be feared and not respected; the older you are, the less you can do or contribute to society. Age is also suspect because new is usually better in American culture, and the elderly are generally out of touch with what is new.
Suppose you're a technical expert in crop rotation assigned to a co-op of village farmers. You discover they do not consult you or even pay much attention to you because they think you're too young to know what you're doing.
My Response: I would call for a meeting to ask them why they did not take my orders in the first place. I would listen to them carefully and try to be open to if they want to contribute with more ideas if they have a better solution but always working as a whole team setting standards rules as respectful authority.
2. Attitude Towards Change
Change is considered positive, probably because Americans believe in the march of progress and the perfectibility of man. Improvements will always move us closer and closer to perfection. Traditions can be a guide, but they are not inherently superior.
You want to introduce a new teaching technique to your colleagues. It is a faster and more efficient way of presenting certain concepts. When you approach them, they respond: "This is the way we have always been taught." You say, "But this is faster and more efficient." They say, "No doubt."
My Response: first at all, if they say no, I would try to do some exercises or setting some examples so they will be able to realize my approach and then be able to discuss the advantages it has.
3. Concept of Equality
In a strong reaction to the repressive class structure in Europe, Americans created a culture built around egalitarianism: the notion that no one is inherently superior to anyone else because of birth, power, fame, or wealth. We are not all the same, but we are all of equal value.
It has turned cold the last few days and you feel sorry for the tea-boy who is stationed just outside the entrance to your building. He doesn't seem to have any warm clothes and huddles over his charcoal fire to keep warm. You approach your boss and ask if you can tell the boy to move into the hallway out of the cold. "Certainly not," he replies. "This building is for faculty, not tea boys."
My Response: if my boss said no, I try to figure something else out, such as invite him myself to move to another warm place for a drink, food, etc.
4. Attitude Towards Taking Risks
There will always be enough opportunity to go around, so taking risks involves no real danger. For the truly ambitious, failure is only temporary. Experimentation, trial and error are important ways to learn or to improve your product or service.
You want to try a new way of filtering drinking water for the village. The environmental engineer asks you if this technique has been tried anywhere else in the country, to which you answer, "No. "And what if we fail?" he asks you. "Then we go back to the old way," you respond. "And what happens to my job?" he replies.
My Response: sometimes in order to win, we need to take our chances, so I would tell him, if something wrong happens I would take the whole responsibility so you will not get affected somehow in your job.
5. View of the Natural World
The natural world is a kind of mechanism or machine that can be studied and known and whose workings can be predicted, manipulated, and ultimately controlled. It is not to be feared.
Books need to be ordered now to arrive in time for the start of classes in the fall. You go to the head librarian to put in your request, and she asks you how you know how many students you're going to have. You don't know of course, but you're projecting, based on previous class size. "It's better to wait," she says, "so we don't waste money buying extra books." You know that if you don't order now, you'll have to teach for several weeks without the books while you wait for them to arrive.
My Response: Basically I would tell her based on my experience I know in general the numbers of students are almost the same, so at least I would order certain books in order not to fall behind with my class.
Sources of American Culture
In this exercise, you look behind some of the American values you have identified thus far, trying to understand where they come from. While it is useful to know what it is Americans value and believe in, it is also helpful to know why they believe what they do-to understand that our values and beliefs are a result of our national experience. Once you understand this fact about your own country's culture, you can begin to appreciate that it must be true of your host country as well.
Below are four defining features of the people who came to the United States, followed by a numbered list of American traits, many of which you have come across earlier in this chapter.
Place the number of the trait in the space beneath the defining feature/s you feel is the likely source of or reason behind the trait. An example from the list of traits is given for each of them.
Defining Features
PROTESTANTISM
A strong work ethic-work is intrinsically good-and the notion of predestination, that salvation is apparent through worldly success.
6. The cult of celebrities; biographies of the rich and famous.
11. Emphasis on Achievement
AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY
The frontier, unlimited resources and opportunity, isolation, sparse population, distance from Europe.
1. Limited sense of fatalism, of accepting things as they are.
3. Historic low level of savings
ESCAPE FROM OPPRESSION
From religious and economic repression and rigid class system and social stratification.
2. Tolerance for differences.
16. Egalitarianism
THE NATURE OF THE AMERICAN IMMIGRANT
Out of the mainstream in home country, dissatisfied with lot in life, willing to take risks, adventuresome.
7. Little fear of failure.
14. Idea of a second chance, of starting over
Traits
1. Limited sense of fatalism, of accepting things as they are
2. Tolerance for differences
3. Historic low level of savings
4. Self-reliance
5. A president, not a king
6. Informality: "Call me Bob."
7. The cult of celebrities; biographies of the rich and famous
8. Little fear of failure
9. Modest limits on immigration
10. Acceptance of criticism or disagreement with the boss or authority figures
11. Emphasis on achievement
12. Checks and balances in the U.S.Constitution
13. Identification with work or job
14. Idea of a second chance, of starting over
15. Minimal supervision from bosses
16. Egalitarianism
17. Virtue of change, of newness
18. Rags to riches syndrome: the self-made man or woman
19. Waste: the disposable society; little conservation of resources
20. Frequent job and career changes
21. Big cars, big houses, sprawling malls
22. Desire to be own boss, self-employed
23. Optimism
24. Mobile society; frequency with which people move
How Non-Americans See Americans
Part One
In this two-part activity, you look at how Americans are perceived by people from other cultures. Knowing how we come across can be helpful in understanding why foreigners react to us the way they sometimes do.
Newsweek magazine showed the list of qualities given below to people in six countries-- Brazil, France, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, and West Germany--and asked them to pick those they associated most and least with Americans.
What do you think were the four qualities most associated with Americans?
Rude, greedy, Self-Indulgent, nationalistic
What do you think were the four qualities least associated with Americans?
Honest, friendly, Intelligent, Sophisticated
(Decisive, Energetic, Honest, Industrious Sexy Self-Indulgent, Sophisticated Intelligent, friendly, Greedy Nationalistic, Inventive, Lazy, Rude)
How Non-Americans See Americans
Part Two
In the second part of this activity, you need to get together with a host country national or a PCV to stand in as HCN and ask this person which of the qualities from Part One he/she associates most and least with Americans. Write the answers in the spaces provided below. Then ask your informant why he/she selected those particular qualities.
What qualities do you associate most with Americans?
Greedy, rude, Self-Indulgent, nationalistic
What qualities do you associate least with Americans?
Sexy, intelligent, friendly, sophisticated
Learning About America
Living in another culture can make you more aware of your own culture.
In the space below, name two or three characteristics of American life or of Americans that you did not realize before you came here. How did you come to these realizations?
I think before going to the United States, I though Americans were unhealthy, racists and very shallow people. Being there made me realized not everybody is like those characteristics I thought they would be. I based them trough what I used to listen from other people, watching TV, reading the news, etc. Based on that we only will have a tiny part of what any culture is really about. If you want to get to know better the target culture you need to live and be surrounded by it every day, interacting with that target culture, otherwise you will always have prejudice over any culture that is not yours.
Now What?
Diversity Critical Incidents
Trainees and Volunteers who come from minority or distinctive populations in the United States are often faced with special issues in the Peace Corps. Some of these issues are illustrated in the incidents presented below.
After reading each incident, describe what you would do if you had this experience, or what you would advise if it happened to someone you knew who came to you for help.
Come With Us
You are a strong Christian whose religious beliefs are an essential part of your identity. You have been posted in a country with an entirely different religious tradition. Recently, some of your closest friends at work have been pressuring you to attend one of their religious services and asking you if you would like to learn more about their religion. You have politely declined their invitations and would, in fact, feel uncomfortable attending one of these events. Now, one of these individuals, your counterpart at work, explains that they believe you are prejudiced against his religion. What do you say or do?
I explain them politely about my beliefs in a clear way where I will make clear that I do not think about any prejudice against his religion. I respect his religion as well he has to respect mine.
Aren't You Normal?
You are a gay Volunteer serving in what you have heard is a somewhat homophobic country where unmarried young men regularly patronize prostitutes. For some time, your male colleagues at work have been pressuring you to "have fun" with them on their Friday night outings, but you have declined. Now one of them has asked you if you are "normal." What do you say or do?
I tell him, it is not my way to have fun, doing inappropriate and irresponsible actions. If he does not understand it, I would tell him my real sexual inclination.
Native Speakers
You are a Volunteer of Hispanic background whose family is third-generation American. You do not speak Spanish and have a normal American accent. You teach English at a high school in your country. After you have been at your site one month, some of your students complain to the headmaster that they want a different teacher, someone who is a native speaker of English. What do you say or do?
I ask them why exactly they want a different teacher. After, I explain my background in order for them to know that English is my native language.
Help
You are a blind PCV. You are a self-sufficient individual and value your independence. You have adjusted well at your post, but you are concerned about all the "help" you are getting from host country friends and colleagues. It is apparent that many HCNs regard people with disabilities as being unable to function without considerable assistance from those around them. At work and out in public, you are being helped to do all manner of things you are quite capable of doing on your own. While you appreciate people's concern, you are frustrated by being the focus of so much attention and support. What can you do or say to change this dynamic?
I clarify them, I have been self-sufficient since I started adjusting at my post, however, if I need some help I will ask for it, but only when is need it.
Doubt
You are an African American serving in a country where prejudice against Black people is traditional. At work, a teacher training college, you notice that the students you are assigned to teach do not seem to respect you. One day, as you are explaining a concept, one of the students raises her hand and asks a question, "Are Black people allowed going to college in the United States?" What do you say?
I tell the students, every human being has the same rights no matter what color they are, we are all the same with meaningful examples to clarify any doubt they might have,
Manual Labor
You are an older Volunteer in excellent physical condition. You work as project manager on a school construction site. You are not especially impressed with the work of some of the subcontractors, especially the carpenters, and have on several occasions tried to show them how to do their work better. But every time you try to climb on the building or do any manual work, your assistant steps in and says it's not appropriate for you, an older man and the project manager, to do strenuous physical labor. He says you will lose the respect of the real manual laborers if you continue to do this work. Now what?
I would call my assistant letting him know to respect me and tell him I know what my job is and if the situation does not chance I will determine any kind of job suspension for him.
On Being Different
Whatever your background, you're not like the host country nationals in the place where you serve. All of us have been in situations before where we were different, and we adjusted our behavior accordingly.
Think of how you behaved or spoke on such occasions and write your observations here.
When I was living in China for example, every time I took the bus people used to stared at me and asking me awkward questions about me because I was very different from them, so once I told one guy, please do not continue doing that, is very impolite and disrespectful, and I ask him, what about if the situation is the other way around, he could not answer me, instead he kept quite.
Parting Advice
As you look back on what you've learned or been reminded of about the United States in this chapter, what stands out? Suppose you are at the airport one day and you meet a host country friend who's about to depart for a two-year stay in the United States. Your friend asks you to "tell me about America." You've got time to make three points about your culture. What would you tell your friend? (Feel free to draw your ideas instead.) When you have finished, show your list or drawings to at least one other member of your group and compare your answers.
Americans do not judge you by your appearance, but by what you have achieved in your life.
They think if you are miserable, it is your own fault.
And they are very direct and tell you what they do not like you to do or say.
Interview With a PCV
Friend: Were there any real surprises?
Peace Corps Volunteer: Not really. I mean, you're not prepared for every little thing, for all the particulars. But you know the people are going to be different, so you expect that. You may not know all the ways they're going to surprise you, but you do know you're going to be surprised when you go to a foreign culture.
Friend: How did the host country people relate to you?
PCV: It's funny you should ask that because it was surprising.
Friend: What do you mean?
PCV: Well, we thought we were prepared for that, but we weren't. After all, if you go in knowing these people aren't like you, then of course you also know that you aren't like them. But we had trouble believing that they found us strange sometimes. Doesn't make sense, does it?
Friend: So it's easy to accept that other people might be strange but hard to believe you could be?
PCV: That's what I experienced, anyway.
Friend: I wonder why.
PCV: I think it has to be that while you are actually having the experience of their strangeness, they are the ones having the experience of yours. You never really experience yourself as strange, of course, so it just doesn't seem real. You know it must be, but you have to take their word for it.
Friend: So you think Volunteers go around never quite convinced that the local people don't always understand them?
PCV: If you listen to some of the complaints PCVs make, I think that's at the bottom of a lot of them.
Dear Todd: An Analysis
Now that you've completed this chapter, read Jan's letter to Todd again and note any examples of typical American attitudes or values; then continue reading below.
Paragraphs 1 & 2: Jan's opening is encouraging. She has perspective on herself and what she can accomplish in country. Even more hopeful, she has a good sense of humor and is able to laugh at herself.
Paragraph 3: Jan's talk about making improvements reflects a basic American assumption: that things can always be better. Some cultures may not be quite so optimistic. While she's right about needing to be trusted before you can expect anyone to listen to you, it may take more than "training and experience in the field" to impress people. What also establishes credibility in many cultures are age, gender, who you know, and what important people think of you or your ideas. Jan may also be off track when she says that people are well-intentioned and should be given the benefit of the doubt. Not all cultures believe that human nature is basically good or that people can automatically be trusted; some cultures think just the opposite.
Paragraphs 4 & 5: Jan's belief that she will be able to overcome obstacles reflects her basic optimism. There's nothing wrong with optimism, but it doesn't always reflect reality, nor would people in many cultures believe that all you have to do is put your mind to something, and then it will happen. Jan's story is likewise instructive. It does demonstrate that you don't always have to take no for an answer, but she may not be aware of all that was happening in this incident. It's entirely possible that the people who ran the training center knew quite well that merchants would sell to anyone-What merchant wouldn't?-and the real reason they discouraged Jan and company was because they themselves wanted to buy the merchandise, make a small profit, and be loyal to the people they knew. It was not necessarily wrong for Jan to persist, but by following Jan's example, going outside the system and doing what "has never been done before," you are normally taking a risk. Usually things are done the way they are for a reason, and you should probably learn that reason before you proceed. In this case, the reason was rather mundane and Jan has probably not done any damage. But imagine that she was at her workplace and did something similar, thereby alienating an important local figure.
Paragraph 6: "A positive attitude" is Jan's optimism showing through again. Some cultures would say it's more important to have a realistic attitude.
Journal Entry Two
In this chapter, you've had a chance to reflect on and analyze some of the differences between Americans and host country nationals. How has this process helped you to understand or explain what you've seen or what has happened to you thus far in country? Did anything you learned surprise you? Do you have questions you wish to explore further?
Reading and doing all these kind of exercises made remind me all the different circumstances I lived during my staying in the US. Living there made me understood some behaviors because I experienced them and I was explained by friends who came from the target culture I was learning. It’s quite important to get involved as many cultures you possibly can. It will definitely help us to become and have more awareness about others.
A useful way to understand a culture is by examining the expressions people use in everyday conversation. These common expressions, after all, reflect what most people in a given society believe in or value.
1. Talk is cheap.
2. Put your money where your mouth is.
3. He's all talk and no action.
Value/belief: It's easy to talk about something but harder to actually do it.
4. She's always beating around the bush.
5. Tell it like it is.
6. Straight talk, straight answer, straight shooter: that's what we need.
Value/belief: Straight Forward
7. She did something with her life.
8. Nice guys finish last.
Value/belief: Accomplishment
9. Every cloud has a silver lining.
10. Look on the bright side.
11. Tomorrow is another day.
Value/belief: Optimism
12. Where there's a will there's a way.
Value/belief: self-determination
13. Stand on your own two feet.
Value/belief: Independence
14. Don't judge a book by its cover.
15. All that glitters isn't gold.
Value/belief: don´t judge by appearances
16. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Value/belief: risk taking
PART TWO
Just as expressions common in the U.S. reveal aspects of the national culture, so do host country expressions reveal certain host country values or beliefs.
Using a host country informant or a PCV who knows the local culture well, try to come up with at least five common host country expressions, and then identify the cultural belief behind them. You may use proverbs, if you like, but in many cases, you may find that the same proverb exists in one form or another in many cultures, so that the value it reveals is probably universal and not specific to your host country.
1.A friend in need is a friend indeed
Value/Belief: someone who helps you when you are in need is a true friend'
2.A good man is hard to find
Value/Belief: the difficulty of finding a suitable male partner
3. A leopard cannot change its spots.
Value/Belief: The notion that things cannot change their natural course.
4.A picture is worth a thousand words
Value/Belief: A picture tells a story just as well as a large amount of descriptive text.
5.All that glitters is not gold
Value/Belief: A showy article may not necessarily be valuable.
6.Better late than never
Value/Belief: To arrive or do something later than expected is not good, but it is better than not at all.
Thirteen Cultural Categories:
American and Host Country Views Compared
This activity looks at 13 categories or aspects of culture and compare the typical American position on these matters with that of your host country.
In each case, the American view has been summarized and illustrated for you, and it is your task to get together with an informant, either a host country national or someone else who knows the host culture well, and try to construct the host country position. You may, if you wish, do this activity with another trainee. After you have made notes on or constructed the host country position, try to get together with other trainees in your group and compare observations.
1. ATTITUDE TOWARDS AGE
• Emphasize physical beauty and youth.
• Fire older people to hire younger people for less money.
• Judge a worker's worth based on production, not seniority.
American View: The American emphasis on concrete achievements and "doing" means that age is not highly valued, for the older you are the less you can accomplish. Age is also suspect because new is usually better in American culture, and the elderly are generally out of touch with what's new.
Host Country View:
In Costa Rica is almost the same. Unfortunately, nowadays, companies or the society focus in the young community so they have better opportunities than the elder people because we think they can be more productive and can be easier to sell something or persuade somebody base on looks, while the senior citizens are step aside thinking they are not good to anybody.
2. CONCEPT OF FATE AND DESTINY
• You can be whatever you want to be.
• Where there's a will there's a way.
• The American dream is rags-to-riches.
American View: The concept of self-determination negates much of the influence of fate and destiny. Parents tell their children they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. There are few givens in life, and people have little sense of external limits. Lack of success is their own fault.
Host Country View:
In Costa Rica is a bit different, sometimes parents can encourage their children to do whatever they want to be in life, but external limits such as economic limitations or jobs or academic’s opportunities can postpone people’s success.
3. VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE
• Courts consider a person innocent until he/she is proven guilty.
• People should be given the benefit of the doubt.
• If left alone, people will do the right thing.
• We need to discover how a vicious killer "went wrong."
American View: People are considered basically and inherently good. If someone does an evil deed, we look for the explanation, for the reason why the person turned bad. People can and should be trusted; and we are fairly open to strangers, and willing to accept them.
Host Country View:
Actually in Costa Rica is almost the same, when someone does a bad thing , right away we are looking for any kind of logical explanation of why he/she did it. Also is not that common to trust to somebody we barely know, we most of the time, think people left alone will do not the right thing, but the bad thing.
4. ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHANGE
• New is better.
• A better way can always be found; things can always be improved upon.
• Just because we've always done it that way doesn't make it right.
American View: Change is considered positive, probably because Americans believe in the march of progress and the pursuit of perfection. Improvements will always move us closer and closer to perfection. Traditions can be a guide, but they are not inherently superior.
Host Country View:
Costa Ricans most of the time feel scare when there is a change. People like to stay the same without any progression because it feels safer than something unknown.
5. Attitude Towards Taking Risks
• A low level of personal savings is typical.
• You can always start over.
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• A high level of personal bankruptcies is common.
American View: There will always be enough opportunity to go around, so taking risks, involves no real danger. For the truly ambitious, failure is only temporary. Experimentation, trial and error are important ways to learn or to improve your product or service.
Host Country View:
People here, don´t take much of chances of any adventure to see if they make or not. They stick most of the time with what they already know.
6. CONCEPT OF SUFFERING AND MISFORTUNE
• People rush to cheer up a friend who's depressed.
• If you're unhappy, take a pill or see a psychiatrist.
• Be happy.
American View: Because we are ultimately in control of our lives and destiny, we have no excuse for unhappiness or misfortune. If you are suffering or unhappy, then just do whatever it takes to be happy again. If you're depressed, it's because you have chosen to be.
Host Country View:
Costa Ricans try to blame somebody for its misfortunes if they don’t have control over its lives having self-pity and not changing anything about it.
7. CONCEPT OF FACE
• It's important to tell it like it is, be straight with people.
• Confrontation is sometimes necessary to clear the air.
• Honesty is the best policy
American View: In individualist cultures, no premium is put on saving face because people can take care of themselves. What other people think is not so crucial to survival or success. We can say what we think without worrying about hurting people's feelings, and we likewise appreciate directness.
Host Country View:
In Costa Rica, we often try to be sutil with others and not so straight forward because we think it might be rude to treat someone like that.
8. Source of Self Esteem/Self Worth
• People judge you by how much money you make.
• First question at a party is, "What do you do?"
• Material possessions are a measure of success.
American View: In an individualist culture, you are what you've achieved; that is, you create your own worth rather than receiving it by virtue of birth, position, seniority, or longevity. Your self-esteem comes from what you have done to earn self-esteem.
Host Country View:
Here, we think is very impolite to ask those kind of questions. Perhaps by the time we know that person well we might ask them. People pay more attention when they know what achievements that person has had during his/her life.
9. Concept of Equality
• People try to treat everyone the same.
• While jogging, the President stops at McDonald's for morning coffee.
• Putting on airs is frowned upon.
American View: In a strong reaction to the repressive class structure in Europe, Americans created a culture virtually built around egalitarianism: the notion that no one is superior to anyone else because of birth, power, fame, or wealth. We are not all the same, but we are all of equal value.
Host Country View:
My family had thought me everybody needs to be treat it the same way you want to be treat it. Everyone, no matter what they are, we are not superior or inferior in any aspects.
10. Attitude towards Formality
• Telling someone to help themselves to what's in the refrigerator is common.
• Using first names with people you've just met is fine.
• Using titles like "Dr". for someone with a Ph.D is presumptuous.
American View: Because of the strong egalitarian ethos, Americans tend to be casual and informal in social and professional interactions. Informality is also more necessary in a mobile society where people are always meeting new people. We do not stand on ceremony, nor use titles or rank in addressing each other.
Host Country View:
In depends on the situation we use or not the formalities. If we are addressing to the president, doctors, bosses, or any job, school related circumstances we are often are formal, otherwise when talking to friends, family is the other way around.
11. Degree of Realism
• Things will get better.
• Bad things happen for a reason.
• It can't get any worse.
• Tag line of fairy tales: "They lived happily ever after."
American View: Largely because of the notion that the individual is in control, Americans are generally optimistic. We don't see things the way they are, but as better than they are, particularly if they're not so good. We feel it's important to be positive and that there is no reason to be.
Host Country View:
We often are positive with the situations we are dealing with, for example, believing in a higher holy power (god almighty) in order to help us in certain life events, but if at end it does not change like we wanted, we think it was not meant to be or because God did not want to.
12. Attitude Towards Doing
• Doing is preferred over talking.
• The absentminded professor, the ivory tower reflects anti-intellectualism.
• Be practical.
• Arts are an adornment of life but not central to it.
American View Individuals survive because they get things done, generally on their own. Words and talk are suspect and cheap; they don't put food on the table or a roof over your head. Pursuits not directly related to the creation of concrete results, e.g., academia, the arts, are less highly valued. What is practical and pragmatic is favored over what is beautiful and inspiring.
Host Country View:
Unfortunately, Costa Ricans tend to wait around until the end do get things done or even worse somebody else do it for them without any effort.
13. View of the Natural World
• Building dams to control rivers.
• Seeding clouds to produce rain.
• Erecting earthquake-proof buildings.
• Spending billions annually on weather prediction.
American View: The natural world is a kind of mechanism or machine that can be studied and known and whose workings can be predicted, manipulated, and ultimately controlled. It is not to be feared.
Host Country View:
We as a society need to be more aware about our actions in a long term regarding wherever we bad things we do, is going to have consequences at the end.
Thinking About My Job
In the previous exercise, you discovered a number of differences in the way American and host country people view certain key topics. These differences are bound to show up now and again as you go about working at your Peace Corps assignment. Below are five of the categories from the previous exercise, with examples of typical work-related problems.
Read each incident and note what you would do.
1. Attitude towards Age
The American emphasis on achievements and doing means that age is to be feared and not respected; the older you are, the less you can do or contribute to society. Age is also suspect because new is usually better in American culture, and the elderly are generally out of touch with what is new.
Suppose you're a technical expert in crop rotation assigned to a co-op of village farmers. You discover they do not consult you or even pay much attention to you because they think you're too young to know what you're doing.
My Response: I would call for a meeting to ask them why they did not take my orders in the first place. I would listen to them carefully and try to be open to if they want to contribute with more ideas if they have a better solution but always working as a whole team setting standards rules as respectful authority.
2. Attitude Towards Change
Change is considered positive, probably because Americans believe in the march of progress and the perfectibility of man. Improvements will always move us closer and closer to perfection. Traditions can be a guide, but they are not inherently superior.
You want to introduce a new teaching technique to your colleagues. It is a faster and more efficient way of presenting certain concepts. When you approach them, they respond: "This is the way we have always been taught." You say, "But this is faster and more efficient." They say, "No doubt."
My Response: first at all, if they say no, I would try to do some exercises or setting some examples so they will be able to realize my approach and then be able to discuss the advantages it has.
3. Concept of Equality
In a strong reaction to the repressive class structure in Europe, Americans created a culture built around egalitarianism: the notion that no one is inherently superior to anyone else because of birth, power, fame, or wealth. We are not all the same, but we are all of equal value.
It has turned cold the last few days and you feel sorry for the tea-boy who is stationed just outside the entrance to your building. He doesn't seem to have any warm clothes and huddles over his charcoal fire to keep warm. You approach your boss and ask if you can tell the boy to move into the hallway out of the cold. "Certainly not," he replies. "This building is for faculty, not tea boys."
My Response: if my boss said no, I try to figure something else out, such as invite him myself to move to another warm place for a drink, food, etc.
4. Attitude Towards Taking Risks
There will always be enough opportunity to go around, so taking risks involves no real danger. For the truly ambitious, failure is only temporary. Experimentation, trial and error are important ways to learn or to improve your product or service.
You want to try a new way of filtering drinking water for the village. The environmental engineer asks you if this technique has been tried anywhere else in the country, to which you answer, "No. "And what if we fail?" he asks you. "Then we go back to the old way," you respond. "And what happens to my job?" he replies.
My Response: sometimes in order to win, we need to take our chances, so I would tell him, if something wrong happens I would take the whole responsibility so you will not get affected somehow in your job.
5. View of the Natural World
The natural world is a kind of mechanism or machine that can be studied and known and whose workings can be predicted, manipulated, and ultimately controlled. It is not to be feared.
Books need to be ordered now to arrive in time for the start of classes in the fall. You go to the head librarian to put in your request, and she asks you how you know how many students you're going to have. You don't know of course, but you're projecting, based on previous class size. "It's better to wait," she says, "so we don't waste money buying extra books." You know that if you don't order now, you'll have to teach for several weeks without the books while you wait for them to arrive.
My Response: Basically I would tell her based on my experience I know in general the numbers of students are almost the same, so at least I would order certain books in order not to fall behind with my class.
Sources of American Culture
In this exercise, you look behind some of the American values you have identified thus far, trying to understand where they come from. While it is useful to know what it is Americans value and believe in, it is also helpful to know why they believe what they do-to understand that our values and beliefs are a result of our national experience. Once you understand this fact about your own country's culture, you can begin to appreciate that it must be true of your host country as well.
Below are four defining features of the people who came to the United States, followed by a numbered list of American traits, many of which you have come across earlier in this chapter.
Place the number of the trait in the space beneath the defining feature/s you feel is the likely source of or reason behind the trait. An example from the list of traits is given for each of them.
Defining Features
PROTESTANTISM
A strong work ethic-work is intrinsically good-and the notion of predestination, that salvation is apparent through worldly success.
6. The cult of celebrities; biographies of the rich and famous.
11. Emphasis on Achievement
AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY
The frontier, unlimited resources and opportunity, isolation, sparse population, distance from Europe.
1. Limited sense of fatalism, of accepting things as they are.
3. Historic low level of savings
ESCAPE FROM OPPRESSION
From religious and economic repression and rigid class system and social stratification.
2. Tolerance for differences.
16. Egalitarianism
THE NATURE OF THE AMERICAN IMMIGRANT
Out of the mainstream in home country, dissatisfied with lot in life, willing to take risks, adventuresome.
7. Little fear of failure.
14. Idea of a second chance, of starting over
Traits
1. Limited sense of fatalism, of accepting things as they are
2. Tolerance for differences
3. Historic low level of savings
4. Self-reliance
5. A president, not a king
6. Informality: "Call me Bob."
7. The cult of celebrities; biographies of the rich and famous
8. Little fear of failure
9. Modest limits on immigration
10. Acceptance of criticism or disagreement with the boss or authority figures
11. Emphasis on achievement
12. Checks and balances in the U.S.Constitution
13. Identification with work or job
14. Idea of a second chance, of starting over
15. Minimal supervision from bosses
16. Egalitarianism
17. Virtue of change, of newness
18. Rags to riches syndrome: the self-made man or woman
19. Waste: the disposable society; little conservation of resources
20. Frequent job and career changes
21. Big cars, big houses, sprawling malls
22. Desire to be own boss, self-employed
23. Optimism
24. Mobile society; frequency with which people move
How Non-Americans See Americans
Part One
In this two-part activity, you look at how Americans are perceived by people from other cultures. Knowing how we come across can be helpful in understanding why foreigners react to us the way they sometimes do.
Newsweek magazine showed the list of qualities given below to people in six countries-- Brazil, France, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, and West Germany--and asked them to pick those they associated most and least with Americans.
What do you think were the four qualities most associated with Americans?
Rude, greedy, Self-Indulgent, nationalistic
What do you think were the four qualities least associated with Americans?
Honest, friendly, Intelligent, Sophisticated
(Decisive, Energetic, Honest, Industrious Sexy Self-Indulgent, Sophisticated Intelligent, friendly, Greedy Nationalistic, Inventive, Lazy, Rude)
How Non-Americans See Americans
Part Two
In the second part of this activity, you need to get together with a host country national or a PCV to stand in as HCN and ask this person which of the qualities from Part One he/she associates most and least with Americans. Write the answers in the spaces provided below. Then ask your informant why he/she selected those particular qualities.
What qualities do you associate most with Americans?
Greedy, rude, Self-Indulgent, nationalistic
What qualities do you associate least with Americans?
Sexy, intelligent, friendly, sophisticated
Learning About America
Living in another culture can make you more aware of your own culture.
In the space below, name two or three characteristics of American life or of Americans that you did not realize before you came here. How did you come to these realizations?
I think before going to the United States, I though Americans were unhealthy, racists and very shallow people. Being there made me realized not everybody is like those characteristics I thought they would be. I based them trough what I used to listen from other people, watching TV, reading the news, etc. Based on that we only will have a tiny part of what any culture is really about. If you want to get to know better the target culture you need to live and be surrounded by it every day, interacting with that target culture, otherwise you will always have prejudice over any culture that is not yours.
Now What?
Diversity Critical Incidents
Trainees and Volunteers who come from minority or distinctive populations in the United States are often faced with special issues in the Peace Corps. Some of these issues are illustrated in the incidents presented below.
After reading each incident, describe what you would do if you had this experience, or what you would advise if it happened to someone you knew who came to you for help.
Come With Us
You are a strong Christian whose religious beliefs are an essential part of your identity. You have been posted in a country with an entirely different religious tradition. Recently, some of your closest friends at work have been pressuring you to attend one of their religious services and asking you if you would like to learn more about their religion. You have politely declined their invitations and would, in fact, feel uncomfortable attending one of these events. Now, one of these individuals, your counterpart at work, explains that they believe you are prejudiced against his religion. What do you say or do?
I explain them politely about my beliefs in a clear way where I will make clear that I do not think about any prejudice against his religion. I respect his religion as well he has to respect mine.
Aren't You Normal?
You are a gay Volunteer serving in what you have heard is a somewhat homophobic country where unmarried young men regularly patronize prostitutes. For some time, your male colleagues at work have been pressuring you to "have fun" with them on their Friday night outings, but you have declined. Now one of them has asked you if you are "normal." What do you say or do?
I tell him, it is not my way to have fun, doing inappropriate and irresponsible actions. If he does not understand it, I would tell him my real sexual inclination.
Native Speakers
You are a Volunteer of Hispanic background whose family is third-generation American. You do not speak Spanish and have a normal American accent. You teach English at a high school in your country. After you have been at your site one month, some of your students complain to the headmaster that they want a different teacher, someone who is a native speaker of English. What do you say or do?
I ask them why exactly they want a different teacher. After, I explain my background in order for them to know that English is my native language.
Help
You are a blind PCV. You are a self-sufficient individual and value your independence. You have adjusted well at your post, but you are concerned about all the "help" you are getting from host country friends and colleagues. It is apparent that many HCNs regard people with disabilities as being unable to function without considerable assistance from those around them. At work and out in public, you are being helped to do all manner of things you are quite capable of doing on your own. While you appreciate people's concern, you are frustrated by being the focus of so much attention and support. What can you do or say to change this dynamic?
I clarify them, I have been self-sufficient since I started adjusting at my post, however, if I need some help I will ask for it, but only when is need it.
Doubt
You are an African American serving in a country where prejudice against Black people is traditional. At work, a teacher training college, you notice that the students you are assigned to teach do not seem to respect you. One day, as you are explaining a concept, one of the students raises her hand and asks a question, "Are Black people allowed going to college in the United States?" What do you say?
I tell the students, every human being has the same rights no matter what color they are, we are all the same with meaningful examples to clarify any doubt they might have,
Manual Labor
You are an older Volunteer in excellent physical condition. You work as project manager on a school construction site. You are not especially impressed with the work of some of the subcontractors, especially the carpenters, and have on several occasions tried to show them how to do their work better. But every time you try to climb on the building or do any manual work, your assistant steps in and says it's not appropriate for you, an older man and the project manager, to do strenuous physical labor. He says you will lose the respect of the real manual laborers if you continue to do this work. Now what?
I would call my assistant letting him know to respect me and tell him I know what my job is and if the situation does not chance I will determine any kind of job suspension for him.
On Being Different
Whatever your background, you're not like the host country nationals in the place where you serve. All of us have been in situations before where we were different, and we adjusted our behavior accordingly.
Think of how you behaved or spoke on such occasions and write your observations here.
When I was living in China for example, every time I took the bus people used to stared at me and asking me awkward questions about me because I was very different from them, so once I told one guy, please do not continue doing that, is very impolite and disrespectful, and I ask him, what about if the situation is the other way around, he could not answer me, instead he kept quite.
Parting Advice
As you look back on what you've learned or been reminded of about the United States in this chapter, what stands out? Suppose you are at the airport one day and you meet a host country friend who's about to depart for a two-year stay in the United States. Your friend asks you to "tell me about America." You've got time to make three points about your culture. What would you tell your friend? (Feel free to draw your ideas instead.) When you have finished, show your list or drawings to at least one other member of your group and compare your answers.
Americans do not judge you by your appearance, but by what you have achieved in your life.
They think if you are miserable, it is your own fault.
And they are very direct and tell you what they do not like you to do or say.
Interview With a PCV
Friend: Were there any real surprises?
Peace Corps Volunteer: Not really. I mean, you're not prepared for every little thing, for all the particulars. But you know the people are going to be different, so you expect that. You may not know all the ways they're going to surprise you, but you do know you're going to be surprised when you go to a foreign culture.
Friend: How did the host country people relate to you?
PCV: It's funny you should ask that because it was surprising.
Friend: What do you mean?
PCV: Well, we thought we were prepared for that, but we weren't. After all, if you go in knowing these people aren't like you, then of course you also know that you aren't like them. But we had trouble believing that they found us strange sometimes. Doesn't make sense, does it?
Friend: So it's easy to accept that other people might be strange but hard to believe you could be?
PCV: That's what I experienced, anyway.
Friend: I wonder why.
PCV: I think it has to be that while you are actually having the experience of their strangeness, they are the ones having the experience of yours. You never really experience yourself as strange, of course, so it just doesn't seem real. You know it must be, but you have to take their word for it.
Friend: So you think Volunteers go around never quite convinced that the local people don't always understand them?
PCV: If you listen to some of the complaints PCVs make, I think that's at the bottom of a lot of them.
Dear Todd: An Analysis
Now that you've completed this chapter, read Jan's letter to Todd again and note any examples of typical American attitudes or values; then continue reading below.
Paragraphs 1 & 2: Jan's opening is encouraging. She has perspective on herself and what she can accomplish in country. Even more hopeful, she has a good sense of humor and is able to laugh at herself.
Paragraph 3: Jan's talk about making improvements reflects a basic American assumption: that things can always be better. Some cultures may not be quite so optimistic. While she's right about needing to be trusted before you can expect anyone to listen to you, it may take more than "training and experience in the field" to impress people. What also establishes credibility in many cultures are age, gender, who you know, and what important people think of you or your ideas. Jan may also be off track when she says that people are well-intentioned and should be given the benefit of the doubt. Not all cultures believe that human nature is basically good or that people can automatically be trusted; some cultures think just the opposite.
Paragraphs 4 & 5: Jan's belief that she will be able to overcome obstacles reflects her basic optimism. There's nothing wrong with optimism, but it doesn't always reflect reality, nor would people in many cultures believe that all you have to do is put your mind to something, and then it will happen. Jan's story is likewise instructive. It does demonstrate that you don't always have to take no for an answer, but she may not be aware of all that was happening in this incident. It's entirely possible that the people who ran the training center knew quite well that merchants would sell to anyone-What merchant wouldn't?-and the real reason they discouraged Jan and company was because they themselves wanted to buy the merchandise, make a small profit, and be loyal to the people they knew. It was not necessarily wrong for Jan to persist, but by following Jan's example, going outside the system and doing what "has never been done before," you are normally taking a risk. Usually things are done the way they are for a reason, and you should probably learn that reason before you proceed. In this case, the reason was rather mundane and Jan has probably not done any damage. But imagine that she was at her workplace and did something similar, thereby alienating an important local figure.
Paragraph 6: "A positive attitude" is Jan's optimism showing through again. Some cultures would say it's more important to have a realistic attitude.
Journal Entry Two
In this chapter, you've had a chance to reflect on and analyze some of the differences between Americans and host country nationals. How has this process helped you to understand or explain what you've seen or what has happened to you thus far in country? Did anything you learned surprise you? Do you have questions you wish to explore further?
Reading and doing all these kind of exercises made remind me all the different circumstances I lived during my staying in the US. Living there made me understood some behaviors because I experienced them and I was explained by friends who came from the target culture I was learning. It’s quite important to get involved as many cultures you possibly can. It will definitely help us to become and have more awareness about others.
martes, 6 de julio de 2010
Response journal entry # 7: THE VALUES AMERICANS LIVE BY
Having a cross-cultural experience situation often appears as hard and confusing to understand unfamiliar aspects of another culture. In this case, to have a better understanding of the American culture, but only through time and be willing to absorb in order to learn different cultural behaviors can change our own cultural perspective.
Being able to have the experience to lived in the US made me at that time realized, at my first month there that the ajustment was going to be harder than I expected. I was in a town where no foreigners lived. However, the time passed by, and I was able to experienced quicker what the american culture was really about because I only had american friends.
One of the values I truly learned was to be on time. This aspect is very important for them, it helps them to have a control over time management. Everything is set according of what they had establish previously. Accomplishing any tasks takes preference over interpersonal relationships in order sometimes to have a effective use of time in productivity.
Another value I got interested in was the initiative they have to be successful trough their own hard work and sacrifice, it will bring a much better future orientation towards personal goals.
Is important not the jugde or make any prejudice towards any specific culture, get to know it better as much as you can, to be involved on it, will be easier to fit in. Understanding all kind of target culture values, can help us to make sense of the actions and different statements we will come across, in this case to the gigantic mixture of the American culture.
Being able to have the experience to lived in the US made me at that time realized, at my first month there that the ajustment was going to be harder than I expected. I was in a town where no foreigners lived. However, the time passed by, and I was able to experienced quicker what the american culture was really about because I only had american friends.
One of the values I truly learned was to be on time. This aspect is very important for them, it helps them to have a control over time management. Everything is set according of what they had establish previously. Accomplishing any tasks takes preference over interpersonal relationships in order sometimes to have a effective use of time in productivity.
Another value I got interested in was the initiative they have to be successful trough their own hard work and sacrifice, it will bring a much better future orientation towards personal goals.
Is important not the jugde or make any prejudice towards any specific culture, get to know it better as much as you can, to be involved on it, will be easier to fit in. Understanding all kind of target culture values, can help us to make sense of the actions and different statements we will come across, in this case to the gigantic mixture of the American culture.
miércoles, 30 de junio de 2010
Response Journal entry #6: Cultural Practices
The movie “Shall we dance” in both versions are a reflection of everyday life with certain humor about a men who apparently has everything, however, there is something missing in his life.
In the Japanese version was interesting to see the contrast of the oriental culture when the main character tries to adapt himself in different traditions that are not common mainly, breaking the strong traditional mentality of a business oriental man with exotics dancing adopting cultural events outside their own traditions, those kind of activities are the opposite of what a Japanese is used to do. Practicing this kind of dancing in Japan is not that common, however, it tries to consider (actually in both versions) that a successful man but with a plain life feels a void and wants to get something for him, discovering the pleasure of dancing.
In the American version, we as viewers watch more psychological acts regarding couple’s relationship, fidelity, frustrations, etc. This film, tries to put out little details about how hard it can get something we dream but we think is impossible to put into practice because of our fears , lack of talent or personal insatisfaction. However, in this American movie the different scenarios are more endearing; the person act with tenderness and on the other hand in the Japanese version, how the people act is static (the way they treat to each other). There is a very good example: when the main character’s wife, hired somebody to follow him. In the Japanese version, hardly appears. Suddenly we see the detective saying that her husband smells like perfume. But in the U.S movie is more complex, first we see their daughter saying her father is very happy lately, and then we see Susan Sarandon (the wife’s character) in her work, cheering a fellow worker up who believes her husband has an affair. Because of that personal situation with her coworkers, she starts having some doubts about her husband´s behavior, having a more interesting complex and complete situation.
The message in both versions at the end is not that different. Is that even the most successful men, who has “everything in life” is not happy. We see through the entire film the different dreams that are sometimes difficult to implement because of our own fear to failure.
In the Japanese version was interesting to see the contrast of the oriental culture when the main character tries to adapt himself in different traditions that are not common mainly, breaking the strong traditional mentality of a business oriental man with exotics dancing adopting cultural events outside their own traditions, those kind of activities are the opposite of what a Japanese is used to do. Practicing this kind of dancing in Japan is not that common, however, it tries to consider (actually in both versions) that a successful man but with a plain life feels a void and wants to get something for him, discovering the pleasure of dancing.
In the American version, we as viewers watch more psychological acts regarding couple’s relationship, fidelity, frustrations, etc. This film, tries to put out little details about how hard it can get something we dream but we think is impossible to put into practice because of our fears , lack of talent or personal insatisfaction. However, in this American movie the different scenarios are more endearing; the person act with tenderness and on the other hand in the Japanese version, how the people act is static (the way they treat to each other). There is a very good example: when the main character’s wife, hired somebody to follow him. In the Japanese version, hardly appears. Suddenly we see the detective saying that her husband smells like perfume. But in the U.S movie is more complex, first we see their daughter saying her father is very happy lately, and then we see Susan Sarandon (the wife’s character) in her work, cheering a fellow worker up who believes her husband has an affair. Because of that personal situation with her coworkers, she starts having some doubts about her husband´s behavior, having a more interesting complex and complete situation.
The message in both versions at the end is not that different. Is that even the most successful men, who has “everything in life” is not happy. We see through the entire film the different dreams that are sometimes difficult to implement because of our own fear to failure.
martes, 22 de junio de 2010
Response Journal entry #5: Cultural Products
Teaching culture: Analyzing Artifacts
Describing an object adding my artifact done in class.
Phone booths turn into teleport transportation stations
In Costa Rica we are aware of all the transportation chaos we have at the moment. To end with this problem, a telephone booth teleport was created; it might soon be used for more than making a phone call.
Our country´s phone booths will be converted into teleport transportation stations, usually based on encoding information about an object (in this case a human being) , transmitting the information elsewhere, such as through a radio signal, and create an original copy of the destination.
Instead of using our cars to go to different places, we actually can teleport from a phone booth to another in 5-10 minutes depending on where we might want to go, maximum 2 people per phone booth. By the end of the year, the government plans to convert 29 more booths around the country. For now, the phone booths can only be use around our capital San Jose, and the cost will be approximately 3000-4000 colones one ride. However, next year, there are going to be cards, instead of paying with cash.
This transportation will definitely help to avoid traffic jumps, so people will be able to move around quicker and will decrease the pollution in the environment.
Learning Culture: MAPS. I drew a floor map of my room describing each objects that are inside of it, identifying my cultural perspective.
Institutions involve many cultural practices. A strategy for understanding institutions is to list the procedures requires a flowchart.
Using my native culture, I listed the steps one needs to follow from the beggining to end for each of the procedures using a flowchart.
Learning Culture: Flowcharts.
A)Getting a driver's license
For the first time driver's license, the applicant must meet the following requirements
1. Approve the basic driver education course.
2. Present practice driving test.
3. Satisfactory medical report physical and psychological aptitudes.
4. Current ID card.
B)Getting medical treatment
Going to the doctor for a check up to see if everything is fine, if not, the doctor recommends the patient to get a medical treatment in order to analyze and terminate any kind, of hygienic, pharmacological, surgical or physical health problem aimed at cure or relief any kind of disease or symptoms, when it has reached a diagnosis. to have a quick therapy, or healing method.
C)Reporting a crime
If you've been the victim of a crime or think you have witnessed one, you should report it to the police straight away or inmediately call to 911 and explain what happened.
After that, you will have to give a statement to the police as accurate and as detailed as possible, when you've finished giving a statement, the police will usually read it back to you to make sure that their written account matches yours.
If you agree, you'll sign the statement and get a crime reference number. If you want to contact the police about the same incident in the future, you'll need to keep that reference number in a safe place.
D)Establishing a law
To establish a law is a long and complicated road because it must pass through a series of reviews and scrutiny in committees, consultations and constitutional debates in the plenary.
After the law is presented to the board, the specialized committee begins to have a first disccusion in order to correct any flaw may have . Later on, is send to the Constitutional Tribunal for its analysis and if they do not find any mistake or legal issue, the draft is sent tback to the plenary and discussed in the first debate, Members present their arguments for and against it by through motions.
E)Getting married
There are certain steps in order to get married:
Provide birth certificates.
Provide recent certification of their marital status .
Having two witnesses.
Bring their identity cards .
After they got marriage ,the Consular Attorney tells the applicants that they must complete a civil marriage certificate which is sent to the registry office for registration of marriage.
F)Getting a bank loan
The lender must fully understand their business operation. All the information he recieves must be carefully documented to provide a complete picture of the company, including numbers, facts and figures necessary to approve the proposal. Without sufficient data to answer all questions that may arise, the lender will have to either request more information or take the easy route and simply say no to the application
G)Religious rituals
The Catholic heritage remains important in everyday language and culture.
Our culture demonstrate our Catholic faith mainly at baptisms, weddings, and funerals or during holy week and on saints' days.
On the eve of the 2 August celebration for the national patron saint— Our Lady of the Angels—pilgrims throughout the country fulfilling "promises" to her hike to Cartago's Basílica of Our Lady of Los Angeles. Most churches sponsor local saints' celebrations, which are smaller and more secular in comparison with the national holiday for Our Lady of Los Angeles.
H)Paying taxes
In Costa Rica there are two types of taxes: direct taxes and indirect taxes.
Direct taxes: they are tohse that directly affect the wealth of people, both natural and legal.
Indirect taxes: they are those who are paid on the purchase of goods or services
Teaching Culture: Personal relationship to cultural content
Is personal relationship to cultural content a factor in your teaching of culture?
As human beings we need to have a constant communication between high context and low context. Depending on the kind of relationship, the situation, and the purpose of communication, we may be more or less explicit and direct this time regarding to another culture. We as teachers need to differentiate and pay attention to the many variations of cultural content and be careful to pay specific attention to nonverbal cues and the behavior of others who may know more of the unspoken rules leading the communication.
domingo, 13 de junio de 2010
Response journal entry #1: Introduction of Culture
First Class: About Culture
Our first class helped us to understand in general terms how important is to have a very good acknowledge towards diversity and different cultures. To learn, to make contact with other people allows us gain firsthand knowledge of a particular culture and at the same time might have to struggle learning a new the language as well. However, these struggles are part of the process in order to have a better insight into a particular cultural group's way of life.
Our first class helped us to understand in general terms how important is to have a very good acknowledge towards diversity and different cultures. To learn, to make contact with other people allows us gain firsthand knowledge of a particular culture and at the same time might have to struggle learning a new the language as well. However, these struggles are part of the process in order to have a better insight into a particular cultural group's way of life.
martes, 8 de junio de 2010
Response journal entry #4: Introduction of Culture and Second Language
Teaching Culture in Second Language is a very good approach to integrate language proficiency, as well as a change in attitudes towards one’s own or another culture from the very beginning of the English learning process. It will provide very good suggestions for helping foreign learners at all levels developing communicative competence, as well as a change in attitudes towards their own or another culture.
We as teachers need to be creative to explore different topics that will help students to start making comfortable with the target culture, therefore focus on alternative methods or some teaching strategies to provide with opportunities for practice, and given focused feedback on their performance before and during the process of learning a new culture, for instance: “to discover how much freedom the target language allows learners to manipulate grammatical forms, sounds, and meanings, and to reflect upon, or even flout, socially accepted norms at work both in their own or the target culture” (Radical Pedagogy, 2001), so we as instructors can make a difference to incorporate the teaching of culture into a valuable and effective foreign language curriculum.
Therefore, the knowledge the student may start to perceive (in relation to customs, beliefs, and systems of meaning of another country) will be definitely an integral part of foreign language learning.
We as teachers need to be creative to explore different topics that will help students to start making comfortable with the target culture, therefore focus on alternative methods or some teaching strategies to provide with opportunities for practice, and given focused feedback on their performance before and during the process of learning a new culture, for instance: “to discover how much freedom the target language allows learners to manipulate grammatical forms, sounds, and meanings, and to reflect upon, or even flout, socially accepted norms at work both in their own or the target culture” (Radical Pedagogy, 2001), so we as instructors can make a difference to incorporate the teaching of culture into a valuable and effective foreign language curriculum.
Therefore, the knowledge the student may start to perceive (in relation to customs, beliefs, and systems of meaning of another country) will be definitely an integral part of foreign language learning.
martes, 1 de junio de 2010
Response journal entry #3: Intelligent Learning Environments: recommendations from the Neuroscience perspective
On Wednesday May 26th, 2010, we had an interesting lecture in our university based on Intelligent Learning Environments: recommendations from the Neuroscience perspective by Silvia Castro.
The great progress in neuroscience has allowed separating the brain mechanisms that enable learning, remembering and recording the information permanently in the brain.
During the lecture she explained how the brain becomes more effective when we learn something complicated. One aspect I agreed on was, what makes a brain to work in better efficient way?, that is, its capacity to generate experience and information to become more concise and more quickly, because there should be a multi-sensory stimulation and sensory sources; the more information and the more sense we have, we will learn in a better and faster way. That´s how we have learned most of the time, by doing it, and knowing step by step what we are doing, and at the end we would be able to stick with it.
Learning must be meaningful, varied, practical and situated. Nowadays, technology can help us to make easier to obtain all kind of information. However, not all facilities like this one, is good, because it makes the brain lazy and therefore not capable of doing a real research of what we are learning because is already handed it to us. We need to be very careful, and be self-conscious about real and honest learning.
Another aspect that I liked about neuroscience is trying to go beyond of any intelligence tests in order to explore the brain in regions or functions that will determine the cleverness of a person. The constant practice in problem solving can reactivate memory traces for learninf a second language. The learning process must be activated prior knowledge and relate new concepts in order to remind them and be able to have the neurons as connectors to get the information.
Definitely when the environment for learning is good, the learning will be better. It is therefore important as educators should focus our efforts on capturing the attention of the student with the greatest variety of possibilities, always seeking to stimulate the satisfaction in the educational process. In consequently, thanks to the contribution of neuroscience is possible that teachers and classes are no longer boring, by contrast, learning can be a pleasurable and effective activity.
The great progress in neuroscience has allowed separating the brain mechanisms that enable learning, remembering and recording the information permanently in the brain.
During the lecture she explained how the brain becomes more effective when we learn something complicated. One aspect I agreed on was, what makes a brain to work in better efficient way?, that is, its capacity to generate experience and information to become more concise and more quickly, because there should be a multi-sensory stimulation and sensory sources; the more information and the more sense we have, we will learn in a better and faster way. That´s how we have learned most of the time, by doing it, and knowing step by step what we are doing, and at the end we would be able to stick with it.
Learning must be meaningful, varied, practical and situated. Nowadays, technology can help us to make easier to obtain all kind of information. However, not all facilities like this one, is good, because it makes the brain lazy and therefore not capable of doing a real research of what we are learning because is already handed it to us. We need to be very careful, and be self-conscious about real and honest learning.
Another aspect that I liked about neuroscience is trying to go beyond of any intelligence tests in order to explore the brain in regions or functions that will determine the cleverness of a person. The constant practice in problem solving can reactivate memory traces for learninf a second language. The learning process must be activated prior knowledge and relate new concepts in order to remind them and be able to have the neurons as connectors to get the information.
Definitely when the environment for learning is good, the learning will be better. It is therefore important as educators should focus our efforts on capturing the attention of the student with the greatest variety of possibilities, always seeking to stimulate the satisfaction in the educational process. In consequently, thanks to the contribution of neuroscience is possible that teachers and classes are no longer boring, by contrast, learning can be a pleasurable and effective activity.
martes, 25 de mayo de 2010
Response journal entry Week #2
How do your beliefs, values, and cultural upbringing influence the way you behave?
The way we behave really depends on how we were raised in the long run. We often develop values and belief based on the cultural tradition and family morals that we are brought up with are totally true or reliable.
However, all these beliefs can change due to changing contemporary values and culture we are often exposed. As we grow up, the traditions and beliefs sometimes begin to contradict our principles, and begin to adapt them according to our situation and our own needs and requirements we live trough that time.
How does it feel when others see you as different—or as an outsider?
When the system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and objects that the members of society use to interact with their world and with one another is different from what we are used to.
After I graduated from high school I went to live to the States and then a few years later after I lived in China. In these two countries I definitely felt different from the others, in other words, felt weird and totally confused by the whole new situation I was going trough that time, mostly because I didn´t speak at all these two languages. Nevertheless it helped me to understand that individuals from other cultures may not see the world in the same way. What we may consider as different or strange may be considered perfectly normal in another one.
Having these unique experiences made me realize it's very interesting to get to know as many cultures as you can, and be part of a new evolving world perspective.
How do others' beliefs, values, and cultural upbringing influence the way they behave?
Cultural knowledge is a valuable in our society. Other´s people values, belief, and cultural upbringing forms reflect the value of cultural currency, which forms behavior in groups.
Also, having culture knowledge can help us on how we see ourselves "fitting" in the world around us. The more open and understandable we are to others we begin to define ourselves into a larger and not stereotype culture where our way of our social interacting with other nationalities can become into a new perception of general culture.
The way we behave really depends on how we were raised in the long run. We often develop values and belief based on the cultural tradition and family morals that we are brought up with are totally true or reliable.
However, all these beliefs can change due to changing contemporary values and culture we are often exposed. As we grow up, the traditions and beliefs sometimes begin to contradict our principles, and begin to adapt them according to our situation and our own needs and requirements we live trough that time.
How does it feel when others see you as different—or as an outsider?
When the system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and objects that the members of society use to interact with their world and with one another is different from what we are used to.
After I graduated from high school I went to live to the States and then a few years later after I lived in China. In these two countries I definitely felt different from the others, in other words, felt weird and totally confused by the whole new situation I was going trough that time, mostly because I didn´t speak at all these two languages. Nevertheless it helped me to understand that individuals from other cultures may not see the world in the same way. What we may consider as different or strange may be considered perfectly normal in another one.
Having these unique experiences made me realize it's very interesting to get to know as many cultures as you can, and be part of a new evolving world perspective.
How do others' beliefs, values, and cultural upbringing influence the way they behave?
Cultural knowledge is a valuable in our society. Other´s people values, belief, and cultural upbringing forms reflect the value of cultural currency, which forms behavior in groups.
Also, having culture knowledge can help us on how we see ourselves "fitting" in the world around us. The more open and understandable we are to others we begin to define ourselves into a larger and not stereotype culture where our way of our social interacting with other nationalities can become into a new perception of general culture.
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