Dealing with people from different cultures requires different skills compared to dealing with the locals. “In Rome, do what the Romans do” rule does not generally apply all the time; the visitors will try their best to follow the rules of their host. It would be courteous of us to give them the same respect that they have given us initially. Like all systems, culture play an important part in communication and it has slowly but steadily changed as time passes.
Dressing and personal grooming play an important part on first impressions when dealing with these people. Just before any visit, they would do some research on how to dress appropriately and we should also do the same. Although it is not possible to dress completely alike their culture, at least some compliance should be followed. For instance, the people from the Muslim community tend to not allow their female gender to expose too much flesh to the public eye. When these people come to visit us on formal situations, we cannot simply ask our female counterparts to either disappear while they are around or wear tudungs and wrap their bodies completely to the extent of only exposing their eyes. A best compromise of the ladies could be wearing long skirts and showing little flesh below the neck.
Dealing with cultures would also mean dealing with their peculiarities with respect to food as well. Different cultures have different ways of expressing their thanks to their hosts, although their behaviour might irk us in some way or other. For example, in certain Asian countries like China, it is fine for you to burp after a meal to tell your hosts that they have prepared a good meal, while the French people find belching a rude act.
Overall, dealing with people from different cultures is generally the same as how we are to deal with people from our culture. The main point is that we have to be more tolerant to differences.
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Yes, I agree that if you are a guest in another country, you should honour their way of life and adapt accordingly. At the same time, people should be tolerant of the different behaviour displayed by foreigners. As you pont out Isaac, we have to adapt to a lesser of geater extent to others in any human interaction.
ReplyDeleteMrs Richardson
Hey Issac,
ReplyDeleteFor Muslims, covering most of their flesh is more of religious practice rather than cultural. Indeed, guests from other religious and cultural background should dress appropriately. Somehow both parties should adapt to each other's culture to some extend - at least know and understand them.
Personally, I find belching irritating. Haha...
Hi Isaac,
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that we should learn to tolerate differences in cultures. However, I would like to bring across the point that our mental model should be the one to change before we can accept these differences.
I wouldn't deny that sometimes even us will look at "others" ( people different from you) through a coloured lens. This premature perception or stereotypes we give to a certain group of people actually styfle sincere interaction and learning.
One example would be how we view construction workers and perhaps a simple Chinese lady standing at a cross junction in Geylang(red light district).
I can't agree more Issac!
ReplyDeleteTolerance can indeed prevent many conflicts. Not just in our daily lives, but even in politics. During Bush's time with his "Hidden weapons of mass destruction" fiasco! He "cleverly" heightened the tension between two cultures and in some way used stereotypes to gather support. If only he had been more tolerant and accepting. Of course, this is not THE reason for war, nor will tolerance solve it, but I think, things would not have been as bad as it is now. Then again, what is done is done!