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Rotary Youth Exchange… Why Culture Matters. Jeanette M. Fregulia, Ph.D. Introductory Remarks. Acknowledgements A little about me… How I got here… Where are we going?. Culture Is…. Universal, Cultural (today’s focus), and Personal Values, manners, language, ways of living… - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Rotary Youth Exchange…
Why Culture Matters
Jeanette M. Fregulia, Ph.D
Introductory Remarks
Acknowledgements
A little about me…
How I got here…
Where are we going?
Culture Is…Universal, Cultural (today’s focus), and PersonalValues, manners, language, ways of living…The total way of life of a people…Located in the hearts and minds of people…
The Culture IcebergMost of culture is hiddenDon’t be like the Titanic and speed up when you should slow down!Consider– What is hidden v. what is visible?– What divides us v. what unites us?
Types of CultureHigh Context– High use of non-verbal
elements– Learning occurs by
observation– Groups preferred
Low Context– Low use of non-verbal
cues– Learning occurs by
following explicit instructions
– Groups are not preferred
Adjusting to a New CultureSurprise
Stress
Irritation
Fatigue
Shock
Adjusting to a New Culture
http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/pub-_Returning_Home.htm
Help for Culture ShockBefore It Is Too Late
Symptoms include– Extreme fatigue– Eating too much/too little– Obsessive/compulsive behavior– Hypochondria– Overreacting– Loss of perspective– Other
Help for Culture ShockCoping
Some discomfort is normal
If there is no discomfort, the student is not trying to adjust
Learn as much as possible about language and culture before leaving home
Help for Culture ShockCoping
Accept, adapt and smile!
Seek help from local resources
Help for Culture ShockOther
Most clashes are temporaryIt’s not strange, it’s just differentDo not condemnIf exchange were easy, not the experience we left home to seek
Getting On…SmileBe polite, humble, helpful, and graciousIt’s your exchange
Getting On…Don’t…
Expect EnglishComplainLeave home with preconceived ideasDisobey the rulesCall your parents (or maybe just not everyday!)Forget to have fun…
Useful SkillsLanguage (did I mention this already?)FlexibilityOpen-mindednessObservationYou mean I have to eat that?Time and SpaceA wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, he always arrives precisely
when he means to…”-Gandalf
A Word on Civility
Be ready to accept different valuesBe generous with your smiles, your charm and your sincerityBe hospitable – in most places this mattersRemember the childrenRemember holidaysBe helpful
Consider…What are you most looking forward to?What worries you most?What will you miss most?What will you miss least?What will your greatest challenge be?What do you want to think/feel the day you return home?
Ten Tips…Know your destinationLearn some languageUnderstand that “culture matters”Don’t ignore practical mattersFind a local mentor
Ten Tips…Stay curiousWatch for culture shockKeep a journalThink before your speak
Embrace the different, the unusual, and even the uncomfortable
Thank youQuestions?
