Evaluate a cultural incident.

You teach in a rural area and often eat at a local tea shop, run by a low-caste family with whom you are very friendly. Today, your headmaster advised you to stop eating there. He says it hurts your social standing and indirectly hurts the reputation of his school for you to be seen so often in the company of untouchables. What do you do?

[No, don't make this face to them.]

Describe: The headmaster gave some social and professional advice. He explains that being seen with a low-caste family would lower your social status and may even hurt the school's reputation.

Interpret: Social status may be of high importance in this culture, and especially in a rural area where many traditional views still exist. The headmaster may think that you are unaware of this and is trying to provide friendly advice. However, as Americans, we (ideally) look down on such class distinctions. Most people like to consider themselves middle class.

Evaluate: At first it would be easy to react negatively, but understanding the rationale behind the advice will help with perspective. Perhaps a compromise can be reached - it appeared more to be about cultural norms: reputation and social standing, which every country has to some degree.

Right now, it's rather difficult to predict what problems I'll run into in Italy. There aren't any glaring culture differences that I anticipate to be more difficult to adjust to. Before going, though, it's definitely better to have an idea of societal norms and specific differences in lifestyle and personality. For example, I've heard Italians eat dinner very late - often at 9pm. That's something I'll need to adjust to! Also, some things that we might consider rude (ie. cutting in line, not allowing as much personal space in public) may be normal over there. In terms of change, I think everything in my everyday life will be different! I'll just have to adjust :)

Qualities that would be helpful in adjusting: staying open-minded, look for an explanation before making judgments, realize that what we see as differences is 'normal' to them.

Positive aspects of Italian culture: taking each day slower. Taking the time to appreciate and enjoy life and not staying busy all the time! The whole atmosphere of art and history will compensate for anything I can think of so far…