One's destination is never a place...[Culture-learning strategies]

This post is about suggested strategies for understanding culturally different surroundings.

(in order of how likely I am to use them)

1. *Consider ways that different cultures might view things in different ways (e.g., how different cultures value alone time or independence).
2. *Look at similarities as well as differences between people of different backgrounds.
3. Make distinctions between behavior that is personal (unique to the person), cultural (representative of the person's culture), and universal (a shared human concern).
4. Think about different cross-cultural perspectives to examine situations in which I seem to offend someone or do something wrong.
5. Figure out what cultural values might be involved when I encounter a conflict or something goes wrong.
6. Use generalizations instead of stereotypes when I make statements about people who are different from me.
7. Counter stereotypes others use about people from my country by using generalizations and cultural values instead.

* 1. In the case of living and studying abroad, I think this one is the most practical! Lifestyles vary greatly amongst people and countries, so I anticipate this one having the most impact and requiring my adjustment on my part.

*2. I think this one is easily ignored -- it is SO much easier to notice the differences, but it's still important to point out similarities. We should never assume similarities, but take note of them. I think doing this will hopefully lessen the culture shock.