Culture challenges

CULTURE CHALLENGES Culture is central to what we see, how we make sense of what we see, and how we express ourselves. As people from different cultural groups take on the exciting challenge of working together, cultural values sometimes conflict. We can misunderstand each other, and react in ways that can hinder what are otherwise promising partnerships. Oftentimes, we aren’t aware that culture is acting upon us. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we have cultural values or assumptions that are different from others. The first and foremost challenge for me has been the mode of communication both verbal and non verbal. This is because for different countries different actions have different connotations. Another challenge that has been faced by me is the different approaches to complete a task. Different culture people have different ideas and views about completing the same task. Also, the variation among cultures in attitudes towards the disclosures is another biggest problem. Some people are just too shy to express their emotions. The basic thing that frustrates me is that they have certain pre conceived notions about people from other cultures, and the refuse to do away with them. Also, when in a group the mode of communication is the language of majority. The misunderstandings that I have about other cultures include being able to adjust in any kind of environment. And that some cultural groups are rude, unfriendly and conservative. But actually the truth is exactly the opposite. No person is rude by nature; it’s the rules and the circumstances that force him to behave in that manner. Also, every culture is unique and nice. It’s foolish to jump to conclusions without investigating things. Nor does participating in a new culture means one has to agree with all aspects of that culture. However, different cultures should respect one another’s differences. Even though ways of behaving in a different culture may not make sense to us, but it definitely makes sense to the people who are part of that culture. And we need to adapt to the other culture, because we are outsiders and it’s a good opportunity to be able to learn a different culture.