Psychology Enhancing Intercultural Encounter Paper
ANSWER
II believe, culture is a dynamic and complex network of ideas, practices, values, and behaviours that influence how people see and interact with the outside world. As the shared identity that unites people and defines their distinctive way of life, it embraces everything from language and cuisine to art and spirituality.
My upbringing has significantly impacted my outlook on life in Chinese society. I have a special place in my heart for the complex tapestry of traditions, including the custom of making and enjoying tea. The accuracy and perseverance required in the discipline of Gongfu Cha taught me the value of mindfulness and the necessity of slowing down in a fast-paced society. I greatly respect filial piety, ethics, and societal peace thanks to Confucian teachings, especially those of Kongzi (Confucius). These beliefs were primarily passed down through my family, whose memories of our predecessors’ tribulations were a constant source of motivation. Aside from keeping me physically active, my participation in school activities like Ping Pong ball games also taught me about discipline and teamwork, two traits highly valued in Chinese culture. My cultural identity has been formed by these factors as well as the wider society’s norms of collectivism and solid familial ties.
When I volunteered for a summer in a small Indian community, I had a life-changing experience with cultural diversity. Interacting with people from different ethnicities, religions, and cultures made this experience genuinely intercultural. At first, I had a mix of excitement and trepidation. I was uneasy because of the stark contrast between our traditions and ways of life. I feared I would offend someone unintentionally or fail to comprehend their viewpoint.
B. The language barrier made communicating difficult because the peasants mainly spoke a dialect I needed help understanding. However, with time and the assistance of a native interpreter, we were able to communicate our ideas and emotions.
C. I erroneously assumed that the villagers could regard me as an outsider and be wary of interacting with me. On the other hand, they might have believed that I could not fit into their way of life and traditions.
D. I was humbled and enriched by the experience. I understood how common human emotions and wants are across all cultures. This experience helped me see the benefits of cultural variety and extended my perspective.
E. Active listening was a critical element that facilitated a fruitful cross-cultural interaction. I cultivated deep ties by sincerely attempting to comprehend the villagers’ perspectives and being willing to learn from them. This experience made me realize the importance of humility and empathy when interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds and that everyone has a unique narrative that should be heard. I will keep having multicultural contacts in the future with an open mind and a desire to welcome differences as chances for learning and understanding.
QUESTION
Description
1. Define what *you* think “culture” is in one paragraph. There is no correct answer, so please do not use any definitions that you find online, just discuss what you think about this word.
2. In the next paragraph, describe some aspects about your culture, including how the circumstances of where you grew up, your family, school, identities, and wider society have shaped your culture. Specific examples and details will make this section stronger. ?i’m chinese female, so make it chinese culture, talk about tea, or Kongzi or some stuff, btw I play Pingpong ball so write some details about that?
3. Next, write about an encounter with cultural difference (this could range from interacting with a neighbor from a different ethnic group or a different religion than yours to traveling or living in a different country). Specific examples and details will make this section stronger.
A. Describe that encounter and what made it intercultural, and how you initially felt about the encounter and why. Was there anything about the encounter that made you uncomfortable and why (or why not)?
B. Describe any challenges you had communicating or understanding the other person, or if no challenges, why not.
C. Describe an assumption you held about them or vice versa.
D. Describe how you felt after the encounter and why.
E. Finally, based on your experience, describe one factor or characteristic that promotes a successful or rewarding intercultural encounter (maybe it was something you did, or something you realize you should have or should have not done). What did you learn from this intercultural encounter that might help you navigate a similar encounter in the future?