WHAT'S UP WITH CULTURE // MODULE 1.2

i think this module set out a good foundation for the understanding of what culture really is. culture is such an intense word, and the definition is so vast. i really liked the iceberg comparison. i think it's important to realize that , just like an iceberg, there are many aspects that are observable in a culture, but there are many more aspects that you don't don't to experience until you completely immerse yourself in that culture.

i completely agree with the things that were taught in this module. it's always a good reminder to resist the critical thoughts and actions that may be geared towards cultural traditions of other countries. culture is such a broad term and it's good to break it down and truly come to understand what the word culture really encompasses.

the information in this module has really set a good foundation for my cultural understanding. it has made me realize that i am about to embark on a journey that will take me places, both physically and emotionally, that i haven't been before. there is no right or wrong culture. i think this idea sometimes a precedence over american culture. when you grow up in a certain culture it can be hard to know anything else. it can be hard to accept new things and enjoy differences. lucky for me i really appreciate and love new cultures and ideas, so i can't wait to get out and experience peru!

WHAT'S UP WITH CULTURE // MODULE 1.3

this module made me aware of my individualist beliefs. at the end of the Q&A to test my trend between individualist and collectivist, it said i was equilibrated between trends. that made me feel a little better after the activity where we divvied up the $20,000 amongst the workers based on their percentage. i really do believe that people should be rewarded based on performance and skill. i'm not quite sure if that is a bad thing or not... but that exercise made me feel like the website believes it's a bad thing! 

i really enjoyed the first activity where we wrote down our initial reactions to different scenarios. the whole time i was answering the first section of questions, in the back of my mind i was thinking "i know in some cultures this would be completely acceptable/unacceptable! when i got to the second part, i had so much fun looking at the scenarios from a different perspective and creating reactions to them based on the cultural expectations. 

this activity was really eye opening to the fact that just because something may cause an initial judgment to take place in our mind, it can be interpreted many different ways depending on the culture! i really like how it said "... while you are a guest in another country you should take special care not to make snap judgments about people and situations before you know the .... reasons why they might be behaving and reacting different than you normally would." that is a golden nugget of knowledge in traveling!!!! 

it's important to embrace these ideas because yes, you're in a different country, and yes, the expectations and culture have the potential of being COMPLETELY different than what you are accustomed to. i am positive i will encounter some of these situations while in peru. easier said than done, right? i know i can't help my natural reactions to situations and behavior. Having this knowledge of how to deal with my snap judgments will help me adapt to the culture and being to form relationships with the people i interact with. i really liked how the module said "... once you figure out how people in other cultures see themselves and what motivates them to do things the way they do, you can begin to figure out appropriate ways to interact with them." that is what i hope this module has prepared me for!

WHAT'S UP WITH CULTURE // MODULE 1.5

the things taught in this module were things i learned very quickly when i first went to study abroad in vienna, austria. i knew very little about the european culture of vienna, and it honestly didn't cross my mind that my cultural values and attitude may be offensive to to another's. i quickly came to realize that my cultural norms were cultural offenses in europe. we were oriented for a few brief moments on expectation of how to act on the public transportation and things like that, but then we were on our own! luckily, i made friends with a few of the locals we met at church functions. i learned from them that european believed american's to be ignorant and arrogant. at first i was hurt because i didn't feel these accusations were true about me, but i came to realize that this stereotype maybe did fit many americans in the eyes of europeans. 

this module just reiterated this knowledge for me. traveling to a different country is much much more than site seeing and exploring. it's about molding and changing your behavior into something respectful to that specific cultural expectations. you are responsible for representing your country, and disproving any biases or stereotypes that exist in the eyes of the culture you're experiences. it's essential you are open to learning experiences and criticisms that might come your way. i was surprised when i learned all of this in europe, and i know it will be a whole new experience while in peru. 

the information presented in this module is sooooooo important! understanding this material is crucial for a successful experience in another country. you can just barge in on a culture and expect them to change what they believe to accommodate your cultural beliefs. it's quite the opposite, in fact. if these concepts and ideas of adapting your cultural conceptions to respect don't become a part of your mindset, you will have a completely different experience in another country. (and it aint gonna be pretty!) :)

i have been lucky enough to live in another country for a while and experience the things taught in this module. having this knowledge will help me become a better person in peru. i know it will change my outlook on the way i act and portray myself to the people of peru. it will change my experience for the better and allow me to learn and grow in an extremely unique way.