Discussion 2

Different countries and regions all have different cultures. This is obvious but in what ways do they differ? Well according to Figuring Out Foreigners by Craig Storti, these differences can be seen in Individualist-Collectivist, nonverbal communication, monochronic-polychronic, internal-external, and direct vs. indirect communication. Some of his strongest arguments, in my opinion, are the differences in nonverbal communication and direct vs indirect communication. Regarding nonverbal communication, it can be broken down into 3 main categories. 1) Behaviors that exist within two different cultures. Both have the same meaning as well. 2) Behaviors that exist within both, however, they have differing meanings. 3) One behavior has completely no meaning in the other culture. The direct communication cultures tend to rely less on implications but rather on the explicit conveying of thoughts. Whereas indirect cultures rely more on intuitive understandings. 

I’ve spent a couple of summer vacations in Korea and of course I’ve lived my entire life in America. In my time in Korea, I’ve definitely seen a more indirect communication culture. People essentially know everyone throughout their respective apartment floors, People join each other in activities whether they know each other or not. Definitely a more collective environment among the people. A strong example I’ve seen in Korea is when I was at a restaurant, and my glass of water was nearly empty. The waiter, without asking, just refills it back up for me. Now this may seem very rude in American culture standards, but not filling it up and having to ask them to do it would be a burden in Korea.

I’ve lived in different regions in America. Athens, where I was born, was a “college town” because of its vicinity to UGA. In Toledo, Ohio, the place I lived was very rural. And in Maryland, it was a suburban area near a busy town center. Throughout these places, Maryland and Athens were direct in culture (mainly Athens). Whereas Toledo felt more like the indirect nature that was present in Korea. Everyone’s main goal in that area was to maintain a peaceful life without any conflicts.

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