A lot of interesting assumptions were made in the reading Figuring Foreigners Out, as well as the Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions. I have learned about that model in other classes before, for example in sociology and in business communications. I think that Hofstede offered good general guidelines to understand differences in cultures, even though these are not comprehensive and can vary for individuals. However, the comparison I heard about most with regards to Hofstede is Japan vs the United States. Even though not every person in each of these countries have the same values as their fellow citizens or act in the same way, differences are very evident to see. The United States has a far more individualistic culture than Japan. Generally, Japan has a high focus on the long-term success of the group, rather than the temporary improvement on an individual. In addition to this, there are other differences that can be seen in the overall cultures and norms.
Overall, I have seen this model to be fairly accurate, even though it might not always be spot on. There are further regional differences or variations between different ethical, racial, religious, etc. groups within a certain country. My own cultural experiences have generally confirmed this model and it is a good guide to prepare oneself for the culture, values and norms of a target country.
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