While I usually do not like to think of people in terms of “us” and “them,” the reality of the matter is that people from different parts of the world speak, behave, and live in ways that are foreign to others. In order to begin a process of understanding and tolerance between places of difference, it is important to understand the cultural nuances of each place. These cultural nuances are also important to understand, because they are oftentimes interlinked with verbal and non-verbal communication. If we wish to go to a country and fully experience its richness, it is not simply enough to know its language. We must also know how the country’s language is connected with its way of life.
The reading Figuring Foreigners Out identifies the primary dualities existing amongst the various cultures of the world. The general tendencies of cultures are to be either individualist/collectivist, monochromic/polychromic, internal/external, and direct/indirect. Using these classifications, I am able to come to certain conclusions about American society. American society is typically individualist, monochromic, internal, and direct. In other words, our society values the principle of self-sufficiency. We believe in making every minute of the day productive, for productivity is the key to self-sufficiency. We therefore have an active role in our futures, and are usually direct about what we mean and want.
Being able to identify the tendencies of my own culture helps me to better recognize the tendencies of other cultures. As I stated before, in order to have tolerance and even appreciation for other cultures, we first have to understand their culture. Keeping this principle in mind will surely help ease the “culture shock” pains that often accompany encounters with new languages, people, and places.
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