No two people are alike and it is personality differences that separate each of these individuals. It is important to note that, even though values may be the same among families, how individuals perceive them creates the difference as the chance for misunderstanding becomes greater. The comment on cultural generalizations is important and interesting since it acts as a warning for foreigners. That being said, culture and people are not independent of one another, which is why it is vital to learn them together.
Culture is the common ideal and belief people share in a certain area. Therefore, what we come to understand is that members of that society act a certain way because of what is and is not acceptable in their opinions. Therefore, to understand behavior it is important to understand the values behind them. I believe that this is what MLC 105 & 110 aim to do, give meaning to the language through culture. Why members of that society say certain things and do certain things. For example, my Turkish friend said when he first came to UR a teacher would constantly snap his hands together making a fist with one and then covering it with the opposite hand. This is extremely offensive in the Turkish culture but the teacher had no idea that this gesture was offensive.
This event goes to show that individuals should not be too quick to judge as certain actions or phrases may not always have the same meaning in different cultures. Usually, the end result is the same for most conversations but how one arrives at the answer may be completely different. For example, there is a section about how varying cultures ask for and receive the time. Knowing how to properly receive information is vital and wherever you end up, the most important thing you can do is understand the culture and understand what it is you need to do in order to remain respectful.
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