Rotary Youth Exchange…

Why Culture Matters

Jeanette M. Fregulia, Ph.D

Introductory Remarks

Acknowledgements

A little about me…

How I got here…

Where are we going?

Culture Is…Universal, Cultural (today’s focus), and PersonalValues, manners, language, ways of living…The total way of life of a people…Located in the hearts and minds of people…

The Culture IcebergMost of culture is hiddenDon’t be like the Titanic and speed up when you should slow down!Consider– What is hidden v. what is visible?– What divides us v. what unites us?

Types of CultureHigh Context– High use of non-verbal

elements– Learning occurs by

observation– Groups preferred

Low Context– Low use of non-verbal

cues– Learning occurs by

following explicit instructions

– Groups are not preferred

Adjusting to a New CultureSurprise

Stress

Irritation

Fatigue

Shock

Adjusting to a New Culture

http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/pub-_Returning_Home.htm

Help for Culture ShockBefore It Is Too Late

Symptoms include– Extreme fatigue– Eating too much/too little– Obsessive/compulsive behavior– Hypochondria– Overreacting– Loss of perspective– Other

Help for Culture ShockCoping

Some discomfort is normal

If there is no discomfort, the student is not trying to adjust

Learn as much as possible about language and culture before leaving home

Help for Culture ShockCoping

Accept, adapt and smile!

Seek help from local resources

Help for Culture ShockOther

Most clashes are temporaryIt’s not strange, it’s just differentDo not condemnIf exchange were easy, not the experience we left home to seek

Getting On…SmileBe polite, humble, helpful, and graciousIt’s your exchange

Getting On…Don’t…

Expect EnglishComplainLeave home with preconceived ideasDisobey the rulesCall your parents (or maybe just not everyday!)Forget to have fun…

Useful SkillsLanguage (did I mention this already?)FlexibilityOpen-mindednessObservationYou mean I have to eat that?Time and SpaceA wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, he always arrives precisely

when he means to…”-Gandalf

A Word on Civility

Be ready to accept different valuesBe generous with your smiles, your charm and your sincerityBe hospitable – in most places this mattersRemember the childrenRemember holidaysBe helpful

Consider…What are you most looking forward to?What worries you most?What will you miss most?What will you miss least?What will your greatest challenge be?What do you want to think/feel the day you return home?

Ten Tips…Know your destinationLearn some languageUnderstand that “culture matters”Don’t ignore practical mattersFind a local mentor

Ten Tips…Stay curiousWatch for culture shockKeep a journalThink before your speak

Embrace the different, the unusual, and even the uncomfortable

Can I help?Jeanette M. Fregulia

jfregulia@carroll.edujmfregulia_mt@q.com406.447.4951 (w)

406.449.2679 (h)

Thank youQuestions?