The World at Your Door International Student Workers, USA CBF Field Personnel If you would like more...

The World at Your DoorInternational Student Workers, USACBF Field PersonnelIf you would like more information about a webinar or scheduling someone to speak at your church or event contact the Internationals’ Cluster network at www.cbfinternationals.org

The World at Your Door

• Part I: Seek First to Understand Yourself

• Part II: Seek to Identify with Others

• Part III: Application & Discussion

Part I: Seek First to Understand Yourself

“When we are merely ‘being ourselves’, acting according to our deepest instincts, human beings reveal fundamental differences in what we all tend to think of as normal behavior.” – Craig Storti


Acceptable Greetings:1. In your workplace

2. With a friend at church

3. With an acquaintance in the grocery store

4. With a family member

5. With someone you pass on the sidewalk that you do not know


Misattribution“attributing meaning or motive to someone’s behavior

based upon one’s own culture or experience.”

Lane, Patty. A Beginner’s Guide to Crossing Cultures, 27.


Misattribution

1. Our cultural beliefs are so ingrained that they appear to be either common sense or universal.

2. Misattributions often evoke an instant emotional response. Little thought is then given to the accuracy or origin of the belief that prompted the feelings.

Memorial Day Grill-Out


Aaron and Srinivas

Two Instances of Misattribution


“It’s easy to believe that one’s own culture is the best, because it works so well for you it seems impossible to think that it would not be best for everyone. The truth is that all cultures are equal in their ability to work for the people of that culture.”

Lane, Crossing Cultures, 37


Questionnaire: Discover your own characteristics of culture. Discuss.

(10 minutes)

Part II: Seek to Identify With Others

The Cross-Cultural Golden Rule:

“Do unto others as they’d have you do.”


Six Cultural Lenses

1. Context: High vs. Low

2. Relationship: Collective vs. Individual Direct vs. Indirect Communication

Differing Approaches to Hospitality

3. Authority: Egalitarian vs. Hierarchical

4. Temporal: Abundant vs. Limited

5. Activity: Being vs. Doing

6. Worldview: What lies beneath the surface!


1. CONTEXT relates to the formality of a culture and the rules governing how people interact with one another.

• High context cultures are considered formal and the rules of the society are highly respected.

• Low context cultures are considered informal where anything goes within reason.


High Context(everything matters)

• Who you are related to matters• Who you know matters• It is better to overdress than underdress• Give attention to appropriate greetings• Use manners• Respect the rules


Low Context(nothing matters, anything goes)

• What you know is more important than who you know

• Lack of protocol is not dishonoring• If you have rules, do not use them in this

context People do not know your rules• Address people by their given names unless

others use titles


2. The Relationship cultural lens can be divided into two contrasting parts.

• Collective cultures are relationship based.

• Individual cultures are task oriented.


Collective Cultures

• Communication must create a “feel-good” atmosphere

• Though individuals may be otherwise, the society is feeling oriented

• Efficiency and time do not take priority over the person

• It is inappropriate to “talk business” upon first arriving at a business meeting or when making a business call


Individual Cultures

• Communication must provide accurate information

• Though individuals may be otherwise, society is logic oriented

• Efficiency and time are high priorities, taking them seriously is a sign of respect for the other person

Lucky for Hassan Dialogue

Ms. Anderson: Hassan was looking at your paper.

Abdullah: He was?

Ms. Anderson: Yes. He copied some of your answers.

Abdullah: Perhaps he didn’t know the answers.

Ms. Anderson: I’m sure he didn’t.

Abdullah: Then it’s lucky he was sitting next to me.

Source: Craig Stori. Cross-Cultural Dialogues, Intercultural Press, Inc., 1994

Classification of Countries

Collective cultures:India Argentina Brazil Greece Mexico

PortugalChile Singapore Peru Colombia Taiwan

Individual cultures:USA Great Britain Canada Italy Denmark

France Norway Germany Finland Israel Spain Austria South Africa Switzerland

Ireland Sweden Belgium New Zealand Netherlands Australia

Source: Geert Hofstede. Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1980),

pg 315


Communicating cross-culturally is one of the most challenging aspects of forming new relationships.

The two major forms of communication are direct and indirect.

They may seem simple to understand; however, it is quite challenging to change one’s preferred form.


Direct Communication

• Short, direct questions show respect for a person’s time

• A ‘yes’ is a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’ is a ‘no’. There are no hidden meanings

• An honest, direct response is informational only. It is not a reflection of a person feels about you.

• You can politely say what you think, and it will usually not be taken personally


Indirect Communication

• It is all about being friendly• Every question must be phrased in such a way

as to not offend by its directness• Use a 3rd party for accurate information if you

sense you are not getting the results you are seeking

• A ‘yes’ may not be an answer to your question. It is a 1st step in a friendly exchange. Avoid yes-no questions because verbal compliance may be a cultural requirement

• Avoid embarrassing others


Offering Hospitality is a natural way to get to know others better.

However, the expectations in giving and receiving hospitality vary across differing cultures.

We will discuss two types of hospitality:1. Host-initiated 2. Guest-initiated


Host-initiated Hospitality

• Hospitality is taken very seriously and it takes the full attention of the host

• The host usually needs advance notice for a visit It is usually planned instead of spontaneous

• Travelers are expected to make their own arrangements other than what the host specifically communicates ahead of time

• Guests are usually expected to pay for transportation and restaurants unless the host says otherwise


Guest-initiated Hospitality

• Hospitality is spontaneous, often without an advance invitation

• It is the context for a relationship, even in business

• Usually takes place in the home• The host fully takes care of the needs of the

guest. The guest pays for nothing• A gift is usually expected• Food and drink are involved


3. The Authority cultural lens determines where people rank in any given society.

There are two types of Authority structures:

•An informal view of authority is classified as egalitarian.

•A formal view of authority is classified as hierarchical.

Part II: Seek to Identify with Others

Egalitarian – Informal Authority:• All persons have equal value and equal rights • The same rules apply to everyone in like

situations

Hierarchical – Formal Authority:• Unequal treatment expected and seen as

being appropriate• There are rules for much of life• It is acceptable to categorize people based

upon their gender, race, caste, etcetera. Everyone has a role in society.


Test Questions to See How You View Authority:

• Who is able to be in leadership in your culture? • Who is entitled to have authority over others?

If the answer is based on something like gender or age then your view of authority is hierarchical.


4. Temporality Each society views time in different ways. They either see time as being Abundant or Limited.

Abundant = Event OrientedLimited = Time Oriented


Abundant (Event-Oriented): • It doesn’t matter when you arrive, but that

you arrive and the event takes place• Spontaneous and flexible in their approach to

life• Respond to what life brings• Experiencing the moment more important

than saving time• Recognize that structure is required in some

areas of life i.e. military, certain job situations, etc…

• Have informal visiting as part of the event


Limited (Clock-Oriented):

• Structure in their approach to life• Enjoy using time efficiently• Try to plan their day and saving time is a

value• Expect the event to begin at the time

announced. Visiting or informally chatting happens before or after the event.


5. Activity is a category in order to find out what drives a society and its members.

There are two types of cultures when it comes to activity:Being Cultures and Doing Cultures


Being cultures value relationships and quality of life.

• The driving force is largely external, and comes from outside of the individual

• Some aspects of life are pre-determined• Limits exist beyond which we cannot go• Certain givens must be accepted• Life is WHAT HAPPENS to me.


Doing cultures value results and materialism.

• The driving force is largely internal, and comes from within the individual

• Very few givens in life, few circumstances that cannot be changed

• No limits on what I can do or become, given the necessary effort

• Life is what I DO.


Which statements are Being, which are Doing?1. While I was at the meeting I made many new

friends. 2. I don’t think we got much done, but we all

had a good time. 3. When she asked me to become involved,

what choice did I have?4. I have lived here for 13 years, but I still don’t

have any friends. 5. I will need help after by surgery, so I will hire

a nurse. I can’t expect my friends to come because they are all so busy.

Classification of Countries

Doing cultures:China Japan Venezuela New Zealand RussiaItaly Ireland Great Britain Philippines USGreece Argentina Canada Belgium India MexicoHong Kong Australia South Africa ColombiaSwitzerland Austria----------------------------------------------------------------------

----Being cultures:

Pakistan Brazil Israel Taiwan France Peru Portugal Finland Denmark Norway

Sweden Netherlands Chile Thailand Spain Iran Turkey Singapore

Source: Geert Hofstede. Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1980), pg 315


6. World View… It’s complicated.

• Worldview is the culturally agreed upon perception of reality, in other words, WV bridges the gap between objective reality and the person’s perception of it.

• WV is how a culture thinks; how it perceives reality.

• WV is made up of things such as values, feelings, assumptions, beliefs, and motivations.

• The ICEBURG OF CULTURE


Part III: Bringing it all together

The World at our Door

What will we do?

• Segregate ourselves• Try to make others like us• Celebrate the diversity

Part III: Bringing it all Together

Mark where you are on the continuum for each of the cultural lens.

Context: high--------------------------------------lowActivity: being------------------------------------doingRelationship: collective-----------------------

individualCommunication: direct------------------------indirectHospitality: host--------------------------------guestAuthority: hierarchical------------------------

egalitarianTemporal: abundant----------------------------limited


Let’s Get Started:

1. Pray2. Raise your awareness3. Read 4. Dive in!5. Find a “cultural interpreter”6. Learn words or phrases7. Listen and observe8. Keep learning


Our Faith in Christ

• Core to who we are as Christians• Permeates our belief system• Potential for misattribution • Wise to use your understanding of culture to inform the way you communicate

Reflection/Questions/Comments

What have you learned that helps you understand your behavior and

values?

Think about one cross-cultural relationship that you currently

have. What will you do differently as a result of what you heard this

evening?

What is God asking you to do related

to your multicultural community?

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