Reflection 4

I think that growing up most people believe that culture is just something innate in you; as if it was a part of our DNA structure. Most would probably defend their assumption in the faces of those who say culture is learnt. But culture is just that, a learned behavior that dictates how we think, our beliefs, our actions, etc. You could have a child born into poverty but if that child is removed and placed in suburbia, that child will adapt that culture. A term from the readings that’s new to me was culture transmission; defined as the process of sharing a culture. Things as simple as sharing music or food can be seen as culture transmission. I honestly think watching television is a part of the sharing process; people observe what’s being done on television and it gives them knowledge in a sense. I totally agree with Marimba Ani’s characteristic of culture. Humans want to belong and crave interactions and culture gives us a common ground for that. Intercultural competence is the ability to seamlessly interact with cultures and subcultures outside our own. The keys to being intercultural competent are the willingness to allow your attitudes to be changed and being non-judgmental. Some people will have a problem with letting their attitudes be changed because they hold on really tightly to their ideas. It’s important to remember that your ideas are just that, ideas. They don’t make or break you as a person and it’s more than okay for them to be challenged and changed. Also, for one reason or another, people like to judge others. That practice can really hold people back in life. I personally like to say you shouldn’t judge people unless you want to be judged. In order to be successful in this world it’s important to understand culture and intercultural competence. Staying in one culture, while it may be the comfortable thing to do, is highly limiting. I don’t believe it’s possible to live a fulfilling life like that because once you step outside of your box you’ll be stressed for no one. One of the most satisfying things think a person can do is travel, especially outside of your country. If you’re closed to new experiences then not only will you be hungry but you’ll also have wasted a valuable learning experience.