Meaning of "multicultural"

Hello dear readers!

I come back to the questions previously asked. Multicultural differences is a large and very open subject.

The major cultural gaps between women are various: the status and position within the couple, the society (more or less obvious in accordance with the countries) / the expression freedom / the “representativity” in different fields (politics, companies, in very high positions...) / the weight of traditions and the sexual freedom...

In general, French people are qualified to be rude to tourists, arrogant, distant... You can discover all the stereotypes of French people on the website created by the French husband of Harriet Welty Rochefort at the following address: http://www.understandfrance.org/France/Intercultural.html

In my opinion, it is quite dangerous to stick an image on a nationality or to generalize critizing the French, the American or others. We need to be careful on such matter and let a chance to everyone to become a friend because our education, experiences, travels abroad, knowledges, passions influence our personnality and sociability. So before judging someone, take time to listen him/her and exchange some words. You could be quite surprised!

Envy something on our neighbours... maybe the noodles and pizzas for Italy, the marvellous landscapes in Bali, the kindness of the Thai, the patience of the Asian people... Pay attention also not to sum up a country or a nationality to one fact.

I think the envy is not a good feeling because it draw your attention on your own weaknesses. Admiration or recognition of the quality of someone is much better.

Large debate than the advantages and drawbacks of a multicultural couple... all depend on the characteristics of each partner, the adaptability, the acceptance of differences, the tolerance, the knowledge of the partner’s language, culture, way of life, mentality, the experiences made in the country of the partner... Even the fact to like the culinary specialities, the cinema, litterature, arts is important.

We can enjoy the differences but that also can be a trench that will alienate the members of the couple. That is exactly the same question as the one between the men and women. Did not John Gray said “men come from Mars and women from Venus” ? That could be the scheme of a future debate...

What do you think about all of that? Do you agree?

To study this scheme throroughly : “understanding the depth and breath of “multicultural”, I found a very interesting American website linked to this subject:

www.edchange.org/multicultural/activities/multicultural.html

Here is the summary of the different mentioned points:

-          1) definition of the word “multi” and “cultural”

-          2) different dimensions of “culture”

-          3) three levels of culture (concrete/behavioral/symbolic)

Free discussion:

-          When you first meet somebody, which of those items (point 3), do you use to understand them culturally?

-          Is your attempt to understand others culturally consistent with how you want to be viewed and understood?

Concerning the first question, I think it is a progressive approach consisting in garments/music/food/games... then behavioral (reactions faced to some situations, nonverbal communication, language...) and finally symbolic (values and beliefs).

Just having a judgement from the concrete level of someone is maybe a classical case. In our societies, we used to judge someone at first sight as we need to make things quickly and “time is money”. Even if it is a shame, we unfortunately need to adapt ourselves in such a plan, especially when you are looking for a job and have a job interview (we will talk about the job interview later).

I advise you, if you really have the choice to do it and the envy, to take time to know foreigners and in general others as they can bring you and enrich you in knowledges and exchanges.

As far as the second question is concerned, I think the best way is to stay yourself even if you unconsciously give an image of the French girl/guy who is like that or like that, with these or those qualities, features...

All depend how you define yourself as a French woman/man,  European or citizen of the world. It is up to you to choose the way to introduce yourself.

This study closes the debate on intercultural differences even if we can more enlarge it and find other links.

As someone I really appreciate says (he will recognize himself): it is quite important to have a look on the connections between the different cultures rather than on the gaps or differences. It is more constructive. I totally agree with him!

With best wishes,

Ceraulen