{"id":239,"date":"2019-02-19T15:09:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T15:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/investigating-diversity.jour342.com\/blog\/?p=239"},"modified":"2019-03-16T15:12:20","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T15:12:20","slug":"a-5-step-plan-for-exploring-other-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investigating-diversity.jour342.com\/blog\/a-5-step-plan-for-exploring-other-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"A 5-step plan for exploring other culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

When I was 11 years old, my world was turned upside down. Up until that time, I had spent most of my life in Chile – a place where my family and I were foreigners, but we still called home.  I embraced the environment that surrounded me and celebrated the same traditions as my friends. <\/span><\/p>\n

Everything changed in 2009 when my family decided to move to the Philippines.<\/span><\/p>\n

I felt completely lost. Everything, from the language to the food, was different. It was an immense cultural shock that left me crying for some normality. <\/span><\/p>\n

What made things even more difficult, however, was that the shock came from various cultures, not just the Filipino one.<\/span><\/p>\n

My father was a professor at an international institution, where than 50 countries were represented. Many families – – just like mine — had been living in their home countries, emerged in their cultures. They had just moved to a new environment, which became a melting pot.  <\/span><\/p>\n

For a long time, it was a struggle. Yet, as time progressed, I  actually learned to appreciate the various cultures around me as much as my own. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are five steps that helped me do so. And I hope they help you, too. <\/span><\/p>\n

I knew my  own culture<\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n

This may sound silly, or even counterproductive (why am I looking at my culture when I am trying to learn about a different one?). But getting to know one\u2019s own culture is the first crucial step to take when learning to appreciate others. We may not always realize it, but the culture in which we are raised has helped shape the way we view the world. Our opinions, assumptions and even the way we think is somehow shaped by the customs we follow. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are certain things we may scorn because our own culture has taught us to do so. For example, why was I disgusted when someone would slurp on their soup? Because in <\/span>my<\/span><\/i> culture that is impolite to do. But just because it is rude in my culture does it actually make it wrong?  If we understand from where that judgment originates, then we open ourselves to see things from a different perspective. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ask yourself: <\/span><\/p>\n

How has my worldview been affected by my culture? <\/span><\/p>\n

What part of my culture is holding me back from understanding someone else\u2019s?<\/span><\/p>\n

Quote: <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYour culture is your limit; if you can\u2019t go beyond it you will remain as a frog of your little lake.\u201d \u2013 Mehmet Murat Ildan<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n