Comments on: What makes someone good at dealing with other cultures? http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/2009/10/27/what-makes-someone-good-at-dealing-with-other-cultures/ When you went on your Peace Corps assignment you brought with you much more than just your baggage. You brought along your culture. Remember those aspects of your new place that made you feel uncomfortable - something ordinary that you did that may have angered or annoyed others. It might not have been until much later that you realized what had really happened and were able to make some sense out of it. And then there were those moments that you will never forget, those simple moments of magic - a moment of true understanding, a shared laugh or point of view, communication understood, a connection. We want to hear your stories, the moments of discomfort and then insight, or of magic. Tue, 21 May 2013 08:29:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Leo Cecchini http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/2009/10/27/what-makes-someone-good-at-dealing-with-other-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Leo Cecchini Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:25:41 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/?p=28#comment-9 After learning to live with the people of 17 different countries I guess I must have some ability to adapt to other cultures. However, I still reflect on the folk wisdom contained in the old saying, "familiarity breeds contempt." By living with another people do we become mutually more receptive or do we confirm prejudices? After learning to live with the people of 17 different countries I guess I must have some ability to adapt to other cultures. However, I still reflect on the folk wisdom contained in the old saying, “familiarity breeds contempt.” By living with another people do we become mutually more receptive or do we confirm prejudices?

]]> By: Laurette Bennhold http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/2009/10/27/what-makes-someone-good-at-dealing-with-other-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Laurette Bennhold Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:29:20 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/?p=28#comment-8 Empathy and being observant to others are crucial. You mentioned about learning more about yourself by interacting with HCN's-- that is exactly what happens-- we tend to learn more about ourselves and our culture by interacting with others who are different-- what's the best way to learn about your own culture and your own value system? leave it.. And you have peeked my curiosity....what is your disseration on? Empathy and being observant to others are crucial. You mentioned about learning more about yourself by interacting with HCN’s– that is exactly what happens– we tend to learn more about ourselves and our culture by interacting with others who are different– what’s the best way to learn about your own culture and your own value system? leave it..

And you have peeked my curiosity….what is your disseration on?

]]> By: Dave Gurr http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/2009/10/27/what-makes-someone-good-at-dealing-with-other-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Dave Gurr Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:38:12 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/?p=28#comment-7 Empathy ranks high as well. Realistically, I was missing a number of these other virtues when I went to country. I learned more about myself dealing with HCNs. I did not need American Studies, World Affairs and Communism (affectionately referred to as ASWAC) demanded by the Congress to defend or state our own short comings, e.g., segregation, to communicate positively with HNCs. In fact, my admittance of some of our societal shortcomings enabled HNCs to express their societies shortcomings, which enabled me to avoid stepping on cultural toes, and incorporating these into my disseration.. Empathy ranks high as well. Realistically, I was missing a number of these other virtues when I went to country. I learned more about myself dealing with HCNs. I did not need American Studies, World Affairs and Communism (affectionately referred to as ASWAC) demanded by the Congress to defend or state our own short comings, e.g., segregation, to communicate positively with HNCs. In fact, my admittance of some of our societal shortcomings enabled HNCs to express their societies shortcomings, which enabled me to avoid stepping on cultural toes, and incorporating these into my disseration..

]]> By: Laurette Bennhold http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/2009/10/27/what-makes-someone-good-at-dealing-with-other-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Laurette Bennhold Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:18 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/?p=28#comment-6 Certainly being tossed in such a new and different environment helps one in later transitions and it sounds like even though you had a tough transition it helped you deal with your experiences in PC later on! I couldn't agree with you more. Certainly being tossed in such a new and different environment helps one in later transitions and it sounds like even though you had a tough transition it helped you deal with your experiences in PC later on! I couldn’t agree with you more.

]]> By: dsearles http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/2009/10/27/what-makes-someone-good-at-dealing-with-other-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-5 dsearles Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:49:22 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/new-you/?p=28#comment-5 I wonder if anyone ever comes 'naturally' to those qualities listed at the top? I think we (most of us anyway) get those qualities, to the extent we ever do, by being tossed into a new environment and forced to deal with it. My 'tossed into' experience came when I went from being a provincial high school graduate from Bangor, Maine to a freshman on scholarship at Yale where my classmates were uniformly from elite prep schools, where everyone but me knew what a 'cordial' was, where the clothing they wore wasn't even sold in my hometown, and where my 'hick' accent stood out like a red flag. Talk about a tough first semester! I survived, but as a result of that baptism I never again suffered culture shock even as I travelled the world, lived in various countries, and learned to deal with a really 'foreign culture' like PC/W! I wonder if anyone ever comes ‘naturally’ to those qualities listed at the top? I think we (most of us anyway) get those qualities, to the extent we ever do, by being tossed into a new environment and forced to deal with it.

My ‘tossed into’ experience came when I went from being a provincial high school graduate from Bangor, Maine to a freshman on scholarship at Yale where my classmates were uniformly from elite prep schools, where everyone but me knew what a ‘cordial’ was, where the clothing they wore wasn’t even sold in my hometown, and where my ‘hick’ accent stood out like a red flag. Talk about a tough first semester!

I survived, but as a result of that baptism I never again suffered culture shock even as I travelled the world, lived in various countries, and learned to deal with a really ‘foreign culture’ like PC/W!

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