Wednesday, November 6, 2013

top 10 (all #1) concepts for cultural exchange

Drew Durham’s top ten intercultural concepts for cultural integration and immersion.
  
  1. Awareness and open mindedness!

Open your mind! educate yourself on the cultures of people you interact with.

  1. Open your heart!

 Avoid using or believing in stereotypes of all kinds, and welcome all opportunities to interact with any culture.

  1. Openness!


Be open to new experiences and communications with people who are unfamiliar with and maybe even talk to people you might be hesitant or uncomfortable to interact with.

  1. Listen and be sensitive!

Ask active questions when listening, be aware of non-verbal communication cues, cultural communication norms and physical gestures.

  1. Carefully Respond!
   React to communication styles effectively, talk and listen in rations that respect the commination styles of the culture you are interacting with! Like proximity! Understand context of the communication and the context of what is being discussed.

  1. Celebrate commonalities!

Find commonalities with all people you meet, there is common ground between any two people, our common humanity and inter dependence if nothing else.

  1. Culture shock!
Cultures can make an instant impact on you. Small Culture shock or at least some shockwaves are possible even after just a few interactions with a different culture. I have been moved greatly by talking to migrant farm workers after just two hours my perspective shifted.

  1. Exchange

Do what is needed to ensure balance and respect between people in each intercultural communication!


  1. Progress not perfection
Adapt new knowledge and implement new strategies to increase effectiveness of communication and getting your messages across the cultural divide.

10. Together we can build cultural bridges!

Work together with different organizations in your chose field to increase effectiveness and diversity of communication in intercultural communications!

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