INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2 CULTURE CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT CULTURE SHOCK

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2: CULTURE CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT, CULTURE SHOCK PREPARATION, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, ETC. ADAPTED FROM CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS PRESENTATION AT B 2 P 2017 CONFERENCE

AGENDA • International Development 1 Recap • What is culture? • Culture Shock • Cultural Engagement • Communication • Resources

OATH FOR COMPASSIONATE SERVICE 1. Never do for the poor what they have (or could have) the capacity to do for themselves. 2. Limit one-way giving to emergency situations (crisis situation=YES, chronic situation=NO). 3. Strive to empower the poor through employment, lending, and investing, using grants sparingly to reinforce achievements. 4. Subordinate self-interests to the needs of those being served. 5. Listen closely to those you seek to help, especially to what is not being said – unspoken feelings may contain essential clues to effective service. 6. Above all, do no harm. From Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton

VOLUNTOURISM VS. SERVICE LEARNING • Act first, learn second • Learn first, take action second • Volunteer travel or a volunteer vacation and many people find that doing meaningful volunteer work while also participating in tourism is a great way to get the best of both worlds • Community need focused • Volunteer focused • Financial Sustainability • Learning and engagement

INTERNATIONAL PARTNER ENGAGEMENT Successful Project = Community Engaged and Participating = Good Cross. Cultural Communication ∴ Successful Project = Good Cross-Cultural

WHAT IS CULTURE? WHAT ASPECTS OF OUR LIFESTYLE ARE DICTATED BY OUR CULTURE?

INDIVIDUALIST VS. COLLECTIVIST Individualist: individual identifies primarily with self, with the needs of the individual being satisfied before those of the group. Looking after and taking care of oneself, being self-sufficient, guarantees the well-being of the group. Independence and self-reliance are greatly stressed and valued. Collectivist: One’s identity is, in large part, a function of one’s membership and role in a group, e. g. , the family or work team. The survival and success of the group ensures the well-being of the individual, so that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects oneself. Harmony and the interdependence of group members are stressed and valued.

INDIVIDUALIST VS. COLLECTIVIST

UNIVERSALISM VS. PARTICULARISM Universalism: Certain absolutes apply across the board, regardless of circumstances or the particular situation. Wherever possible, you should try to apply the same rules to everyone in like situations. To be fair is to treat everyone alike and not make exceptions for family, friends, or members of your in-group. Where possible, you should lay your personal feelings aside and look at the situation objectively. While life isn’t necessarily fair, we can make it more fair by treating people the same way. Particularism: How you behave in a given situation depends on the circumstances. You treat family, friends, and your in-group the best you can, and you let the rest of the world take care of itself. Their in-groups will protect them. There can’t be absolutes because everything depends on whom you’re dealing with. No one expects life to be fair. Exceptions will always be made for certain.

MONOCHRONIC VS. POLYCHRONIC Monochronic: Time is the given and people are the variable. The needs of people are adjusted to suit the demands of time—schedules, deadlines, etc. Time is quantifiable, and a limited amount of it is available. People do one thing at a time and finish it before starting something else, regardless of circumstances. Polychronic: Time is the servant and tool of people. Time is adjusted to suit the needs of people. More time is always available, and you are never too busy. People often have to do several things simultaneously, as required by circumstances. It’s not necessary to finish one thing before starting another, nor to finish your business with one person before starting in with another.

GENDER ROLES • Traditional gender roles • Women are typically in charge of the household and caring for the children, but may also have jobs that conform to typical gender roles i. e. be a nurse or caretaker, run a bakery or restaurant, manage a small shop, be a secretary • Men typically perform the more labor intensive and technical tasks i. e. farming, masonry, construction, engineering • Communities have a mix of female and male leaders, but some may only have male leaders

NEW CULTURES • Who are the Nacirema? • (If you have seen this, hush!) • Who did you think they were? • Additional thoughts? • How can we apply this to engaging with new cultures? • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=fdtc. RVduqa. Q&t=36 s

COMMON CONCEPTIONS OF US-AMERICANS • Ignorance of geography, world affairs, and other cultures • Self-assurance and independence • Generosity and charity • Stress upon practical, problem-solving solutions • Wealth and materialism • Arrogance and self-righteousness • Informality • Showing little respect for authority • Loud, uncultured, and naïve behavior and attitudes • Friendliness, they “want to be liked” • Living to work, not working to live • Relatively blunt and direct communication style

CULTURE SHOCK

CULTURE SHOCK – PREPARATION AND COPING • Start local • What cultural stereotypes do you have around you? Here at Purdue? • Why are they there? • What stereotypes do you have about the place you are going? • Preparation • Gather information about your country • Working with people who have been there (EPICS team members, alumni, mentors) • Try to get a second side of the story that you have • Coping • Journal writing • Meeting people • Seek local activities to enjoy • Comfort food

RESOURCES • Alumni and Students from that country • Global Compass Course by Foundation for Global Scholars • Cultural Competency Online Course by Unite for Sight • U. S. Department of State Travel page • Human Development Index (HDI)

CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT • Preparation • Factual Knowledge • Cultural Self-Awareness • Social Issues Knowledge • In Community • Seek to understand cultural norms for effective communication and interaction • Observe, reflect and act to develop your compassionate service • Design Thinking

ENGAGING COMMUNITIES • Community meetings are an excellent way to increase support for the project– go door to door and post flyers about upcoming meetings to help increase attendance • Share pictures of past projects • Share pictures of the project you designed and explain the drawings • Explain the timeline and different aspects of the project • Take part in community activities (i. e. soccer games, help cook, play cards, etc. ) • Share with the community leaders any issues that may occur (i. e. safety concerns, children on site, lack of workers, etc. ) • Relationship building

COMMUNICATION: LISTEN • TED: Shut Up and Listen • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ch. Xs. Lt. Hqfd. M

COMMUNICATION Direct: Meaning is conveyed through explicit statements made directly to the people involved with little reliance on contextual factors such as situation and timing (i. e. what you see is what you get). Indirect: Meaning is conveyed by suggestion, implication, nonverbal behavior, and other contextual cues; for instance, statements intended for one person may be made within earshot of a different person. It is possible that messages will be sent through a thirdparty intermediary. Mostly, however, this style allows one to avoid confronting another person or cause them to lose face (i. e. what you get is what you manage to see).

TIPS FOR DIRECT PEOPLE • Soften your statements and ease into topics gradually. Any kind of adverse news or opinion should be mitigated. Indirect people generally can hear "between the lines" very well, so they will understand you loud and clear. • “Listen between the lines. " Indirect people often couch important information in softer terms that direct people may miss if they are not paying close attention. • Avoid outright demands for answers, such as "Why? " "Why not? " "When can you have this? " "Are you on board with this or not? " You will be at least as effective and far more diplomatic if you say "Could you give us a little background on that? Can you tell us a bit about your thinking/position on that? How do you see this playing out? " • Be patient if you don't get your answers on the spot. Often relationship-oriented groups need to confer privately before giving answers.

COMMUNICATION TIPS • Text • Whatsapp Call • Facebook Messenger Call and Text • Email • Google Hangouts • Skype • Find the method that works best for your community or partner, not you. • Have a consistent advisor or student maintain contact.