T
he layers that make up our colored glasses are many, but they are mainly composed of three elements: Universal – certain fundamental beliefs that all humans share and that rarely change in different cultures. Cultural – formed within your home and natural culture: what your parents taught you, what you learned at school and values that you share with your friends. Individual – personal perceptions of the world around you, unique to each person.
O
nly a small portion of culture is visible. Culture can be compared to an iceberg. With each iceberg there is a part that is visible – above the water. The visible parts are things like clothes, language, personal space, food, gestures, etc. A much larger portion of it is below the surface, not visible. Culture is similar; what lies beneath the surface is the biggest part and can contain hidden information about people’s values, norms, and beliefs of which you as an exchange student are not aware. Other qualities, such as the way authority is viewed or exercised on equality, rules of etiquette, religious beliefs, time management, concepts of beauty, and general attitudes towards personal freedom, gender, and family values may not be “visible” or obvious at first. Examining the links between the surface and the deeper aspects of culture is critical to understanding it. Most of the time, the hidden part determines what the visible parts will look like. As you learn the new culture, consider that what you do not understand may be determined by some of these hidden values or beliefs and how they affect people’s ways of conduct.
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