Interesting Facts About Ohio (http://www.50states.com)
1.
Neil
Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. He was from Wapakoneta,
Ohio.
2.
The
Wright Brothers are acknowledged as inventors of the first airplane they were
from Dayton, Ohio.
3.
Seven
United States presidents were born in Ohio. They are: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford
B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H.
Taft, and Warren G. Harding.
4.
Ohio
became the 17th state on March 1, 1803.
5.
Columbus
is the state capital and Ohio's largest city.
6.
Ohio's
state flag is a pennant design. It is the only state flag of that design in the
United States.
7.
Cleveland
became the world's first city to be lighted electrically in 1879.
8.
Ohio
is known as the Buckeye State.
9.
Ohio
has a population of 11,353,140, making it the 7th most populated
state I the USA.
10.
The state
bird is the Cardinal. The state
flower is the scarlet carnation. The state insect is the ladybug.
Cultural Matters:
The following
excerpts and information was taken from the Peace Corps Cross-Cultural workbook
called Culture Matters. Please read
this before your arrival to Ohio University. Although you will be in the U.S.
for less than three months, you may find the information valuable as you
prepare for your experience in Ohio. If you would like to read the entire handbook, please go to multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/library/T0087_culturematters.pdf
We all would like to find a magic
pill for crossing cultures, the ÒrightÓ answer, a simple list of doÕs and donÕts. But crossing cultures is a
dynamic, complex
process, where context is everything. A list of behaviors or a script can only take you so far, for
what is a ÒdoÓ in one set of circumstances might very well be a ÒdonÕtÓ in
another. This workbook will help you function
outside the script, to understand the values and beliefs behind behavior, and, ultimately, how
the local people think.
Cross-cultural training involves not
only learning about the place youÕve come to, but comparing it to what youÕve come from- to the assumptions and values that have
shaped you. In Culture Matters, therefore, you will be examining the
behaviors and values of people in your host country in relation to those of people in your own. This workbook does not intend to suggest
that American culture is necessarily
superior or inferior to your countryÕs culture.
Understanding Culture
Living in the country does expose
you to the host culture, of course, but cross-cultural exposure is not cross-cultural knowledge. Having an experience, in other words, does not
necessarily mean understanding it. You need to make sense of the contact youÕre having, which is what cross-cultural training and this
workbook are designed to do.
Introduction
You may understand much of whatÕs
been happening to you, but many actions,
attitudes, values—entire ways of thinking and behaving—may on
occasion surprise, puzzle, or even shock you. On the other hand, you also may be unaware of
what you have in common with host country nationals. People in any culture, for example, need to find
an acceptable way
to express anger, cope with sadness, manage conflict, show respect, demonstrate love, or
deal with sexuality. As we examine the differences between two cultures, we are often looking at
different ways of
answering the same questions. If you donÕt notice the similarities, itÕs
because the ways in which we act or think differently are what produce the most challenge and
tension for us. What we have in common often goes unnoticed, but it is one of the most
important parts of the experience.
The Goal Is Understanding
In cross-cultural training and
living, the goal is learning about yourself and others. Just as you want to learn another language so that you can communicate with local
people and understand the new world around you, you also will want to learn the silent language of
cultures— your own and
your host countryÕs.
In trying to appreciate the
differences between your culture and the local one, you may feel that youÕre supposed to like and accept all
these differences.
Cultural sensitivity, however, means knowing about and respecting the norms of the local
culture, not necessarily liking them. You may, in fact, be frustrated or even offended by certain acts. In
some cases,
increased understanding will lead to greater respect, tolerance, and acceptance; in others, it just leads
to enhanced awareness. The goal in cross-cultural training is to increase your understanding, to give
you a powerful set
of skills, a framework to make sense of whatever you do so that you will be able to interact
successfully with host country people.
What Is Culture?
Culture has been aptly compared to
an iceberg. Just as an iceberg has a visible section above the waterline, and a larger, invisible section below the water line, so
culture has some aspects that are observable and others that can only be suspected, imagined, or
intuited. Also like an iceberg, that
part of culture that is visible (observable behavior) is only a small part of a much bigger whole.
The numbered items that appear below
are all features of culture.
1. facial expressions 14. notions of modesty
2. religious beliefs 15. foods
3. religious rituals 16. eating habits
4. importance of time 17. understanding of the natural world
5. paintings 18. concept of self
6. values 19. work ethic
7. literature 20. concept of beauty
8. childraising beliefs 21. music
9. concept of leadership 22. styles of dress
10. gestures 23. general world view
11. holiday customs 24. concept of personal space
12. concept of fairness 25. rules of social etiquette
13. nature of friendship
Culture is only one category or
dimension of human behavior, and it is therefore important to see it in relation to the other two
dimensions: the universal
and the personal. The three can be distinguished as follows:
Universal refers to ways
in which all people in all groups are the same
Cultural refers to what
a particular group of people have in common with each other and how they
are different from every other group
Personal describes the
ways in which each one of us is different from everyone else, including those in our group
These are two important points for
you to remember:
1. Because of universal behavior, not everything
about people in a new culture is
going to be different; some of what you already know about human behavior is going to apply in
your host country.
2. Because of personal behavior, not everything you
learn about your host
culture is going to apply in equal measure, or at all, to every individual in that
culture.
How do people acquire their
culture? How do they learn all the behaviors that are regarded as right and wrong in their society? This process, known as cultural
conditioning, goes on in all cultures, but the specific behaviors that people acquire, the
precise content of their conditioning,
varies considerably from group to group. Keep in mind also that while it is behaviors that
people learn through this process, they are automatically learning and internalizing the values and
beliefs behind those
behaviors. When you understand how this process works, you can then understand how two
people from different cultures can behave in radically different ways and both be completely convinced they are right.
While conditioning occurs mostly in
early childhood, adults continue to be conditioned as they acquire new behaviors throughout their
life.
The differences between the two are
these:
1. In Childhood conditioning, infants and
young children learn such basic
activities of life as eating, walking, talking, dressing, bathing, etc.
2. In Adult conditioning, people learn new
behaviors or new ways to perform
already conditioned behaviors, as, for example, learning to use a Turkish toilet or eat with
your hands rather than with
silverware.
We all believe that we observe
reality, things as they are, but what actually happens is that the mind interprets what the eyes see and
gives it meaning; it
is only at this point, when meaning is assigned, that we can truly say we have seen something. In other words, what we see is as much in the mind as it is in
reality. If you consider that the mind of a person from one culture is going to be different
in many ways from the mind of a
person from another culture, then you have the explanation for that most fundamental of all
cross-cultural problems: the fact that two people look upon the same reality, the same example of behavior, and see two entirely different
things.
Any behavior observed across the
cultural divide, therefore, has to be interpreted in two ways:
The meaning given to it by the
person who does the action, and
The meaning given to it by the
person who observes the action
Only when these two meanings are the
same do we have successful communication,
successful in the sense that the meaning that was intended by the doer is the one that was
understood by the observer.
The essence of cross-cultural
understanding is knowing how your own culture is both similar to and different from the local or
ÒtargetÓ culture. For
this reason, those who pursue cross-cultural knowledge must sooner or later turn their gaze
on themselves. People from other cultures, after all, arenÕt different by nature, but only different in
relation to a particular
standard theyÕre being measured against. To even see those differences, therefore, you
have to examine that standard. As was noted earlier, no one American is quite
like any other American, but a handful of core values and beliefs do underlie
and permeate the national
culture. These values and beliefs donÕt apply across the board in every situation, and we
may, on occasion, even act in ways that directly contradict or flaunt them, but they are still at the heart
of our cultural ethos.
It is some of these beliefs, with the characteristic behaviors that come from
them, that are the focus of this chapter.
This activity looks at 13 categories
or aspects of culture and compare the typical American position on these matters with that of your host country. In each case, the American
view has been summarized and illustrated for
you as adapted from the work of several intercultural experts including Edward Stewart,
Milton Bennett, Gary Althen * and several authors in the Interact series from Intercultural Press. It
is your task to
try to construct the your countryÕs position.
1.
Attitude Towards Age
á
Emphasize physical beauty and youth.
á
Fire older people to hire younger people for
less money.
á
Judge a workerÕs worth based on production, not
seniority.
American View—The American
emphasis on concrete achievements and ÒdoingÓ means that age is not highly
valued, for the older you are
the less you can accomplish. Age
is also suspect because new is
usually better in American culture, and the elderly are generally out of touch with
whatÕs new.
2.
Concept of Fate and Destiny
á
You can be whatever you want to be.
á
Where thereÕs a will thereÕs a way.
á
The American dream is rags-to-riches.
American View—The concept of
self-determination negates much of the influence of fate and destiny. Parents tell their children
they can be whatever
they want to be when they grow up. There are few givens in life, and people have little sense of
external limits. Lack of success is their own fault.
3.
View of Human Nature
á
Courts consider a person innocent until he/she
is proven guilty.
á
People should be given the benefit of the doubt.
á
If left alone, people will do the right thing.
á
We need to discover how a vicious killer Òwent
wrong.Ó
American View—People are
considered basically and inherently good. If someone does an evil deed, we look for the explanation, for the reason why the person turned
bad. People can and should be trusted; and
we are fairly open to strangers, and willing to accept them.
4.
Attitude Towards Change
á
New is better.
á
A better way can always be found; things can
always be improved upon.
á
Just because weÕve always done it that way
doesnÕt make it right.
American View—Change is
considered positive, probably because Americans believe in the march of progress and the pursuit of perfection. Improvements will always move us closer
and closer to perfection.
Traditions can be a guide, but they are not inherently superior.
5.
Attitude Towards Taking Risks
á
A low level of personal savings is typical.
á
You can always start over.
á
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
á
A high level of personal bankruptcies is common.
American View—There will
always be enough opportunity to go around, so taking risks, involves no real danger. For the truly ambitious, failure is only
temporary. Experimentation, trial and error are important ways to learn or to improve your product or service.
6.
Concept of Suffering and Misfortune
á
People rush to cheer up a friend whoÕs
depressed.
á
If youÕre unhappy, take a pill or see a
psychiatrist.
á
Be happy.
American View—Because we are
ultimately in control of our lives and destiny, we have no excuse for unhappiness nor misfortune. If you are suffering or unhappy, then
just do whatever it takes to be happy again. If youÕre depressed, itÕs because you have chosen to be.
7.
Concept of Face
á
ItÕs important to tell it like it is, be
straight with people.
á
Confrontation is sometimes necessary to clear
the air.
á
Honesty is the best policy.
American View—In
individualist cultures, no premium is put on saving face because people can take care of
themselves. What other people think is
not so crucial to survival or success. We can say what we think without worrying about hurting
peopleÕs feelings,
and we likewise appreciate
directness.
8.
Source of Self Esteem/Self Worth
á
People judge you by how much money you make.
á
First question at a party is, ÒWhat do you do?Ó
á
Material possessions are a measure of success.
American View—In an
individualist culture, you are what youÕve achieved; that is, you create your own worth rather than receiving it by virtue of birth, position,
seniority, or longevity. Your self- esteem comes from what you have done to earn self-esteem.
9.
Concept of Equality
á
People try to treat everyone the same.
á
While jogging, the President stops at McDonaldÕs
for morning coffee.
á
Putting on airs is frowned upon.
American View—In a strong
reaction to the repressive class structure in Europe, Americans created a culture virtually built around egalitarianism: the notion
that no one is superior to anyone else because of birth, power, fame, or wealth. We are not all the same, but we are all of equal value.
10.
Attitude Towards Formality
á
Telling someone to help themselves to whatÕs in
the refrigerator is common.
á
Using first names with people youÕve just met is
fine.
á
Titles (like Dr. and Mrs.) are often bypassed
once people get to know each other.
American View—Because of the
strong egalitarian ethos, Americans tend to be casual and informal in social
and professional interactions.
Informality is also more necessary in a mobile society where people are always meeting new
people. We donÕt stand on
ceremony, nor use titles or rank in
addressing each other.
11.
Degree of Realism
á
Things will get better.
á
Bad things happen for a reason.
á
It canÕt get any worse.
á
Tag line of fairy tales: ÒThey lived happily
ever after.Ó
American View—Largely because
of the notion that the individual is in control, Americans are generally optimistic. We donÕt see things the way they are, but as
better than they are, particularly if theyÕre not so good. We feel itÕs important to be positive and that there is no reason not to be.
12.
Attitude Towards Doing
á
Doing is preferred over talking.
á
The absent-minded professor, the ivory tower
reflects anti-intellectualism.
á
Be practical.
á
Arts are an adornment of life but not central to
it.
American View—Individuals
survive because they get things done, generally on their own. Words and talk are suspect and cheap; they donÕt put food on the
table or a roof over your head. Pursuits not directly related to the creation of concrete results,
e.g.,
academia, the arts, are less highly valued. What is
practical and pragmatic is
favored over what is beautiful and inspiring.
13.
View of the Natural World
á
Building dams to control rivers.
á
Seeding clouds to produce rain.
á
Erecting earthquake-proof buildings.
á
Spending billions annually on weather prediction.
American View—The natural
world is a kind of mechanism or machine that can be studied and known and whose workings can be predicted, manipulated, and
ultimately controlled. It is not to be feared.
Traits
1. Limited sense of fatalism, of accepting things
as they are
2. Tolerance for differences
3. Historic low level of savings
4. Self-reliance
5. A president, not a king
6. Informality: ÒCall me Bob.Ó
7. The cult of celebrities; biographies of the rich
and famous
8. Little fear of failure
9. Modest limits on immigration
10. Acceptance of criticism or disagreement
with the boss or authority figures
11. Emphasis on achievement
12. Checks and balances in the U.S.
Constitution
13. Identification with work or job
14. Idea of a second chance, of starting
over
15. Minimal supervision from bosses
16. Egalitarianism
17. Virtue of change, of newness
18. Rags to riches syndrome: the
self-made man or woman
19. Waste: the disposable society;
little conservation of resources
20. Frequent job and career changes
21. Big cars, big houses, sprawling
malls
22. Desire to be own boss, self-employed
23. Optimism
24. Mobile society; frequency with which
people move
Many American traits are the direct result either of our geography or of the nature of the immigrants who first settled our country.
The
Cycle of Adjustment
I. Initial Enthusiasm (The Honeymoon)
Time frame: First week or
two in host country
Characteristics: Exposure to
country and culture is limited.
Excitement and enthusiasm
abound.
Everything
is exotic and quaint.
Attitude
toward host country is generally positive.
Little
is expected of you.
II. Initial Country & Culture Shock
Time frame: First few weeks.
Characteristics: Wider exposure
to country and culture means more realistic
and more mixed reactions.
Enthusiasm
is tempered with frustration.
Feelings
of vulnerability and dependence are common.
Homesickness
is frequent.
Nothing
is routine.
Limited
language ability undermines confidence.
III. Initial Adjustment
Time frame: Second month.
Characteristics: Routines are
reestablished.
Some
aspects of the country & culture are now seen as normal.
Adjustment
to the physical aspects of the host country is better.
You
are somewhat more self-reliant.
You
are more positive about your ability to function in country.
IV. Further Culture Shock*
Time period: First few
months; settling-in period.
Characteristics ItÕs your first experience
taking care of yourself in country.
YouÕre having your first encounters
with the work-related aspects of culture, with inital surprises and frustrations.
You miss daily contact with people who understand you and your culture
YouÕre surprised at still having
culture shock to go through.
V. Further Adjustment*
Time period: Post
settling-in.
Characteristics: YouÕre getting
used to being on your own.
YouÕre
better able to take care of yourself.
YouÕre
making friends in the community.
You
speak the language better.
YouÕre more effective at work
because you understand the culture better.
Living and working in another
country, especially in the beginning, is a series of stressful events, interspersed with occasional periods of
calm. For the most
part, this stress is the result of the myriad adjustments you have to make, from the trivial to
the profound, as you do the following:
á
learn new ways of doing things;
á
learn to do things youÕve never done before;
á
stop doing things you can no longer do;
á
adjust to an entirely new set of people;
á
learn to live and work in an environment where
you speak a foreign
language;
á
get used to various new and unusual phenomena;
á
learn to live without all kinds of familiar phenomena.
Everyone has experienced stress
before and has developed
strategies for coping with it but here are a few suggestions on how to cope
with stress.
Things
I Can Do With Other People
Invite people over
Go and visit someone
Telephone someone
Go to a movie, cafe, etc. with
someone
Play a game with someone
Participate in a team sport
Volunteer my services to a needy
cause
Things
I Can Do On My Own
