tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36063352302682806002024-03-05T16:16:03.675-08:00Intercultural AdventureAlexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-43242901699647197202013-02-14T10:14:00.000-08:002013-02-14T10:14:02.613-08:00Its A TRAP!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The thing about a trap is that the boundaries are set on all four</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">sides.....Then they start to close in.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">On one side, hundreds of police are roaming the streets. All have these</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">long sticks. A guide tells me "those sticks are for striking, nothing</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">else." Black Toyota pick up trucks zip up and down the boulevards. They are</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">filled with police all holding the long striking sticks. Sticks poke off the trucks in random ways, giving the pickup a spiky, porcupine appearance. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The other side a pocket full of worthless money, an empty stomach and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">platters full of delicious street food in the French speaking Capitol</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">of Togo.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yesterday the hostel proprietor showed me the safe room. A cage that</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">locks on the inside. "The last time Togo had elections, there were</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">riots, many were killed. We don't suspect we will be targeted." As I start to regret my timing of this</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">visit to Togo, West Africa, the other side starts to pull in close.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">While standing in an empty bank with a machine gunned guard, and a</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">slick dude with a big toothy smile who entered a minute after I did. I</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">wait for the teller to arrive at the window. I never have this much</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">cash on me unless I am changing it, and I feel the walls start to close in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">on me. Just one knowing glance between the slick looking dude and the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">machine gunner and I know the trap it set.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">CLICK is the sound you hear in those Vietnam movies when the soldier</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">steps on a land mine. In the movie, all soldiers freeze on the spot, a trickle of sweat runs down the unlucky victim. After that knowing glance, my body freezes, the sound in my head was a precise and tightly wound CLICK.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I stand there motionless. I feel as though I am stuck in a box. The</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">bank teller at this point is telling me about money transfer</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">restrictions around election day, but my mind is racing to get out. My</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">body shoves blood to my legs, which I feel in a warm rush. My body's way</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">of preparing me to run. However, my mind knows that I can't outrun</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">bullets.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If you have a thick piece of rope that is tied in a knot, sometimes</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">you can just push against the rope to loosen it. So I pushed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As the smooth talker, with the toothy smile, tried to weave a story, I</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">shook his hand in one of those long West African handshake kind of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">ways. Except, I applied pressure to the handshake in a dominate</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">American type of way.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Absolute Confidence is my to push out of whatever plan this guy has with</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">the machine gunner, my money and himself.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I caught his eyes and locked in an unbreaking gaze. "I'm so glad to</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">meet you. And think we will meet again" The warmth of my words were</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">frozen by the strength of my shake and cut of my stare.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I turned and walked out of the bank and straight towards the porcupine.</span></div>
Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-60313783436364990252011-10-20T12:49:00.001-07:002011-10-20T22:23:05.966-07:00Intercultural Baby Names<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBySLKnkkzClvmZhDWzxy5E3rs46bPHolRlPidmGI07LDQDHgGyNMJYFhW8hiFPaaRfK2BuLeb2DLLD6XxQlciuFihiey6Q_4ehhIRH-7eYTcLX9GfpnGrlFfsCQifPq2-OTmoTt0UeN-J/s1600/Proud+Dad.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBySLKnkkzClvmZhDWzxy5E3rs46bPHolRlPidmGI07LDQDHgGyNMJYFhW8hiFPaaRfK2BuLeb2DLLD6XxQlciuFihiey6Q_4ehhIRH-7eYTcLX9GfpnGrlFfsCQifPq2-OTmoTt0UeN-J/s320/Proud+Dad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665665233823720546" border="0" /></a>When trying to learn about other cultures in a deep and meaningful way, it is best to learn about your own culture. I adapted this approach to choosing a baby name. I rather enjoyed my name as a child and an adult. It seems that whenever I travel to another country, people have their own pronunciation for Alexander. I was recently as far as Ethiopia. When I introduced myself, people would feel a relationship. “Alex, I have a brother Alemeyu, that is Alex in Amharic”. Its like wherever I go, I have a name that connects me with the place. I am Sasha in Russia, Alejandro in the Spanish speaking world and İskender in the Turkey. In this way my name and its intercultural adaptability represent my values.<br /><br />The name my partner and I came up with is Eden. The name derives from the old testament and therefore has relevance in areas where Judaism, Christianity and Islam are relevant. In areas of the world where the big three religions are not as relevant, the name can work as well. The Garden of Eden is a Jungian archetype. This means that the name could be translated to languages beyond the Western tradition.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-39950491562854618202011-09-11T16:18:00.000-07:002011-09-11T16:37:10.019-07:00Japan and September Eleventh 2001<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJlguVEaSRgMfSvRaZ1ZFh868zOCP9spIxjIZHiuLTzWd_kUQF_2fFfQw5OsIFuJE6PH9LbsqPHA6-Z8PSAmhoY5bkg84YjDyDOZSOxORhfL2SJ7xcbfyQtyfT8qw4OV1vxCQpm-7tPII/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-09-11+at+6.29.48+PM.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJlguVEaSRgMfSvRaZ1ZFh868zOCP9spIxjIZHiuLTzWd_kUQF_2fFfQw5OsIFuJE6PH9LbsqPHA6-Z8PSAmhoY5bkg84YjDyDOZSOxORhfL2SJ7xcbfyQtyfT8qw4OV1vxCQpm-7tPII/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-09-11+at+6.29.48+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651249787518564834" border="0" /></a><br />He leaned over the arm of the chair and showed me the text on his phone. Two images of a tiny flame flipped back and fourth in a flip book animation of a flame. "Look at that," he said, “I didn't know you could send animation through these things.” looked at the flame, then read the text. AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK. Busy noises of keyboard and mouse clicks that filled the internet cafe were silent. The combination of the crude image and my colleague's mild response ignited a little spark in me. I faced forward and turned to the glowing box of information. I typed the address for the NY Times, but my response timed out. The storied newspaper was gone, and the spark ignited into a flame. I typed the address for Yahoo and saw the headline that confirmed it. The country that I just left 5 days earlier was under attack. The second tower had fallen, but there was no more sense to be made. Comments under the headline blamed the Zionists and Illuminati, but actual news was scarce. Who attacked, what was the context of this? As the flame inside me was building, it narrowed my focus. In one sweeping motion, I got up, paid for the internet time, and left.<br /> With each step towards my apartment, the manic scene of purpose started to burn hotter. My feet fell flatter on the ground with my forehead tipped towards my destination. I saw a fellow foreigner in the train station. I had only been in Japan a few days and already started to identify myself as the group of foreigners. He was one of my people. I could see from the ease in his step he was not aware of the doom that had fallen. I wanted to reach out in some way and spread the news, somehow spread the flame the burned inside me. I thought of saying "The towers are down, the U.S. is under attack, what can you tell me?" But I stopped myself and kept walking.<br /> My mind raced, I'm in Japan should I be?, what about my family?, will the attack spread?, Then I remembered, my dad regularly went to the Twin Towers for business. I had to check on him. I ran to the AM PM, the closest convenience store. I entered and ignored the usually powerful aroma of boiled rice and fish snacks. I saw a fresh faced attendant and an empty store. "How could his face not reflect the terror that was happening?", I thought. Despite not speaking Japanese, I thought that the sheer intensity of the moment would allow us to escape our distinct language. I made a gesture for making a phone call, my hands purposefully enacting the game of charades, by my eyes burning with an intensity. While he was speaking, he picked up a phone card. I pointed to the phone booth outside, hoping the equation of phonecard you are holding+phone I am pointing to out there, could be solved. He put the card down and slid another off the rack. He placed the card on the table, I studied it and tried to decipher how to work the thing. I figured the card worked the same as in the US, put down my last 1,000 yen, and walked straight to the phone.<br /> Still, as I recall, I don't know how the next event fully transpired. With all my focus and single minded determination to check on my family, you would think that I could have been more careful. I placed the phone card on the back of phone so I could read it while dialing. Then the thin card slipped in a narrow crevice between the phone and the booth. I could not retrieve it. Where on earth could it go? I thought. I shook every thing in the phone booth, but it was all secured. I started to put together the situation. My money was gone, I didn't have access to money till the banks open tomorrow, I was looking at a phone that would connect me with the people I love, but couldn't use it. A could shiver ran straight up my back and I suddenly felt alone. I squinted at the phone and looked at it for what seemed like the first time. The contours of the phone came into sharp focus, the colors of the phone radiated. I don't think I have ever focused so hard on anything my whole life. This device is what connects me to the ones I love, I must solve it. I could not fine a solution.<br /> I walked back into the AM PM again and tried to bargain for another phone card with a wallet empty of money and a receipt for the phone card I just lost in the phone booth. My increasingly frantic game of charades were not succeeding, for good reason, what I wanted was off the script. What I was asking for was charity, "give me a card for free because I am out of money." Things were going nowhere and my emotions were a raging blaze of desperation, purpose and determination. The fire inside me was burning out of control. In my desperation, I depicted the two planes smashing into the twin towers with my hand and arm and tried to convey my concern for my dad. I don't know exactly what was communicated with my manic gesticulations and wavering voice on the verge of frustrated sobs, but something was communicated. He quickly gave me a card, fearful of what I would do next.<br /> I felt my pointer and thumb grip tightly the thin paper card, pushing the blood out of both fingertips. I marched back to the phone, entered the code and my mom picked up the phone. "Its Alex" I said....then the line went dead. I dialed the code again to learn that I had spent my 500 yen and only had 500 more. I dialed again my mom picked up again and knew what to do, "Dad's, ok, everybody we know is ok...." the line went dead after that and the card was out of money. My fire was quenched for a time.<br /> Later that week I returned to the AM PM to buy groceries. There was a sign in the window that said "We regret the events of September 11th." I purchased my ramen noodles and left the store. It wasn't until several months later that I realized that I was the only English speaker that shopped at that store. The sign was written and pasted on the front door of AM PM for me and me alone. As my understanding of Japan increased, I realized how special that sign was. Due to hierarchical society, the boss of the the store or maybe even the regional director must have authorized the sign. Therefore, the story of my desperate attempt with the phone card must have spread. Also, Japan is a country where the group is vastly more important than the individual. Therefore, the fact that a sign which most customers could not read was pasted on the front door extremely powerful. The flame that burned inside me spread like wildfire, and compassion was left in its wake.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-89113482689818204022011-08-15T20:33:00.000-07:002011-08-15T20:54:35.932-07:00This is candy<a href="http://youtu.be/tfOsjV7TXoc"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tfOsjV7TXoc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe></a>
<br />
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pxoB6MhmbIg" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>
<br />Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-17691475370838820432011-07-06T21:07:00.000-07:002011-07-17T19:13:30.488-07:00Stereotypes the world over<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">“All Muslims are terrorists and all Protestants are copiers”-An Ethiopian man sharing his view with me while in a car.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">While doing an intercultural adventure, it is important to find people with strong opinions and who are willing to share. Perhaps it is because I am from Minnesota, where people are less obvious about their views. I believe that behind every opinionated person with strong and perhaps negative views, there are a dozen silent people with similar views. I find exploring the negative options of others especially illuminating. Let’s take the “All Muslims are terrorists” line for example.<span style=""> </span>From this quote I can understand a few things about the gentleman. Considering there is a 32% population of Muslims and a dearth of Muslim terrorist attacks in Ethiopia, I can deduce that the man has formed his opinion based on media or gossip.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">What I found the more interesting portion of this comment is the assertion that all Protestants are copycats. This indicates a few things. First, I could deduce, he is proud of his Ethiopian Christian Orthodox tradition and recognizes the value of its time tested traditions. Second, he places value on the age of the religion. Christian Orthodoxy traces its origins to the beginning of the faith, consequently one could understand how the Protestant tradition could be seen as a copy of an older tradition.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I find stereotypical views like these so insightful, for the sheer reason that they are not often expressed. How many other Orthodox Ethiopians, I wonder, view Muslims as terrorists and Protestants as copiers? Can I use this insight to covertly shape a more tolerant message with others I meet along the way? With this knowledge I feel more compelled to share my positive experiences with Muslims with others I meet in my Ethiopian journey.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Eventually I felt obligated to share my experience. "I have Muslim friends who are not terrorists." I felt it best to stick with my direct experience, rather than something more abstract, such as "Powerful groups will often terrorize others in order to obtain control." Or something more pointed, such as "I know plenty of Muslim Oromo people in Minneapolis who say they were terrorized by Orthodox people." People are more receptive to new ideas, when they don't feel like they have to justify their ideas. Really, what is the guy going to say, "No you don't have friends that are Muslims." That would just be ridiculous. He did not say this however. He changed the subject to how he would like to see Yani live in concert.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Intercultural Tip: The best argument seldom influences. Often, your personal experience will introduce enough doubt into a rigid world view to slowly influence.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-90852398918303970612011-07-06T21:06:00.000-07:002011-07-11T23:04:13.361-07:00Ethiopia Archives: Mass of Humanity<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Not only was there technological differences to live in Ethiopia, but there were also cultural similarities. Jessi was telling a story of how there was a mass of humanity in Ethiopia. This “mass of humanity” is how I describe the experience where we were always shaking hands, bumping shoulders, squeezed into spaces with others and holding other peoples’ babies in Ethiopia. The “mass of humanity” is the one over arching experience that I had while in Africa both when<span style=""> </span>I went to West Africa in 2007 and most recently that I enjoyed. With it you get this sense that you are a part of a massive, shared human experience. Although it could be considered gross, crowded or stressful, there is something about hearing adults laughing, while a baby cries, while smelling everyone’s’ sweat while squeezed into a mini bus that seats 9 actually seating about 14. Although not something one would traditionally be described as pleasant, it gives you a sense of this raw human experience that we are all sharing together. Everybody eats, sweats, cries, laughs and dies no matter what language is spoken or technology is possessed. And although one can understand this concept intellectually or can rehearse the previous sentence and repeat it. It is the experience of being on a crowded bus that one can really feel it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>I was surprised to hear of my Dad remember when he moved from his small town that he shared with his 13 other immediate siblings, that he missed this as well. He remembers being in Minneapolis while working at a big accounting firm and missing the constant noise, physical attention and constant humanity that was his life in the small town. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Although the “mass of humanity” is an experience I was able to put words to due to my experience in Africa, it is an understanding that belongs not to a single continent, but to a way of life that is more rural. In one way I felt that this experience that I had while in Africa brought me closer to my parents. It was almost as if I had to all the way to Africa to understand the living situations my parents grew up in while in their own rural “village.”</p>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-27091530910133156362011-07-06T21:00:00.000-07:002011-07-07T16:04:06.044-07:00Mass of humanity near and far<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> While discussing the village life Jessi and I experienced while in Ethiopia, stories started pouring forth from my parents. I learned for the first time that my extended family didn’t have a running water toilet in their house until the 1980s. I also learned that my mom went to a one room K-8 school where all students would use a single outhouse for a toilet. Before eating lunch each student in this k-8 school would reuse water from a single basin to wash their hands. The last student to wash her hands got the dirtiest water.<span style=""> </span>It was funny how Jessi and I thought we were having this real village life experience with limited electricity and running water. To our parents, this was nothing new. I am a little disappointed in myself that I wasn’t able to bring these stories about my parent's history to people we met outside the main city in Ethiopia. It would have been nice to share with them because it would illustrate how America is not this shining metropolis on the hill where every family and household had running water and electricity since its invention. Perhaps it would have given the people we spoke with the confidence to see how technological development is a developmental process.<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: Technology can either widen or shorten cultural divides.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-85757443385415885092011-06-22T09:18:00.001-07:002011-06-29T11:20:36.968-07:00Robot market and the perfect price<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLYd_hny7_cfk4wRGxMauCRMYgJ5iqYrSad4Q7sQDK9nC1yj6i9W8T9eB1oXEysG4yWQBarjCtRriGDSMstA43F-zhW3IOKcpBqyy82GxuTWv37YiK1MZppDwcjPMWq3icBqZFPDk1e7E/s1600/Me+an+AISMO.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLYd_hny7_cfk4wRGxMauCRMYgJ5iqYrSad4Q7sQDK9nC1yj6i9W8T9eB1oXEysG4yWQBarjCtRriGDSMstA43F-zhW3IOKcpBqyy82GxuTWv37YiK1MZppDwcjPMWq3icBqZFPDk1e7E/s400/Me+an+AISMO.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623706377970453058" border="0" /></a><br />I remember from economics class how firms try to navigate pricing. On one side of the spectrum, if you negotiation with each and every customer, you will be able to get the perfect price for each customer. But this takes too long plus it all depends on the skill of the negotiator. So companies decide to set a standard price. This way companies don't have to train every sales rep in negotiation, plus they can conduct business quickly.<br />Imagine at the grocery store<br /><br />Clerk: "One can of beans, four dollars."<br />You:"Four dollars, this is absurd. I will give you a quarter"<br />Clerk: "A quarter, no sir. That will not even cover the cost of the can those beans are in. A dollar, this is my best price"<br />You: "Ok a dollar."<br />Clerk: Scans beans and sends them down to the bags. Picks up other can of beans. "One can of beans, 5 dollars."<br />You: "Five dollars, you just sold me the identical one for a dollar"<br />Clerk: "Everyone knows you need two cans of beans to make anything."<br /><br />This situation is absurd in a western style supermarket. Supermarkets make up for their lack of negotiating a perfect price for each item by volume.<br /><br />But what if supermarkets could train a robot. A robot that is an expert negotiator and has an unlimited amount of time. Time and negotiation skills are the only two things that are keeping supermarkets from getting the perfect price.<br /><br />I found the robot. And it is inside the ticket pricing of airline ticket sales.<br /><br />As I was booking my flight to Portland. I stepped away from the computer to eat dinner. When I came back, the ticket price increased $100 dollars. I couldn't believe it. I saw red glowing letters in the lower corner, 2 seats left. I remembered this feeling from the markets of India. If you come back to a vendor, he knows you are desperate and can jack the price. But,how could the airlines know it was me coming back?<br />I logged out, then searched without logging in, to see if I could mask my identity. The price had jumped by another 50 dollars. This was getting ridiculous. I was feeling jerked around. I logged in via a virtual connection, so there was no way the airlines could trace my computer. The price was holding steady at 150 dollars above what I initially thought I was going to pay. I pulled up Amtrak and realized that their prices are a joke. I pulled up a driving map to Portland and realized I couldn't make it in time. I decided to sleep on it. The next morning I searched again and the price dropped back down to the original level I was set on.<br /><br />I don't know what sort of robot I was negotiating with, but I dealt with it the same way I did the in markets of India. I just kept asking for the same price over and over again, refusing the answer I didn't want to hear.<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: Specific cultural skills are not always culturally bound. Find ways to apply skills learned abroad in the new context back home.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-23510888331222874382011-06-20T16:36:00.000-07:002011-06-27T09:28:49.639-07:00Intercultural Adventure India Part Three<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lq1z2Bc7hu4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-4008615047281571632011-06-20T16:35:00.000-07:002011-06-24T13:25:04.730-07:00Intercultural Adventure India Part Two<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZuuvaA_TUQw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-48900267742523432052011-06-20T16:33:00.001-07:002011-06-23T15:03:56.901-07:00Intercultural Adventure in India<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8nKfin2rsU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-14442280767416156242011-06-15T21:37:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:03:50.360-07:00Truth in conversationWhile taking a bus home from the University of Minnesota the other day I sat next to a young man from France. I remember beginning the typical intellectual conversation that rides home on the dedicated university bus usually provide. However, something was different this time. I noticed my conversation partner drawing me into a debate. I initially tried to find points of agreement, but then I was quickly served with a "but" or "however". I soon realized the nature of interaction would be a polite debate. For the uninitiated, a polite debate is one typical of a cafe in Paris or a coffee shop in Vienna. The conversations are philosophical and challenging. I relished this chance and enjoyed debating the role of the West for the next seven minutes.<br /><br /> Many French people I have met seem to have a more nuanced handle on the art of conversation. I find myself debating more, making connections between various concepts more, and discussing things for their own sake more often with people from France. Perhaps it is due to the salon culture, perhaps it is due to the extended vacations or longer lunches. Something in the French culture places value on conversation, ideas, and the "the world of forms" as Plato would call it. An American may respond to this form of conversation by saying, "Less talk, more action."<br /><br />In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Geography-Thought-Asians-Westerners-Differently/dp/0743216466">The Geography of Thought </a>Nisbett argues that the West's conversational culture is rooted in Mediterranean and especially Greek geography. Because Greece was a mixing pot of various cultures that developed on the surrounding islands and across the navigable Mediterranean sea, the culture needed to develop a way to explore an acceptable truth across cultures. They did this by separating ideas from identities. This way people from two cultures could disagree with each others ideas, but not resent each others identities.<br /><br />The result of this geography is still experienced today in my conversation with the gentleman from France. As one who enjoys debate, but who is also sensitive to face saving, I am glad the West developed a way to separate ideas from identities.<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: If you think you are just chatting, keep in mind that the function of conversation is different in different cultures.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-32937907542620473742011-06-02T14:53:00.000-07:002011-06-06T18:49:48.054-07:00How to make failure cheap or How you know a bad dealWhile working with entrepreneurs, I notice they develop an ability to make failure cheap. This idea is fleshed out by <a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/anthony/2009/03/why_focusing_on_innovation_suc.html">Scott Anthony </a>a bit. Essentially it is ability to design a system so that if and when failure occurs it does not cost very much.<br />I naturally apply this method when traveling. When I went to India, it had been nearly a year since I had experience negotiating cross culturally. My negotiation skills were fairly weak and knew I needed to get the bad deals out of the way in a hurry. So I sought out some inexpensive items to being with and negotiate away.<br />The first deal was for these furry slippers that would be perfect for my dad. I casually look at them then begin to negotiate. I hit all the points of the deal.<br />1. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Interjecting</span> deal talk with relationship talk. I learned the young man was from Kashmir.<br />2. Grouping items, so that you have multiple elements within the negotiation. I added another pair of slippers and a hat. I would add volume and drop price, then drop volume and and keep price.<br />3. Force the deal. I put the money I was willing to pay in his hand.<br /><br />Once I finished the deal and the Kashmiri guy accepted the money. He started packing my items in a nice bag. This was a bad sign. If you strike a really good deal, the vendor will just take your money and let you walk away with the items without a bag. By his courteous bagging of my items, I figured I payed about 15% too much.<br />After the slippers were bagged, the guy told me that if I was ever around I should enjoy tea with him. This was a further indicated that I paid too much. He was really happy with the outcome of the deal. After this invitation, I suspect I paid about 20% over what more savvy bargainers pay.<br />Then he said something I will never forget, "you are my friend. No, my brother. You are my brother." He probably said this because he will use what I paid for a down payment on his dowry. I must have really gotten taken.<br /><br />It turns out that I had forgotten to walk away at least twice. I had also forgotten to bargain in earlier in the day, as I have more time to shop around. I was rusty. I am glad I got this deal out of way for inexpensive slippers.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-83607055924232380582011-05-25T16:03:00.000-07:002011-05-26T09:33:21.732-07:00Which of these things are not like the otherIf you have ever watched Sesame Street, you would know the game "Which of these things are not like the other".<br /><br />Here is an example<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/etuPF1yJRzg" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />Lets play the game for things in India! In each of these images, there is a series of items. See which one does not fit our culture.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbueBM_V1spxpvC-AV64MLCZnH-6vCw532buSJPUFBAPQ4CRSsN__V_fw5nXa1FPMdVtk_IPxd0MR18COVITNIbR-haC6JXNF77HNHz9atY2QYOOhPpq1p3iD97O9g20zRMofZfB07yIRT/s1600/2011-05-25_18-12-04_332.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbueBM_V1spxpvC-AV64MLCZnH-6vCw532buSJPUFBAPQ4CRSsN__V_fw5nXa1FPMdVtk_IPxd0MR18COVITNIbR-haC6JXNF77HNHz9atY2QYOOhPpq1p3iD97O9g20zRMofZfB07yIRT/s400/2011-05-25_18-12-04_332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610796154515434322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56WOgcZCf-lrE6Tf7qP2_z1Y_qgfQqqu8Vg6NStaYa51uF4WoqPQ8gUd20yuCjDDC-_43dtfOO8_jBQaEbu3_iMKMGDqncP-nsizfCNVrjTgi_FHL8uyy-oNueKImimSMYyE10XsIvinH/s1600/DSC01681.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqFgb-iYxTRFkR8oC5m2tWkfzkJrYwNlwlKX6cWXVgH0VAsZ5ArcW6HdQrYDcin-auFTb9FVmzZQ9UUGIGheitcc7giFZNvMJn12nX3A7W4DS4aAOF2TjLVszeBUPYThr_6Ui8OHwW7uc/s1600/DSC01787.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqFgb-iYxTRFkR8oC5m2tWkfzkJrYwNlwlKX6cWXVgH0VAsZ5ArcW6HdQrYDcin-auFTb9FVmzZQ9UUGIGheitcc7giFZNvMJn12nX3A7W4DS4aAOF2TjLVszeBUPYThr_6Ui8OHwW7uc/s400/DSC01787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610793964640278514" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsbKdxSKBF981SEnvRkoGUO83zUsee7bNfE0qk3dLb1X1EQ5rQufj44Pg-De5gWqj0jNd-T3hCYwv1KaNpyk67JPLTB70IOq74RqeTbVl8qaBuQzTQkuBoQyYQBTQuNS-oCwJSxO7uYcY/s1600/DSC01750.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsbKdxSKBF981SEnvRkoGUO83zUsee7bNfE0qk3dLb1X1EQ5rQufj44Pg-De5gWqj0jNd-T3hCYwv1KaNpyk67JPLTB70IOq74RqeTbVl8qaBuQzTQkuBoQyYQBTQuNS-oCwJSxO7uYcY/s400/DSC01750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610793677618151202" border="0" /></a>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-86089953118324295512011-05-23T09:58:00.001-07:002011-05-25T14:29:30.975-07:00American Negotiation<span style="font-size:100%;">One thing traveling in a developing country does to you is develop your sense of what is possible. As I mentioned in previous blogs, everything is negotiable. This realization of the possibility sticks with me weeks after I return. Little did the agent at the rental car agency know.<br />I got this call on the phone asking if I had received the packet of information regarding damage to the rental car I had recently rented in Denver. I mentioned that I did not and it turns out that they had sent it to the wrong address. I rented that car several weeks ago, but I remember my interaction at the return station. The car check in person noticed a small indentation in the hood of my car and mentioned I would be getting a phone call. I didn't respond at the time because I was focused on catching a flight. But, here was the call, several weeks later and I was ready.<br />Because you Intercultural Adventurers know from the post<br /></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://interculturaladventure.blogspot.com/2011/05/nothing-is-available-but-everything-is.html">Negotiation in a land where "Nothing is available, but everything is possible"</a></span></h3><br />that all things are negotiable, I will structure this post similarly.<br /><br />Indian Step One: Order Chai.<br />In India, I ordered chai for various reasons. But this tactic was not available. I wanted the same effect, so I modified. I ordered the agent to send the packet to me overnight.<br />This does two things<br />First, it enriches the power dynamic. He may be able to order me to pay for damages, but I can still order that he send the packet to the correct address.<br />Second, I am acknowledging the culture of an agent in a call center. Having worked in a call center myself as a kid, I remember that following the process was all I was allowed to do. I could do something extra, such as overnight a package, if it was contributing to the process.<br /><br />Indian Step Two: Interrupted for advice.<br />Again, I needed to modify this for the more direct culture. I asked the agent if he was from Denver.<br />My intent with this question was as follows.<br />First, it subtlety establishes the fact that he was no where near the event and does not know the details of the car, the agency or the employees in question.<br />Second, it gives the negotiation time to breathe. It lets the agent know that this will not be a pro forma interaction.<br />Third. When one asks questions, they are establishing a power dynamics. Think of cop movies, "We are the ones asking the questions here."<br /><br />American Step: Debate.<br />This is something I learned not to do in most other countries. In the rest of the world, deals happen because of relationships between individuals, not the salience of points won in honest non-personal debate, matter. But with this agent, I was on my home turf.<br />First attack the subject of the matter: "I disagree with the allegation that there is damage. While I did notice something on the hood of the car after the check in person pointed it out. It was invisible in most light conditions, and I had to bend over to see what the person talking about."<br /><br />Second attack the process: "Furthermore I disagree that the way in which I was held liable for damage to the vehicle. When I rented out the car, the sales agent held report where I should have been able to indicate previous damage to the car. On top of that the sales agent quickly walked me around the car. Had I been given the report or given the time to fully inspect the vehicle, I may have noticed the small indentation on the hood.<br /><br />Third, feign insult while demanding credibility. "I didn't jump on the hood or park my car under trees with falling branches. Furthermore, I would not wipe off the evidence such as marks or scratches on the car if that were the case. I would own up to it. I don't even know what caused this indentation"<br /><br />Indian Step Three: Flatter<br />While flattery in America will not get you as far as in other countries, face saving is still something to consider. After all, if I were to get this guy angry, he could come after me as a matter of spite. After all, he has nothing vested in the entire case. "I know you are just doing your job and you don't make the rules. But damage was there before I rented the car and the process for determining that I am liable is weak. You can't control these things. " On top of this, I wanted to give him a way to take the high road, or at least tell his boss that he took the high road. "This is my first rental car experience with your company. I have many years left in my rental car life. I am going to rent a car in the future, so I don't know that, from a business perspective this is really worth it. Anyway send the paperwork my way and we will see what happens."<br /><br />I got a call 20 minutes later<br />"We determined the damage to the vehicle to be pre-existing."<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: Your experience in other cultures are not locked there. Integrate what works.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-26811310142576896542011-05-20T22:11:00.000-07:002011-05-23T09:54:02.448-07:00The middle class and high fives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXajp166P_37P-DolEJWBk_lIvcuumJSRa8r_Zj9Rpkj44UvRhiATAkCIo7qOh-CwlQ_fasxHwWcnnTy6kbx-9OpL1HMizlhFv7GvknSsCloqd1x4pim4GWsidcQQfznY3bxJ_HfXXNnS/s1600/DSC01830.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXajp166P_37P-DolEJWBk_lIvcuumJSRa8r_Zj9Rpkj44UvRhiATAkCIo7qOh-CwlQ_fasxHwWcnnTy6kbx-9OpL1HMizlhFv7GvknSsCloqd1x4pim4GWsidcQQfznY3bxJ_HfXXNnS/s400/DSC01830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609955041302716306" border="0" /></a><br />One of the nice things about visiting a country that has an emerging middle class, is that you can meet tourists from the same country. While I was traveling in Africa or even South East Asia, the only other travelers were from out of the country. One of the ways a traveler can tell if there is an emerging middle class, is if your are being asked to pose in photos while at famous sites.<br />While Jessi and I were at the Taj Mahal, we were part of the scenery for many of the Indians visiting from the rest of the country. Of course, no one in Agra (the city of the Taj) would want to take a photo of a foreign tourist, they see them all the time.<br />After posing in a dozen photos with individuals and families visiting, I started to want more. The whole process started to feel a little transactional. The family comes up with the camera, often times right after they had seen someone else take a picture with us, and point to the camera and then my face. After the picture is snapped, they walk away.<br />There was one group of 6 boys and each of them wanted an individual picture with Jessi and I. The funny thing was that they each wanted to wear the same hat in the picture. So one would sit next to us, his friend would take a picture, then he would quickly get up and exchange the camera for a hat the newly photographed model was wearing. Seeing this transaction take place time after time for six teenage boys seemed a bit surreal.<br />This was the experience where I decided to make something happen. I decided on high fives. Why not engage in the unique American ritual of high fives after taking a picture, or a snap as folks seemed to call it?<br />Many of the people did not know what to do when I put in my hand up in the high five motion. After I put my hand up for the high five and got strange looks, I had, what I can only describe, as cultural microshock. A brief and embodied realization that I was in a different culture. I had given thousands of high fives in my life. To put my hand out there and have it hang was, was hard to describe. Dispite people wearing Nike shoes and taking <span style="font-style: italic;">snaps </span>with Sony cameras, the high five was still an alien practice. I had to demonstrate with Jessi and within a few seconds the high five was properly executed. In the hot sun I started imagining myself as the Johnny Appleseed of high fives. As the white marble reflected the hot noon time sun towards my brain, I could envision Indian tourists going back to their homes and giving high fives. How far could it go?<br /><br />High fives in the boardrooms of Wirpo and Tata corporation?<br />You may now high five the bride.<br />The leaders of Pakistan and India solidifying a peace deal with a jumping high five?<br /><br />It really was hot that day.<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: Children approach the unknown with a sense of playfulness. Adopting this approach will help you to create new categories and ways of knowing . At the very least, it will foster a sense of humility towards the unknown.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-1509325732617346372011-05-19T08:59:00.001-07:002011-05-19T09:20:04.967-07:00The loud wrong songsSometimes when speaking in or reading our own language, we can be fooled into thinking we are communicating in our own culture. The idea of what constitutes items in a category is often what seems to fool people. I remember when I was traveling in Uganda and a city planner was complaining about a lack of zoning.<br />"They are building night clubs and churches right in the neighborhoods. It is terrible."<br />When I first heard this, I applied my own U.S. American, Puritan, framework. I interpreted him to be saying,<br />"Isn't it awful that you can build a den of drinking and sin right next to the house of the lord."<br />However, after a difficult night of trying to sleep with the sounds of music and merry making pouring out the the nightclub and into my window, then being worken up at the crack of dawn with enthusiastic Pentecostal exclamations of faith out of the church and in through my window, did I really understand the Ugandan urban planner. He was talking about the noise. I had forgotten how loud churches are in Africa.<br /><br />Here is an intercultural test. Read the sign below. What doesn't fit the series.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kDHDtz6sjOFD2Zj1vPXBWoBdOY6rhy0O7RCqm2MBvF5r4BlVJyCu-LsvMzitjgWY8poY81VFtXsSfnAjwdf49n9MuDo7JllnIhoKNgMBXBP55L2cqu-iNcv-MeJnzJJXDFytNMPTc54W/s1600/Harassing+Women.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kDHDtz6sjOFD2Zj1vPXBWoBdOY6rhy0O7RCqm2MBvF5r4BlVJyCu-LsvMzitjgWY8poY81VFtXsSfnAjwdf49n9MuDo7JllnIhoKNgMBXBP55L2cqu-iNcv-MeJnzJJXDFytNMPTc54W/s400/Harassing+Women.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608458817597375522" border="0" /></a><br />Intercultural Tip: We group things in categories to make our minds efficient. However, these categories are culturally constructed and may need readjusting.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-18515889294445920892011-05-17T13:14:00.000-07:002011-05-19T20:14:57.306-07:00From high to NO contextAmsterdam has been my transit point from Africa and now from India. The more I cross through, the more the city seems to be taking on the properties of a sort of cultural quarantine or palate cleanser. This became apparent, when coming from a high context culture, to a low (if not lowest) context culture.<div>After I jumped on the bus, I remembered that there are different fares for different stops. I went to the bus driver and said "Amsterdam Centraal", making sure to pronounce the long "aa" as I had heard over the automated speaker system, just to avoid any misunderstanding.</div><div>"Yes Amsterdam Central, interesting." The driver responds in a terse English.</div><div>I paused and stood there in a daze. Partially because I had not slept in two days and partially because I did not know what this driver wanted from me. "I am going to Amsterdam Central" I say while standing in the front of the moving bus with my Euros out in my hand.</div><div>"What a coincidence, I am going there as well." The driver responds, keeping his eyes on the road while turning a corner</div><div>"May I buy a ticket for Amsterdam Central?" I ask, hoping that I explained in low enough context to satisfy the bus driver.</div><div>"Yes of course" the driver responds while tearing off the ticket and then giving the correct change.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The extent of the amount of context necessary is culturally determined. The bus driver and I could have done on further. </div><div>"I would like to engage in a commercial transaction in which I exchange these coins for an agreement, which will be documented in a ticket, to allow me to take this bus to central station"</div><div><br /></div><div>Why was this bus driver doing this? I suspect, he understood from the context that I wanted to buy a ticket. He probably wanted me to use a lower amount of context communication as a show of respect. I could imagine him saying, "I am a human being, not a computer. The least you can do is use a full sentence to explain what you want." The interesting thing is that in a higher context culture, one could be equally offended, "You don't have the spell the entire thing out, do I look like an idiot to you. Clearly we are here on a bus heading in the direction of the central station."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Intercultural Tip: The amount of context you rely upon to convey a message has implications for the amount of respect you are showing in a culture. </div>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-48736010361802283362011-05-16T11:19:00.000-07:002011-05-18T15:51:02.840-07:00Musings on trade and simultaneous discoveryWhile traveling back from India, I had a 7 hour stop over in Amsterdam. In this small amount of time I was able to get in to the Van Gogh Museum. This is an excellent museum that pays special attention to the artist's narrative and its relation to the visual works of art. One of the things that interested me as an interculturalist was the effect that woodblock prints had on the artistic community.<br /><div>The interest of European artists in woodblock prints seems to correlate with the opening up of Japan to more normalized trade relations with the West. Can you image the excitement of having a culture that has had all psychical manifestations of culture hidden from the rest of the world, then suddenly revealed? Artists poured over these new beautiful woodblock prints coming out of Japan at the same time. The creative process of copying and interpreting began almost immediately. This, I imagine, is different than one artist getting inspired by a little known work of art. This is an entire community of artists simultaneously discovering and interpreting the same forms of art from the same culture at the same time.</div><div>It is not like the discovery of new art like today's Mashup or Crunk dancing, but it is an art that has been refined for hundreds if not nearly a thousand years. Woodblock printing has been studied, refined and passed from generation to generation in Japan for hundreds of years.<br />Also, it is not like the Rosetta stone, which was lost and rediscovered. Woodblock prints were a living art at the time they were revealed to the West.<br /><br /></div><div>While standing in the museum imagining Van Gough and his peers being inspired by, interpreting, and creating woodblock prints, then competing and teaming with each other to create a new artistic vision, I wondered if anything like this could happen today.<br /><br /></div><div>If Iran or Cuba opened up to more normalized trade relations, I don't know if anything would be different. I have seen Iranian movies and have listened to Cuban music. Now that information flows so freely between boarders, could there ever be a moment where a community simultaneously discovers an entire culture of living art work at the same time?</div><div>Perhaps I could muse a possibility. It would not be as concrete as physical manifestations of culture, such as a painting, dance, or music. But, it would be the invisible forms of culture that has always been present, but almost invisible.</div><div><br /></div><div>Intercultural Tip: Different cultural traditions belong to the world, take them, interpret them and apply them to your own life.</div>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-75690821234703203302011-05-15T08:34:00.000-07:002011-05-15T10:31:20.680-07:00Negotiation in a land where "Nothing is available, but everything is possible"India, where nothing is available, but everything is possible. When I first heard this aphorism from a traveler who had spend nearly a year in India, I found that it did not represent my experience. Everything I needed seemed available, my flight, my accommodations and my new favorite breakfast <i>parathas</i>, in the morning. As time wore on though, I started to see the wisdom in this pithy saying.<div> A pattern started to develop whenever I inquired about long journeys.</div><div><br /></div><div>"How can I take a train to Agra from here"</div><div>"It is not possible, the train is all booked. You must take a private taxi."</div><div><br /></div><div>"I need to get to the ashram, do you know the way?"</div><div>"The ashram is closed, you should stay at this nice hotel and go tomorrow."</div><div><br /></div><div>"I am going to the booking office, it's upstairs right?"</div><div>"The booking office is not accepting visitors today. But there is a new booking office this way, come follow me."</div><div><br /></div><div>"I am looking for a reasonably priced way to enjoy India."</div><div>"Reason is closed, why not try my significantly overpriced way?"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, having dealt with the "nothing is available" trick before in South East Asia, West and East Africa, and Detroit, I have developed some competencies.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I needed to get out of town one day I successfully navigated the difficult terrain of getting a booking agent to order me regular train tickets and accept the standard commission.</div><div><br /></div><div>Step One:</div><div>Order Chai. </div><div>Chai or tea, is how business gets done in India. In other countries, the drink is different, but the notion is the same. By me ordering Chai I am doing several things. </div><div>First, I am indicating that I will be sitting there for at least the durration of the drink.</div><div>Second, I am initiating a local ritual thereby showing respect and knowledge of the local custom. If things start to go poorly, I could always suggest "Listen, I sat down and ordered Chai, don't treat me like an idiot that knows nothing of India."</div><div>Third, by me ordering the Chai, it starts to enrich the power dynamic between me and the booking agent. While I do have the rupees and the power to walk out, the booking agent has local knowledge and the ability to trick me. Me ordering chai, increases my power because I am requesting a favor, but it also increases the agents power of proving me a favor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Step Two:</div><div>Interrupt for advice.</div><div>While the agent was going through his rehearsed script telling me how impossible it would be to book regular train tickets and how awful the train is anyway, I interrupted him to ask a seemingly banal question. "Which is better the Golden Temple or the Taj Mahal?"</div><div>This does three things.</div><div>First, by interrupting him I am increasing negotiation power stance. </div><div>Second, by asking a unrelated question, it suggests, but does not explicitly call attention to the fact, that I know he is feeding me a line. </div><div>Third, by asking his opinion on a matter of taste, I am treating him as a person with opinions versus just a person who books tickets and pushes buttons.</div><div><br /></div><div>Step Three:</div><div>Flatter</div><div>I am playing a game and the agent is playing a game. At this point, we both realize that we are players. The agent is probably disappointed that I am rejecting his story that the train is unavailable. As he was booking the train tickets, his ego could even be a little wounded. By the vary act of booking tickets easily, he is admitting that he was less than truthful regarding the availability and difficulty of booking train tickets. Flattery is the gentle push that will keep the inertia going in my direction. I noted the fresh paint in the office, and remarked how nice it was. It turned out the agent was rather proud of the painting job. He had brought someone in from the local big town to do the job.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Intercultural Tip: Set prices and standard policies disguise the fact that everything is negotiable. </div>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-34024188053409914072011-05-14T06:29:00.000-07:002011-05-16T11:19:13.871-07:00Pushing to Prove ItAs a person of ideas, I must always be mindful of my tendency to give the abstract more attention than the practical. "That's fine in practice, but how does it work in theory", is something I could be found saying. Plato would have grouped me into the Philosopher caste in his Republic, because I recognize the reality of the forms versus their shadows. However, with almost everyone else in the world, I must make my ideas matter in the here and now. This became clear as I met a fellow traveler while hiking up to an abandoned ashram.<div>After a few hours of hiking and discussing our experiences in India, we finally engaged in the standard North American identification ritual. "So, what do you do [for work]?" I asked. She mentioned that she was a message therapist. Multiple images of all the message therapists flipped through my mind, followed by various typologies of message therapy. When she asked me what I did, and I said an interculturalist, I had to explain. "Essentially, we help people become more effective in differing cultural circumstances". Being mindful of my tendency for the abstract, I immediately jumped into what I will call here an accountable explanation. I attempted to explain the work by actually working it.</div><div>I asked her what cultural difficulties she was finding in India. She mentioned that she hated the pushiness of people. We were eventually able to move it from a characteristic of people to an actual action, which I later found to be the pushing of people while in lines and groups. "Yea they really push here don't they? So, this is an example of a cultural difference I would help people resolve." </div><div>The next question she asked, pulled me completely out of the abstract and brought my explanation to full account.</div><div>"How?'</div><div>My mind raced through various models. What is 'pushing in India' according to the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity? How could one apply Personal Leadership to pushing? Is pushing related to any factors on the Globe study?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps it was because I was spending my mornings doing meditation or perhaps it was due to my work with Personal Leadership, but I told her the trick would be to separate the act of someone placing their hand on you and applying gentle force to the thing we call "pushing". Pushing in our culture is a mild act of agression. It is an intentional act used to put someone in place. In fact many fights in the school yard start with pushing and escalate from there. Pushing in India is just something people seem to do while in groups or lines. Old ladies push, kids push, it just happens.</div><div>"But how do I separate these two things" she asks me. She was really holding my answer accountable. I felt the legitimacy of the entire intercultural field resting on my shoulders.</div><div>"Just start doing it." I answered. I surprised myself with this answer. I was thinking about it while saying it. "Start pushing in lines and see how it feels." I felt I was taking a risk with this answer. How does it relate with my studies or what I have learned in the intercultural field? But the next question would resolve it entirely.</div><div>"But I am not in a hurry, I really don't care enough to push" she said.</div><div>"That is the answer. Here pushing is not about being in a hurry, or really caring. It is just what you do. When you start pushing yourself, you will train the body to accept this."</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydj9u7dYD3FgHZNuZjtPTSuVQvvPNuBd4fdxyNXrmA04z5JiHRDjbU0xF2Mi2Ro19kIfwZEZN2dOq8UuRGDg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-81225167705909373392011-05-12T10:24:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:23:45.038-07:00ValueIf money is an exact measure of worth, why are some bills more useful than others? If ones and fives are more desired than a $50 or $100, shouldn't the bill's worth be reflected in its monitory value?<div>This question leads one toward contemplating how value is assigned and culturally shaped. </div><div><br /><div><div>When traveling to another country, I find that things that previously had little to no value, suddenly become very valuable.</div><div><br /><div>TOILET PAPER: In many countries, toilet paper is not provided at toilets. This is not only true in my experience in Ghana and Ethiopia, but also in one of the largest economies in the world, Japan. Public toilets or even private toilets in all but the fanciest of restaurants, do not have toilet paper. In Japan, people collect tissue paper attatched to flyers passed out at the train station, in the rest of the countries I have been too, TP is sold at each little convenience store and one ought to carry around some at all times.</div><div>While in India, TP, its whereabouts occupied a more significant part of my conscious mind than it is usually afforded. A pocket or bag full of TP brought on a feeling of confidence, much like a stocked fridge or full tank of gas. While a lack of TP was a source of discomfort. If we were to visit a nice restaurant or hotel, we were always impressed with the free toilet paper. "How luxurious" we could comment, with only a hint of sarcasm.</div><div><br /></div><div>SOAP: There were only a few times in India where I found soap available at the sink. Oh, and the delight it became once I found it. Seeing the grime wash away after scrubbing my hands was a great feelings. As the sink turned dark brown, it was almost like I could see my chances for getting sick wash down the drain.</div><div><br /></div><div>CHANGE: I forgot how the developing world seems to lack small bills. It is in the economic interests, to tell foreigners that due change is not available in the hopes that they would walk away. After all what is an extra ten rupees to a foreigner? Well it is a lot to this one who hates being cheated. I made sure to stockpile as many small Rupees as I could. All these extra bills started to become evident in my pocket. So eventually I started using two pockets. One was my Rapstar pocket filled with a big wad of bills, the other one my Improvstar pocket filled with small change.</div><div><br /></div><div>HYGIENIC FOOD: While I understand that hygiene standards are different in kitchens around the world, I was surprised to see this advertised more than once. Can you imagine this being a advertising point? "Delicious South Indian and Mugali Hygienic Food". </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I imagine what sort of things Indians take for granted and need to search for here in the United States. Relational commercial interactions? People knowing your name at a local establishment? Attentive service?</div><div><br /></div><div>Intercultural Tip: As you are adjusting to things you once took for granted, remember you will start to take new things for granted.</div>Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-74360448872693601462011-05-06T08:31:00.000-07:002011-05-06T09:04:50.253-07:00Shared taxi's and Extended FamliesIf it didn't happen so many times, I would have not noticed it. But it was the third time during this trip and I figured it was something worth mentioning...<br />As you may know, the way to get around in many developing countries is a shared taxi. It is usually a seven seated mini van that is filled with ten people or more.<br />Skinny? Age 12 or younger? Last one on? You are sitting on a lap.<br />The trick behind these shared taxis is to be on of the last ones on. If you are the first one, you may have to wait 30 minutes or more until the taxi scout find more people to fill up the rest of the seats. I learned this the hard way after being hurriedly scooted into a taxi van in Ghana with the utmost urgency, only to learn that I would be sitting in the nearly empty taxi with no air conditioning in hundred degree weather. In my trips to Africa I developed a skill for hanging around the taxi, ordering tea, and spending time until the last minute when I could jump onto a nearly full taxi (but not the last one, see above) and take off. This skill eventually developed into a unconscious habit.<br />So while here in India I have stepped away from a taxi for a minute to get a Chai, or snack and come back to the taxi to see it nearly full. I find myself thinking where did these people all come from. I can not convey how uncanny it is to experience. I felt like I blinked and there was a minivan full of people. To explain this phenomenon I subconsciously searched for frames of reference.<br />While here I had been pondering how a country like India gets so populace. Could it be the abundance of food? The lack of genocidal wars? Early establishment of centralized government? So, following along this mind direction, for a brief second I thought, India is so full of people, that shared taxi's just fill up in an instant. However, I was not satisfied with this simplistic explanation. I looked at the contented of the taxi and there was a diversity of ages. Small kids, teenagers, people my age and my parents age. Then as I saw their behavior, they all seemed to know each other. This was all the observation I needed to conclude that the reason shared taxis fill up so quickly is that entire families are getting on at once. Furthermore, they are not American families consisting of two parents and a kid, but Asian families that consist of grandma, grandpa, uncles, cousins....<br />For the remainder of my time here, I will be sure to grab a seat while I can get it.<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: Unconscious behavior was once a conscious response to a particular circumstance. When circumstances change, your unconscious behavior will need to be brought to your conscious.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-66818679985241496452011-05-01T02:51:00.000-07:002011-05-01T03:14:49.667-07:00The Official and the CommercialWith my work with refugees or anyone visiting my country, I often ask about first impressions. To get beyond surface impressions of burgers and traffic I usually pose the question this way; "So you know you are in the United States when you fly over land or get off the plane. You know this cognitively, but then there is a time when you really realize with your full body and mind that you are in a new place. Have you had this experience?" This question usually gets at the heart of values and underlining assumptions.<br />So, if I were to answer the question myself about my first impression of India I would have to tell the story of my first few minutes in the airport. So, of course, I knew I was in India when I got off the plane and saw lots of Indian looking people, attendants in the bathroom, directional signs written in Hindi. But, the point where I really said to myself, "this is it, you are in India" was right after left customs. After presenting my passport and answering the usual questions of the boarder guard I walked forward to be right in a duty free shop. At no point had I decided to go into a duty free shop, in fact I thought I was still in the official/governmental portion of the airport. It was almost like I was transported from officialdom, where paperwork and uniforms are the norm to a land filled with duty free whiskey and beautiful women in smart dresses.<br />Well I wasn't transported, but the reason it seemed like it was because there was no wall or distance separating the customs counter with the duty free shop. Usually in the U.S airports are built so that there is a clear zone of commercialism and officialdom. For those Americans, imagine walking out of the security gauntlet directly into a store selling those inflatable airplane pillows and luggage.<br />Also, I thought which business owner gets this extremely favorably placed store. Did the business person have to pay high rent or was he or she just very well connected with the local government official who was responsible for building the airport. Is this official/commercial boundary-less duty free store a manifestation of how business and politics merge in India?<br />But need there be boundaries? Perhaps this idea that there ought to be a boundary between official space and commercial space is an American or Western notion. Perhaps even the categories of official and commercial are cultural constructs I am imposing.<br /><br />Intercultural Tip: Be mindful of surprises within new cultures. Let these surprises provide an affective impetus to explore your own culturally constructed categories.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3606335230268280600.post-40210576081657366522010-08-02T11:09:00.000-07:002010-08-02T11:56:19.358-07:00Politics, Religion and other inpolite converstationsIn the second week of attending the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication in Portland Oregon, my friend and I stopped into a 7-11 to pick up some Starbucks Double shots. There I saw a guy who I guessed was from Ethiopia. I said "Salam, endeminea" which means "hello, how are you?" in Amharic. His face lit up and as he rang up the Doubleshot, we started discussing his area of birth and where he grew up. He mentioned how he was born in Eritrea, but raised in Gonder, Ethiopia. He acknowledged the difference in political boundaries between the two countries, but clearly stated that Eritrea and Ethiopia are the same people and should not have sacrificed so many lives in the war to create the political boundary.<br /> Reflecting on this conversation I thought of other boundaries. Like the boundaries of polite conversation. "A gentleman does not discuss politics, religion or money,"I remember learning. Somehow these boundaries were lowered by just by taking a guess and saying some words in Amharic. Perhaps if I would have started the conversation more politely and not assumed the man was from Ethiopia, we would not have had such a meaningful brief interaction.<br /> After a few hours my friend and I returned to the 7-11 for some renown Oregon beer. This time I went directly to the clerk and asked if the 7-11 carried tej (famous Ethiopian honey wine). Even though I knew that 7-11 does not carry Ethiopian tej, I figured I would playfully respect cultural uniqueness. To pronounce tej is difficult, one must project the t almost like you are saying tisk tisk tisk. So by accomplishing this feat of Ahmaric pronunciation and by acknowledging a familiar and sociable drink, the clerk was even more impressed. His eyes lit up and by the time we were checking out we crossed another boundary of polite conversation.<br />"You went to Orthodox Church right."-Clerk<br />"Yes, I went to one outside. I stood on the left side"-Me<br />"You know this one hummm la haaa la hum de ha de daa"-Clerk singing a church song.<br />"No, I don't think..."-Me<br />"Yes you know it, da de hum de ha de ha de ha"-Clerk<br />"De ha de ha de ha"-Me trying to follow along<br /> Boundaries! Wow we were already onto religion after discussing politics during my last visit only a few hours earlier.<br /> After paying for the beer and walking to the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication I felt a feeling of right-path or like I was doing what I should be doing in life. This little interchange with the clerk renewed my sense of self being an interculturalist and payed respect to a portion his clerks identity. The majority of people I meet think of intercultural interaction in the negative. "Don't assume a person with Asian features was born in Asia." "Don't assume people are different than you." "In fact, don't assume anything, because that's a stereotype." I like to think of intercultural interaction in the positive. Like in the words of a famous Portland employer, Just Do It.<br /><br /> Intercultural Tip: Crossing boundaries is not polite, but neither is being an interculturalist.Alexander Cleberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832698874210621968noreply@blogger.com3