SOCIAL
Building Foreign Meaningful Connections? Avoid a Faux Pas
Who would have thought that a thumbs-up is highly offensive in Iran or that pointing your feet in the direction of other Buddhists is an insult? Even patting a child’s head in Thailand is considered disrespectful.
It’s mind-blowing, isn’t it? But these are examples of cultural faux pas.
Cultural faux pas refers to actions that are accidentally offensive to another person’s culture. Many mistakes involve food, body language, gestures, clothing, jokes, and personal spaces.
If you love traveling and want to create friendships with foreign people, you’ll have to deal with different cultures and beliefs.
Cultural faux pas and negative first impressions are two things you want to avoid. With this, cultural awareness and sensitivity are crucial in building meaningful connections.
According to Globo, cultural awareness means understanding the differences and similarities between your culture and others. On the other hand, cultural sensitivity is respecting their values, attitudes, religions, languages, clothing, and communication styles. You recognize their differences but don’t consider them right or wrong. In other words, you don’t assign value.
In theory, it seems easy. But reality can prove otherwise. So, how do you become culturally aware and sensitive?
It all starts with knowing your own roots.
Delve into your own cultural background. Go beyond what you already know about it, from religion and ethnicity to cultural norms. This foundation allows you to compare and study how to adjust to other places and people.
Then, make an effort to establish friendships.
Spend time researching another group’s cultural background and learn to initiate. The goal is not to have locals come to you. You’re the one who wants to establish meaningful connections with them, so you should be the one to reach out first.
Visit places or participate in events where you can meet plenty of locals, such as hole-in-the-wall establishments or intercultural celebrations. Engage with them and observe their practices to learn and adapt. You can also ask about their customs and views.
Indeed, books, studies, and online articles can provide you with such information. However, firsthand accounts present a bigger picture of their beliefs and day-to-day life. These come from different perspectives, some of which are yet to be recorded by researchers. It’s always good to lean on all your available resources.
Afterward, examine your biases.
People have various misconceptions about different cultures due to circulating stereotypes. By nature, these are often oversimplified and harmful. So, be open-minded and develop a balanced outlook.
Also, learn the differences in communication styles and values. Do not assume that the majority’s way is the right way to behave. It can vary between regions. And often, people have biases. Take a step back and assess things first.
Being a friend is about what we give, not what we get.
The little things you do for others can leave a major impact, especially if you’re still in the process of establishing meaningful connections. Be culturally aware and sensitive to leave a worthy impression. Remember, respect and understanding can go a long way.
Reference
Globo. n.d. “Understanding Cultural Awareness, Sensitivity & Competence.” GLOBO. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.helloglobo.com/blog/understanding-cultural-awareness-sensitivity-competence.
