Transcripts
found it really strange and thought, ‘Can’t we just grab a sandwich from the supermarket?’ But then I started to appreciate the social aspect of it. How it wasn’t just about filling your stomach, but it was a chance to have a proper conversation, something the French seem to value very highly.
Presenter Another of the most obvious ways in which cultures express themselves is through celebrations and rituals, like the colourful Holi festival in India. Sometimes these, too, can be surprising and confusing, like San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. Every year, six bulls are released onto the narrow streets of the town and hundreds of people run in front of them. It can be very dangerous, and people are often hurt. Some festivals can even be shocking for outsiders. Take, for example, the vegetarian festival in Phuket, Thailand. Here, people have sharp instruments put through their cheeks and other body parts. The participants are in a trance-like state and receive no anaesthetic, while doctors perform the procedure. As well as demonstrating their religious devotion, the trance is said to increase focus and concentration for several weeks after the festival. Generally, it pays to find out more about a festival and the reason behind it. This can help to explain why people are doing what they are doing. Here’s Monica from Mexico.
Monica Our biggest festival is El Dia de los Muertos – or, in English, The Day of the Dead. You’ve probably seen it in films. But people are often confused about El Dia de los Muertos. A lot of people think it’s supposed to be frightening, because of the skeleton masks and everything, but that’s completely wrong. We are not afraid of death here in Mexico. In fact, we laugh at it. And that is something else that foreigners are sometimes shocked by. I had a friend visit from Europe, and he couldn’t understand why people were dancing and laughing when we were talking about death. He thought we were being disrespectful, but he missed the point. When we’re at the cemetery laughing and dancing, we’re laughing because we’re telling funny stories about our loved ones who have died, remembering funny things they used to say and do. We are celebrating their lives.
Presenter There are also obvious differences between how cultures behave on a day-to-day basis, the customs and unspoken rules of behaviour. What people do when they meet each other, for example – shake hands, kiss, embrace, or even high five! Or the way in which people wait in shops or for a bus can vary from culture to culture. If you come from a culture that prizes orderly queues, it can be disorientating and annoying to have to deal with a very different system. And the same applies
to driving, where rules can vary, and in some cases can seem like there aren’t any rules at all! Timekeeping is another potential problem. Some cultures believe punctuality is a sign of respect and professionalism, while others have a more fluid sense of time. And then there’s money. It’s not just dealing with things in a different currency or knowing whether or not to haggle in markets that can cause problems. There is also the tricky issue of tipping. Here’s Maciek from Poland.
Maciek I was in New York on a business trip last year and everything went really well, apart from in restaurants. When I walked in, the waitress would be so friendly. She’d smile as she took my order and brought me my food. I’d think, ‘Wow, what nice people they have here.’ But then, when I paid the bill and stood up to leave, their attitude would change completely! They seemed so angry. In the end, a colleague told me that you should pay at least 15% of the bill extra, as a tip for the waiting staff. That’s how they earn enough money to live! Once I started doing that, everything was fine, but I still think it’s a crazy system. Why don’t they just pay people enough in the first place?
Presenter Finally, there is the issue of communication. And it’s not just the different language that can be confusing. There are also subtler differences in the way people communicate. Firstly, there is the question of what it is acceptable to discuss. Money? Politics? Religion? Some cultures encourage open conversation about most subjects, while others expect people to stick to less personal, less controversial topics. And then there is the question of directness. Here’s Adrie from the Netherlands and Bijan from Iran.
Adrie
People know us for our windmills and our bikes, but Dutch people are also famously direct. If we don’t like something, we say so. If you come into work with a really bad haircut, I’m going to tell you it looks awful.
Bijan Adrie
That’s interesting. We wouldn’t do that in Iran. Forgive me, but it sounds a little bit … rude.
No, it’s not rude. It’s honest. We value sincerity very highly in the Netherlands, and we like people to be honest about their feelings and opinions. That way there are no misunderstandings. You know, when I went to Iran I had some problems understanding what people meant. It was very confusing.
Bijan
Ah, yes. It can be difficult for foreigners to understand. In Iran we have something called Taarof. It’s a … a way of behaving that shows respect. For example, a shopkeeper may say something is worthless and you don’t need to pay for it …
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