1/29/2015
1pm
CIES Student Lounge
Ramin's Intercultural Exchange class
In Ramin's Intercultural Exchange class, we were given work sheets and asked to pair up with 2 CIES students for the day. My partners were Hammed from Kuwait and Abdullah from Saudi Arabia. Ramin defined what socialization and ethnocentrism is and asked us to use the checklists in our worksheets to discuss their effect in our home countries culture.
In activity 1, all of the cultural norms in the checklist were relevant to classroom and educational etiquette. Through our group discussion, we came to the conclusion that there were very few significant differences between Arab and Puerto Rican/American culture in this subject. Perhaps the most significant difference was how students in Arab countries are expected to address their teacher as "Teacher" and not by there name. Hammed told me that early on when he started school, he had a very hard time adapting to local norm of calling teachers by the first or last name out of respect.
In activity 2, we considered a list that asked us what was is considered appropriate behavior in various situations. In this activity, the guys and I learned a lot about each others cultural differences, especially in the way we greet each other. I learned that Arab men commonly greet each other with a kiss, which varies on the level of seniority and respect they have for each other. When men and women greet each other, they do not touch, unless they are family. This is very different from Hispanic culture, where the opposite tends to be true. Women and men typically greet each other with kisses, yet men usually do not greet each other so unless they are greeting a senior member of the family (father, grandfather, etc). I also learned from hammed and Abdullah that when a group of Arabs walk together, the eldest one will walk ahead and lead the group. The younger members will also accommodate him to show his rank. For example, if they went to a restaurant together, they would open the doors for him and sit him at the head of the table.
In activity 2, we considered a list that asked us what was is considered appropriate behavior in various situations. In this activity, the guys and I learned a lot about each others cultural differences, especially in the way we greet each other. I learned that Arab men commonly greet each other with a kiss, which varies on the level of seniority and respect they have for each other. When men and women greet each other, they do not touch, unless they are family. This is very different from Hispanic culture, where the opposite tends to be true. Women and men typically greet each other with kisses, yet men usually do not greet each other so unless they are greeting a senior member of the family (father, grandfather, etc). I also learned from hammed and Abdullah that when a group of Arabs walk together, the eldest one will walk ahead and lead the group. The younger members will also accommodate him to show his rank. For example, if they went to a restaurant together, they would open the doors for him and sit him at the head of the table.
Good to know when you find yourself among people from Arab cultures. I had to learn the hard way when I tried (and was denied) to shake an Arab-Muslim woman's hand. It caused a bit of embarrassment for the both of us!
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