Intercultural Negotiations

Before I describe my observation on an intercultural differences, I would like to share a thought about the reading we had for this particular blog entry by Hybels, Saundra and Weaver II. The reading defines, discusses and gives many examples of intercultural communication and other related aspects of culture such as the six dimensions in studying cultural differences, the barriers of intercultural interactions and how to deal with such barriers.

However, most of the ways to deal with the cultural-difference barriers are defined as more likely to the apply to differences or comparisons between two cultures (the non-dominant and the dominant groups) and do not take into consideration the complexities within each of those cultures. Also, the six dimensions mentioned in this chapter seem to be binary oppositions instead of arranged along a spectrum: either individualism or collectivism, femininity or masculinity, etc. Therefore, in my opinions cultures are more complex than so, and I visualize most cultures as existing somewhere between, but not in the middle of those dimensions' continuum.

In other words, each culture can potentially have a little bit of both poles of a dimension.

Take my case: I am a Vietnamese whose home school is an American college, Allegheny College. Now I have gone on a further exploration of my study-abroad by attending James Cook University, Australia for one semester. This means that my observations and reflections in this entry and other future entries will be influenced by all of the three cultures (my past and present experiences).

Why did I decide to emphasize the idea of continuum when talking about cultures and my background? Because the topic here is intercultural differences, which I can choose to discuss as a South-east Asian international student, or I can choose to compare my experience in the States with that in my current host destination.

Through the lens of a foreigner, I found both America and Australia to be very similar to the point that when I first read the question, I did not know what to talk about. Both are more likely to be viewed as individualistic cultures where independence is an expected standard for most people, and individual growth is highly celebrated. In term of how businesses are run, both countries provide good services and take doing business seriously, as they do professionalism. Specifically, even education is viewed as business. As one of the representatives, who was in charge of running an orientation event, emphasized -- even though students pay for their education, we should take note that this is not like the other items a student would simply purchase, since this particular purchase requires a lot of students' time and efforts. I feel the same perspective can be applied to viewing the American educational system.

Through the lens of a person who has lived and adapted to America, and is now starting her new Australian journey, I found a difference between how the two schools conduct business. Perhaps most American schools' tuition fees are higher or more expensive than Australian schools because at Allegheny College, for example, the tuition fee covers almost all services and activities offered on campus including laundry, gym, athletic fees, student club member fees, printing charges, etc.. However, all of the services mentioned above are not included in the tuition fee at James Cook, and students have to pay extra at Australian universities if they need to access such services. So that is a major difference between the American and Australian schools.

Tuition fee covers only academic-related aspects at James Cook University.
Photo was captured during one of a session during Orientation Week
showing introducing students about how classes and lectures work.

 Nevertheless, when you come outside of the school system, some discounts available for students in opening a bank account, buying a mobile phone plan, or using public transportation in Townsville, Australia are not available in Meadville, America.

So, despite seeming to be similar at first glance, how the societies and cultures sun, show interesting differences, even if they fall within the same cultural dimensions mentioned in the reading.

Public transportation companies such as Sun-bus offer discounts for students.
Photo was captured at one of the Sun-bus system's bus stations.

References:
Hybels, Saundra, and Richard Weaver II. “Intercultural Communication.” Communicating Effectively. 10th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 62-97.