Learn a new culture | Julien S. Bourrelle | TEDxArendal

TEDx Talks
17 Oct 201713:19
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker shares his experiences living in various cultures, highlighting the importance of understanding and adapting to cultural norms. From greetings in Spain to personal space in China, he emphasizes the need to be comfortable with discomfort when learning about new cultures. He uses the analogy of 'peach' and 'coconut' cultures to illustrate the differences in emotional expression and personal space, urging the audience to challenge their biases and see the world through others' perspectives to foster multicultural harmony.

Takeaways
  • 🌍 Cultural greetings vary widely; in Spain, for instance, saying 'hola' to a cashier prompts a warm response from everyone in the shop.
  • 🤔 The meaning of greetings is context-dependent and can lead to misunderstandings when transferring behaviors from one culture to another.
  • 🎓 The speaker's background in Astro dynamics taught him about culture through his experiences living in different countries and learning new languages.
  • 🌐 Adapting behavior to make others comfortable is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication.
  • 😄 Personal space and comfort levels are culturally defined, as illustrated by the experience of a Chinese woman sitting on the speaker in a bus.
  • 🤝 Cultural norms and rituals, such as saying goodbye to everyone at a party in French-speaking Canada, are integral to a society's identity.
  • 🏠 Culture is described as 'mental programming' that dictates behaviors, preferences, and social norms.
  • 🎉 Bridging cultural gaps involves finding common ground, like the musical instruments at a multicultural wedding that brought two families together.
  • 🍑 'Peach culture' represents societies that are warm and welcoming, often expressing emotions openly and directly.
  • 🥥 'Coconut culture' signifies societies with more reserved and subtle emotional expressions, where trust and closeness develop over time.
  • 💡 Recognizing and respecting cultural differences, including values and interpretations of concepts like equality, is essential for harmonious multicultural interactions.
Q & A

  • What is the cultural difference the speaker noticed when greeting people in Spain compared to Norway?

    -In Spain, when you greet someone in a shop, everyone replies 'hola', making you feel welcome. In contrast, in Norway, greetings are more pragmatic and purposeful, and people expect a conversation or a question rather than a simple 'hi'.

  • What is the cultural ritual the speaker experienced when leaving an event in a French-speaking part of Canada?

    -In the French-speaking part of Canada, it is customary to go around and say goodbye to everyone by shaking hands with every man and kissing every woman when leaving an event or a party.

  • What did the speaker study and how did it relate to learning about culture?

    -The speaker studied Astrodynamics, a subfield of mechanical engineering, which involves studying the motion of spacecraft outside Earth's atmosphere. Studying rocket science led the speaker to learn about culture through observing and adapting to different behaviors and communication styles across various countries.

  • What is the significance of the speaker's experience on the bus in Sichuan, China?

    -The experience on the bus in Sichuan demonstrated the importance of adapting to local customs and being comfortable in uncomfortable situations to connect with people from different cultures.

  • What does the speaker mean by 'outer shelf' and 'inner shelf' of culture?

    -The 'outer shelf' of culture refers to visible aspects like nonverbal and verbal communication, while the 'inner shelf' refers to deeper understanding, the logic of socialization, and how cultures interact with each other.

  • What was the cultural tension observed at the Swiss-German and Lebanese wedding?

    -The tension arose from the different behaviors and expectations of the two families. The Swiss-German family was quiet and well-behaved, while the Lebanese family was emotional and expressive. The cultural differences were evident in their reactions to the wedding ceremony.

  • How did the speaker describe the difference between 'warm' and 'coconut' cultures?

    -In 'warm' cultures, like the peach, people are welcoming and express emotions openly. In 'coconut' cultures, there is a harder exterior with subtle emotions and more physical distance, but once trust is built, the inner part is rewarding and beautiful.

  • What is the speaker's view on the importance of understanding cultural values?

    -The speaker emphasizes that understanding cultural values is crucial for interpreting behaviors correctly and for fostering multicultural harmony in societies and organizations.

  • What is the concept of 'equality of opportunity' and how does it vary across cultures?

    -Equality of opportunity can mean providing the same resources to everyone or helping those who are struggling to have the same chances as the strong. The interpretation of this concept varies significantly depending on the cultural context.

  • What advice does the speaker give for bridging cultural differences?

    -The speaker advises to observe and understand the subtle differences in behavior, challenge one's own biases and expectations, and see the world from the perspective of others to bridge cultural differences.

  • How did the speaker's experience in different countries influence their approach to communication across cultures?

    -The speaker's experience living in five different countries and learning four new languages made them conscious of adapting their behaviors and communication styles to make others feel comfortable, which is key to effective cross-cultural communication.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 Cultural Differences in Greetings and Interactions

The speaker reflects on their experience living in Spain, where greetings are warm and welcoming, contrasting with the more pragmatic approach in Norway. They discuss the importance of understanding cultural norms, such as the ritual of saying goodbye in French-speaking Canada versus the less formal approach in Scandinavia. The speaker's background in Astrodynamic, a field of mechanical engineering, has unexpectedly provided insights into cultural studies. Through living in various countries and learning multiple languages, they have developed a deep understanding of cultural behaviors and communication, which they now apply to help others navigate cross-cultural interactions.

05:00
🎼 Bridging Cultural Gaps Through Emotion and Adaptation

This paragraph delves into the concept of culture as a form of 'mental programming' that dictates our behaviors and interactions. The speaker uses personal anecdotes, such as attending a multicultural wedding in Switzerland, to illustrate the clash and eventual blending of different cultural norms. They emphasize the importance of finding common ground and understanding the subtleties of emotional expression across cultures. The speaker introduces the idea of 'outer' and 'inner' cultural aspects, with the outer shelf being observable behaviors and the inner shelf representing deeper social logic. The goal is to adapt one's behavior to respect and fit into various cultural contexts, ultimately aiming to bridge cultural gaps.

10:01
🍑 The Nuances of 'Peach' and 'Coconut' Cultures

The speaker explores the idea of 'soft' and 'hard' cultures, using the peach and coconut as metaphors. In 'peach' cultures, like the American example given, people are warm and welcoming, expressing emotions openly. Conversely, 'coconut' cultures may appear cold or distant initially, with more reserved emotional expressions and physical distance, but once trust is established, they reveal a rich and welcoming interior. The speaker also touches on the concept of equality in different cultural contexts, highlighting the varying interpretations and applications of the idea. The paragraph concludes with a call to challenge one's own perspectives and biases to foster understanding and solve societal challenges.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Culture
Culture refers to the customs, beliefs, values, and norms that characterize a group of people. In the video, culture is the central theme, with the speaker discussing how it influences behaviors and interactions in various societies. For example, the script mentions how greetings in Spain are more communal and warm compared to the more pragmatic approach in Norway.
💡Greeting
A greeting is a form of verbal or nonverbal communication that signifies a friendly approach or acknowledgment. The video uses greetings as an example of cultural differences, highlighting the contrast between the warm 'hola' exchanges in Spain and the more reserved behavior in Norway where greetings are more purposeful.
💡Adaptation
Adaptation in this context means adjusting one's behavior to fit into a new cultural environment. The speaker talks about his experience learning to adapt to different cultures by observing and mimicking local behaviors, such as the ritual of saying goodbye to everyone at a party in French-speaking Canada versus the more subdued Scandinavian approach.
💡Rocket Science
While the term 'rocket science' usually refers to the complex field of aerospace engineering, in the video, it is used metaphorically to describe the speaker's analytical approach to understanding culture. The speaker, despite being an expert in astrodynamics, uses his skills in observation and analysis to learn about cultural nuances.
💡Personal Space
Personal space is the physical and psychological distance individuals prefer to maintain between themselves and others. The video discusses how personal space varies greatly across cultures, as illustrated by the speaker's experience on a bus in China where an older woman sat on him, a behavior that would be considered invasive in many Western cultures.
💡Subculture
A subculture is a smaller cultural group within a larger culture that has distinct values, behaviors, and norms. The video mentions subcultures such as organizational culture within a company, emphasizing that understanding and respecting these subcultures is as important as understanding broader national cultures.
💡Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the coexistence of diverse cultures within a society or organization. The video discusses the challenges and benefits of multiculturalism, using the example of a Swiss-German and Lebanese wedding to illustrate cultural tensions and eventual harmony through shared experiences and understanding.
💡Emotion
Emotion refers to the feelings and affective states that individuals experience and express. The video talks about how emotions are expressed differently across cultures, with some being more overt and others more subtle, affecting how individuals interpret and respond to each other's emotional cues.
💡Equality
Equality, in the context of the video, refers to the concept of equal opportunities, which is understood and implemented differently across cultures. The speaker discusses how some cultures emphasize providing the same resources to everyone, while others focus on supporting the weaker members of society to achieve equal success.
💡Perspective
Perspective is the way in which things are considered or viewed. The video encourages viewers to adopt the perspectives of other cultures to better understand their behaviors and values. This is exemplified by the speaker's approach to learning about and adapting to various cultures, such as sitting comfortably in an initially uncomfortable situation on a bus in China.
💡Misinterpretation
Misinterpretation is the act of understanding something incorrectly due to a misreading or misunderstanding. The video warns of the risks of misinterpretation when interacting across cultures, such as the potential for misunderstanding emotional expressions or social norms, and emphasizes the importance of observing and learning from cultural behaviors.
Highlights

The experience of cultural differences in greetings when moving from Spain to Norway.

Cultural greetings as the 'outer shelf' of culture, indicating how and when to do them.

The importance of adapting behaviors to make others feel comfortable in cross-cultural communication.

Learning about culture through studying rocket science and living in different countries.

Anecdote of a cultural misunderstanding on a bus in Sichuan, China, leading to a humorous and welcoming interaction.

The concept of 'inner shelf' of culture, which includes deeper social logic and norms.

The challenge of interpreting emotions across cultures with different expression styles.

The story of a multicultural wedding in Switzerland showcasing cultural tensions and eventual harmony.

The idea of using 'musical instruments' as tools to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding.

The representation of 'peach' and 'coconut' cultures to illustrate the differences in welcoming and trust-building.

The importance of observing and adapting to subtle cultural differences in behavior.

The impact of cultural values on the perception of equality and opportunity.

The challenge of adapting to a culture that values helping the weak versus one that pushes the strong.

The call to challenge personal biases and expectations in understanding cultural behaviors.

The potential for solving societal challenges by adopting a perspective of cultural empathy.

The conclusion emphasizing the need for awareness and adaptation in multicultural societies.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Cultural AdaptationCommunicationDiversityEtiquetteSocial NormsMulticulturalismEmotional ExpressionCultural DifferencesIntercultural RelationsBehavioral Insights