Different Culture? Accepting & Respecting

20:22 |

Welcome.

We hope you, readers have a very fine morning/day/night/life!

Let’s learn something new shall we? Yes, we shall.

So for this entry we will give a review and comment a bit on this

video (see the link)

All in all, it’s about Pellegrino Riccardi, a cross cultural expert

shares his personal and professional experience on how very

different cultures can successfully coexist next to each other.

Riccardi comes from both an English and an Italian background,

and is currently living in Norway (WOW) Okay so for the past 27

years he has travelled around the world and interacted with

countless different cultures and nationalities.

In the video, Riccardi's approach is about understanding what

people see and understanding the difference between perception

and normality. Small details are often overlooked within one’s

own culture which can be identified as a cultural norm but poses a

challenge as it may be perceived differently by other cultures or

nationalities.

For instance, what seems strange or baffling to a foreigner may,

however be perfectly normal to a Malaysian. It all depends on

one’s perception.

WET BATHROOM? Completely NORMAL.

On the subject of bathrooms, it may seem STRANGE to the

average foreigner of the wet typical traditional bathrooms in

Malaysia. A traditional Malaysian bathroom contains a trough of

clean water, from which water is scooped up in a plastic dipper

(gayung) and poured over the body while standing on the floor of

the bathroom. After soaping up all over, more dippers full of water

are splashed over oneself to rinse off. This same practice is utilized

when going to the toilet, resulting in very wet toilet seats (which is

completely different with the Western’s bathroom which is VERY

DRY).

Plastic Dipper (Gayung)

Thus, despite this differences that we have, what Riccardi was

trying to point out is to be “accepted and familiar” in adapting with

other people’s culture as a sign of respect.

So take note Malaysians, when visiting country which values

dry bathrooms and toilets, restrain yourself from making it wet!

That’s all. Sayonara!

P/s: Feel free to comment for any questions to feed your curiosity.

We won’t bite……..probably. Hee, joking…..Maybe not.

Pp/s: Totally joking….or do us? Hehe

Love,

A & N.

Followers