3 Ways You Can Understand Different Cultures
As globalization becomes part of our everyday life, it is essential that we indulge in cross-culture interactions. It is a new world where we stand united. Hence understanding different cultures is the need of the moment. Culture is what defines us as human beings. It constitutes the cuisines, the objects passed on from one generation to another, the rituals during weddings and funerals, varied festivals, the language we speak, and, of course, our religious beliefs.
Understanding someone’s culture gives us a better glimpse of the person. You also get to learn much about yourself and increase your knowledge of history. Altogether, it makes the world a better place as we acknowledge and respect our cultural diversities. Let’s look at the different ways you can understand other cultures.
1. Traveling
No better way to understand different cultures than traveling. If you stay in India like me, and you go to, say, Vietnam or Hong Kong, you will be amazed to see the different cultures within one continent, and yet there’s a similarity in all of them.
When you travel, you interact with many people and you tend to understand their mindset. You get to taste indigenous recipes and learn about the history. As a tourist, you will also visit different places. The architectural diversity of a place also testifies to its rich heritage. Traveling is therefore an all-inclusive process that helps one understand that the world is ultimately not that big of a place.
2. Reading and binge-watching helps
How? It’s simple. Let’s say someone is reading Ruskin Bond. They will understand India’s culture very easily. They will also get a glimpse of the places of interest in the Indian landscape and our lifestyle. And in general, get an idea of Indian people. Similarly, if someone is watching K-Dramas, it’s easy to grasp the fashion sense, the food culture, and how their cities and suburbs look.
A writer gives an honest description of the places and people of their country in their books. The same goes for series and films. We couldn’t have known a lot about the world had it not been for the movies.
3. Do your research
Doing your research can be one of the ways of understanding different cultures. You can visit a museum to learn about that culture’s origin. Making friends from diverse backgrounds is also a good option. Asking them questions and visiting their house on festivals will give you a first-hand experience of the whole thing.
You can also listen to their music, but of course, after you learn the language. You can appreciate the little details and rhythms of a culture. Read online articles or watch videos on a particular festival, ritual, or food history.
When you keep an open mind and heart, you will realize that understanding different cultures is relatively easy. No culture is that distinct from one another. Some rituals and customs may raise curiosity, get your answers, and if you cannot accept it, respectfully stay away.
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