Do you ever spend a lot of time with people from other cultures?
By 2004cqui
@2004cqui (2812)
United States
January 19, 2013 11:41am CST
I was born being a curious person. I make it a point to be considered kind and supportive of anyone from another culture. One time I worked with about 50 people who came from all points of the globe. Walking through the department was like walking through 5 different countries when many conversations were going on. They, as well were kind and "all inclusive". There were no clicks. We were more of a team than any other department I was part of.
A couple of "humps" I hit were tough to figure out, other "humps" started an anger in the other person and I had no idea why! I had no clue why one person from Europe was completely upset with me! I apologized none the less but that didn't stop her anger. So I told her I had no idea why she was mad. Even my friends I had known for years didn't know but they immediately said it was probably cultural. Yeah, I thought. At least most people still knew I was kind supportive! But I also knew I never wanted to make the same mistake again!
Much later after she got over being all mad at me and she and I moved on to other departments I had to figure it out myself. I think what I did was use a word I think many Europeans find offensive but we in North America do not. We were in a 4 minute casual conversation with 4 or 5 people. I must have called her silly! Outside of that I still have no clue. She had only told me a few minutes after she "blew" that I could talk to and say anything to my children, but not to her.
I only found one reference to the word silly on the news. People in Europe will say their child did something silly and it wasn't acting silly as we would assume in the states.
Now I hear people in the UK refer to Webinars by pronouncing it Weebinar. So when they refer to the Web, do they say Weeb?
I have no clue and afraid to ask!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 responses
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
20 Jan 13
To me getting that mad is such a waste of energy. If she would have explained to me what I did wrong I would have instantly felt mortified! On the other hand when my coworkers I'd known for many years instantly said it was probably cultural I felt relieved. I knew I was kind, approachable and liked in the eyes of everyone else!
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
20 Jan 13
In every part of the country, there are always differences. I've been in different state, the way they talk were so different. Taking note the pronunciation of words, but I don't say any words against them. The reason, it is their culture since it is not their language too. Though they are also blessed to speak the language. I can speak different languages and I adapt the way they enunciate the words. Have a great day!
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
20 Jan 13
If I knew it was an insult before hand I wouldn't have used the word at all! Like I say I've known and know a lot of people from many different cultures for many years,this has never come up before. It was odd for me as I too have adjusted my understanding of different cultures.