The Art of Crossing CulturesThis guide to adjustment to other cultures is intended for individuals going abroad to live, work, or study or who have contact with expatriates in their own countries. It is written from the perspective that adaptation to the local (foreign) culture is desirable and enhances the experience abroad. The book first looks briefly at some of the difficulties of adjusting to another country, then defines and gives examples of two primary kinds of adjustments travelers must make: (1) to cultural behaviors on the part of members of the host culture; and (2) in their own behaviors that offend or frustrate others. The most common sources of difficulty and maladjustment are chronicled, the reasons that people find other cultures difficult to adjust to are examined, and a technique for adapting successfully is offered. The technique involves acknowledging one's reaction to a situation and becoming aware of expectations associated with that situation. The role of language learning in adjustment to another culture is discussed, and some consequences of acculturation are noted. The final chapter addresses issues in readjustment to the home culture. Many quotations from literary sources about travel abroad are interspersed in the text. A brief appendix consisting entirely of observations that various writers have made about Americans and an annotated list of readings are included. (MSE) |
Contents
THE HOWLING OF TIGERS | 1 |
MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN | 13 |
3 | 28 |
Copyright | |
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adapt agitation Aldous Huxley Americans anger Anthony Burgess Arabic Art of Crossing become begin behave behavior British chapter Charles Allen colony comfortable confused cross-cultural cultural adjustment cultural incidents culture shock D. H. Lawrence E. M. Forster encounter expatriate expect experience fact feel foreign culture friends frustrating Geoffrey Moorhouse go abroad happens Herald Tribune human India individual instinctively interaction J. G. FARRELL Japanese John Julius Norwich Journey to Kars kind language leave living abroad Long Day Wanes look mean memsahibs ment never observe offended once one's ourselves overseas Paul Fussell Paul Scott Philip Glazebrook possible post office problem react reaction Robert Kohls Ruth Prawer Jhabvala sense situations sojourners speak technique of awareness things tion Tunisian ture Type II incidents understand Vikram Seth Washington Post withdraw words writes York