On being "interculturally competent"

One thing we keep hearing repeated is that when we are experiencing a “different culture” we must keep an open mind. In cultural studies, having an open mind is one of the criteria for being “interculturally competent” – that is being able to adapt and integrate and communicate well within different cultural contexts. However, the realization that I came to today, is that keeping an open mind is easy when it is on my own terms.

I have traveled solo a lot and so I have no trouble when it comes to adapting to different cultures so long as I can do it my way. The challenge for me during this residency will be to learn how to adapt to traveling with a group and to get along with others who share the same nationality (and supposedly the same culture) as me. The lessons I need to learn during this residency involve learning to participate fully in the group (by staying with the group and not wandering off to do my own thing!) and having a good attitude (playing nice with the others in my cohort). I find it easy to get along and make friends with locals, but how do I interact with other Canadians? I need to try to keep an open mind and heart not only when it comes to other cultures and nationalities, but also when I am interacting with my own group/cohort.

Often when we talk about cultural differences, we refer to the obvious things like food, time and space concepts, transport systems, language and communication styles. But the real challenge lies in getting along with people who share different personalities, interests, values systems, political perspectives, religious beliefs, attitudes in life. Rather than always seeking out people who think the same way as me and share my views, I need to seek out people who challenge and question me.

Truly keeping an open mind means talking to people who I wouldn’t necessarily be drawn to immediately and spending time with people who I don’t have much in common with. This doesn’t mean that I have to be friends with everyone I meet nor do I have to pretend to make small talk with someone that I have absolutely no interest in talking to. But it does mean that I need to have a good attitude and be open to whatever conversation comes along my way. It means dropping my defenses and engaging with others rather than staying distant and unapproachable. It means I have to make an effort not to alienate everyone in the group by trying to be different, to set myself apart and to prove that I am not one of them. It means I have to let go of the fixed identity I have of myself as a loner, a gypsy traveller, the witch of Portobello. I need to soften my demeanor and suspend all judgement. All this is easier said than done, but at least I have completed the first step of just being self-aware and realizing what I need to work on myself. Today’s realization will help me commit to being a better person tomorrow. And maybe tomorrow I won’t be such a grouch anymore.

Don't play with knives or sharp objects

One thing I didn’t expect was the level of security here in China (which seems obvious now, but when you come from the Yukon, you don’t really think about these things). In Beijing there are security checks around every corner. Every time you get on the metro and at the entrance to every tourist site is a security check. In particular, these security checks are supposed to verify any liquids (there have been cases of people lighting themselves on fire on public transport) and make sure you aren’t carrying any sharp objects that could be used as a weapon (a few months ago there was an attack on the metro where several people were stabbed to death).

My first few days in Beijing I made it through the security checks alright, mainly, I believe, because I am a foreigner and the security guards couldn’t be bothered to try to explain to me that they wanted to verify the contents of my purse (which contained both liquids and my leatherman). On the third day, however, I was stopped twice because I was with my Chinese friend who could act as a translator, but I was allowed to keep my knife because it is small (and I think the pliers confused them).

The real problem came when it was time to leave Beijing. I had planned to travel by train through China without knowing that you can’t take sharp objects with you onto trains either. This means that when I tried to go through security at the train station, I was stopped because I was traveling with my paddling gear, including my safety knife that is strapped to my lifejacket. A gentleman was called over and graciously acted as my translator as best as he could as I tried to explain to the security guards who spoke no English whatsoever why I was carrying a big knife and why they should let me keep it…Eventually, they allowed me to mail my knife to myself. Luckily, I had printed out my hotel address in Chinese before leaving so with only a little confusion we were able to figure everything out. However, this still leaves me with the dilemma of how I am going to get my knife from Hangzhou to Kathmandu if I can’t travel with it. Apparently, carrying knives isn’t really a thing in some countries…

Update: I managed to hang on to my knife throughout China and bring it to Nepal where the authorities are way to disorganized to have any kind of security checks so no one bothers with my knife.

Blue skies - I was lucky enough to be in Beijing at the same time as the APEC conference so factories were shut down and traffic was limited to give a good impression.

Hanging out on the great wall.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Pagoda in Jingshan Park

The Forbidden City

Pavilion