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.