Cross-Cultural Dynamics

Culture is all the assumptions, expectations, and shared history that make up “the way we do things.” It’s reflected in everything we do, in all the ways we dress, act, speak, move, and interact with each other. And it doesn’t just happen at the national level—every single people group, no matter how large or small, adopts its own culture, even down to our own family of origin. A lot of friction can happen in relationships—whether work, social, or familial—when miscommunications, misunderstandings, or full-on disagreements appear because of our cultural differences, especially when certain expectations appear unexpectedly or are so ingrained that we feel it is ridiculous—or offensive—when others challenge them. Holding onto our own values and identity while honoring the values and identities of those around us is a process that takes care, compassion, and self-examination.