Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness is being aware of cultural values, beliefs, and perceptions.  This means we need to be aware of our own culture as well as others. There are four levels of cultural awareness. The first is the notion that the way I do things is the right and only way.  In the second level, people are aware of others ways but insist that their way is better.  The third level accepts both ways and are willing to work together.  In the fourth level, people come together from different backgrounds to create a culture of shared meanings.

In order to become a more culturally aware person, you have to recognize that we are not all the same.  Our similarities and differences make us both important.  People have to learn to live and work together with these similarities and differences in the best possible way.  In order to achieve these, you must be able to admit you don't know everything and maybe your way is not necessarily the right way.  In order to understand others, you must put yourself in their shoes.    Learn to be more comfortable with change and celebrate being different.

The Iceberg Model of Culture is meant to give us a deeper understanding into learning about others culture.  The surface culture that you see above the water are foods, holidays, art, language, music,  and history.  These cultural traits are what most people use to define groups of people.  It's what you don't see below the surface.  Deeper and hidden like an iceberg might be in the ocean.  Norms, values, perceptions, religious beliefs, ethics, traditions, and gender roles are a few of the things we don't see.  We also don't consider social or economic status.  We have people living in the United States who can't even notice or recognize the differences in their own communities. 

I am trying to be more culturally aware of both Ireland and Scotland.   The history of both counties obviously goes back further than American history, and they are not considered a melting pot of cultures as we are in the United States.  I found out there are differences in deep culture.  Ireland is a past oriented country rooted in deep tradition.  There are also tensions and differences between the different classes of people in both countries.  I am posting two websites that examine cultural diversity of both Scotland and Ireland.

Countries and Their Cultures: Ireland                                    
Countries and Their Cultures: Scotland
Heavy Metal Scottish Bands