Cultural Awareness

Here it is a really interesting topic that it is worth thinking about it and analysing it: cultural awareness. 

Our background, culture, values and experiences shape us, lead us to see and do things in a certain way and this is a unconscious process. However, it is incorrect to assume that everybody is similar. People from different cultures can have different interpretations, reactions, behaviours and beliefs. If we project our own interpretations and views on others, misunderstandings can arise because what is considered appropriate and correct in one culture may be inappropriate and wrong in another culture (Quappe & Cantatore 2005).

Because of that, when we travel overseas and we interact with people from different culture, we need to be open-mind and have self and cross-cultural awareness in order to manage cultural diversity. 

Once living abroad, I could have contact with people with different customs and ideas. I can list some Australian customs/habits/ideas/facts that are surprisingly different for me.

- Single-sex schools;
- Walking barefoot on the streets;
- Throwing the toilet paper in the toilet bowl (in Brazil we throw it in the rubbish bin);
- No locks on bedroom and bathroom doors;
- Driving and walking on the right-hand side;
- Stores close at 5 pm (early for Brazilians);
- Drinking tap water (Brazilians drink filtered water);
- Free water at the restaurants;
- Alcoholic beverages are sold in specialized shops;
- Alcohol is not allowed on the beaches/streets;
- Self-service petrol stations (in Brazil, attendants operate the pumps);
- Automated fare collection systems on buses (in Brazil, we have a person to collect the fare besides the driver);
- Eating avocado in the salads (Brazilians drink it with milk!)

Reference:

Quappe, S & Cantatore, G 2005, What is Cultural Awareness, anyway? How do I build it?, accessed 21 Dec 2014, culturosity.com

Globalisation

In order to be an effective global citizen, it is important to understand the process of globalisation, which is not recent, but it started a long time ago with the expansion of religions such as Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, and also with international trades, which includes movements of people, animals, food, goods and money.

It is widely known the various benefits of globalisation. I have listed a few below:

- Greater cultural diffusion (language, arts, music, dance, sport, etiquette, cuisine, clothing, literature, beliefs, values and so on);

- Increased circulation and speed of information;

- Increased communication and connectivity between people over the world;

- Free international trade, access to foreign goods and services;

- More opportunities for international travel;

- Better quality of life (it increases the standard living, education, health);

- ...

However, it is also important to recognise its potential drawbacks. I have collected some cartoons that I found really interesting, they illustrate some disadvantages of the globalisation and make us think about this process which is happening around us and affecting us directly.

-Invasion of Western culture, predominance of certain cultures at the expense of others

Singer, A 2007, Invading New Markets, cartoon, viewed 14 dDecember2014, https://www.flickr.com/photos/scocasso/5656146752/

- Political leaders, who sets the rules ?, who chooses what is right and what is wrong?

Maguire, B n.d., cartoon, viewed 14 december 2014, http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2007/11/11/extolling_the_virtues_of_free_trade/

- The coast and the product of Globalisation

Author unknown n.d., cartoon, viewed 14 december 2014, http://howtosavetheworld.ca/2013/07/15/links-of-the-month-july-15-2013/

- Lost of local cultural elements, depreciation of national culture

Author unknown n.d., cartoon, viewed 14 december 2014, http://claralauramaria.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/charge-3.html

Globalisation in my study area:

As a computer science student, an article has drawn my attention: "The globalisation of technology and its implications for developing countries. Windows of opportunity or further burden?" . It is about the spread of technology across the world, in particular, technology from developed countries to developing countries. The authors argue that the globalisation of technology may offer new opportunities for a country development; however, it is not happening in the most of developing countries due to the lack of strategies and policies which aim the transmission and absorption of know-how, knowledge and technological expertise to local level. While these strategies are not implemented, only countries that create technologies will benefit from this globalisation process.

References:

Archibugi, D & Pietrobelli, C 2003, 'The globalisation of technology and its implications for developing countries. Windows of opportunity or further burden?', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 70, no. 9, pp. 861-883, accessed 14 December 2014, ScienceDirect database.

Global Citizenship Course Mind Map

After reading the course outline, I've created the following mind map explaining what I think I can get out of the Global Citizenship Course :)

Global Citizen - What is it?

From what I understand, being a global citizen is to look, listen, and communicate with the world. It means to be aware what is happening around the world and to act in order to achieve a better world for all its citizens, a more sustainable, peaceful and just world.

Global citizen is someone who respects different ethnicities, cultures, beliefs and gender, respects the environment and the other beings and understands that its actions have an impact in the world.