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culture savvy Culture Savvy What is culture and how do I know if I've got one? But the difference now is that human beings are travelling the world more frequently and in greater numbers. We cross continents in a matter of hours, rather the months that it previously took on a ship in ages past. We come in contact with other cultures with far greater frequency. The key to embracing the world's diversity, therefore, is education, which will inevitably lead to understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Here are a few simple steps that will help you embrace the world's diversity when you go on your next journey: 1) 2) I LIVE ON CLOVELLY Beach, three beaches away from the iconic Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Everyday, a coach full of either Chinese or Japanese tourists descend upon its golden shores. Regardless of weather or temperature they go to great lengths to avoid the sun, covering themselves from head to toe. Despite the water calling to them like a siren and Aussies beachgoers dotting the sand, the "tourists" will not so much as take their shoes off and soak their feet in the surf. The locals shake their heads in disbelief. They can't understand how anyone would not feel drawn to the sand or the surf. On the other side of the globe are the villagers of Koh Phangan, Thailand, who host thousands of young Aussies and Brits every full moon evening. Seen by many as the ultimate party experience, the Full Moon Party is characterised by no-holds-barred partying, heavy drinking and drug taking until the break of dawn. The Thai villagers see all Westerners as loud, aggressive, ill mannered and ignorant of Thai customs. And because of the way that the "tourists" seem to throw their money around, they think all Westerners are rich! Isn't it interesting that we don't think we have a culture. However, when we come across someone that isn't "like us", it becomes easier to point out the differences. There may be differences in the language, customs, behaviour, dress, cuisine and way of life. There may be even more drastic differences in physical appearance – eyes, hair, features and skin colour. Culture is not the product of lone individuals. Rather, it's been a powerful human tool for survival since time immemorial. Through the ages it has enabled communities to teach their young what they have learned in order to survive in their own environment. Sticking to the people of our own culture gives us a sense of security. SHIFT YOUR MINDSET: MINDSET IS EVERYTHING IN YOUR TRAVELS. Relax your rigid values, beliefs and pre-conceived ideas of a culture. There is no 'good' or 'bad' culture. Just different ones. READ UP ON THE LOCAL HISTORY: A country's history can give you valuable insight into a particular culture based on its historic influences. Learning about a country's history will give you a better understanding of why certain ethnic groups behave the way that they do. 3) 4) 5) FIND OUT WHERE LOCALS GO AND WHERE THEY EAT: Find out where the locals go. Look into what local festivals are on during the timeframe of your visit. Be open to new experiences and soak it all in: sights, smells, sounds and tastes. LEARN A FEW KEY PHRASES IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE: Locals truly appreciate it when foreigners make an effort to speak in the local language. Learn some basic phrases such as 'hello', 'goodbye', 'good morning', 'please' and 'thank you'. RESPECT LOCAL CUSTOMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Always be sensitive towards the ecology and the culture of other lands. Always do your homework before travelling to any country that has a culture which is vastly different to yours. Find out the appropriate dress, gift giving and dining etiquette. 6) LEARN TO BLEND IN: Dress appropriately. Observe what the locals are wearing and copy them. Observe how the locals behave and mimic that too. Lastly, as we journey through other countries and come across other cultures, let's not forget that we are dealing with actual people, with individuals. We'll eventually discover that we share far more similarities than not. Victoria Ugarte www.ExploreMyWorldTravel.com 90 | www.hermagazine.co.nz