Cultural Differences are enriching

By editor on Sunday, 24 February , 2008 - 12:31 am

Ahmedabad Mirror article by Pascal Chazot:
I have always been interested by different cultures and my stay in India has been deeply enriching because of the variety of different cultural practices here, some which I have adopted. It amuses me to see how each culture gives value to sometimes opposite practices that can even lead to misunderstandings. I know of business deals that have fallen through because of some cultural differences that are misinterpreted.

The notion of time for example is a cultural issue. In the U.S., when a rendez-vous is given, people are expected to be on time. In France, when you are invited, you must be reasonably 15 minutes late in your arrival so that you do not catch your host off guard in preparation. In India, I have rarely attended a social function that started on time. I am at ease in India, as I am perpetually at least 40 minutes late for many appointments. I attribute this to my mother. I was the fourth child and my mother decided to finish viewing the display of fireworks on 14th of July the French national day, before rushing off to the hospital. As I tell friends, due to my late entry into this world, I am now always running to make up for those lost 40 minutes!

Along with time, food and the way of eating is also a cultural experience. In France, a meal can go on for hours as each course is brought in separately. Once, I was invited along with my wife and mother-in law for lunch, by the Mayor of Maroilles in France. We reached around 11.30 in the morning. We left at 9.00 at night!! In contrast, in India, all courses are served at once especially when eating the sumptuous Indian thali. What is amusing is that in a social function, after eating, there is a sudden exodus after the meal is over and the function ends abruptly. Regarding eating habits, it is culturally correct in India for the host to offer food, food and more food to the guest even while the guest refuses. I start off with polite refusals, but given the vehemence with which the host goes on ladling my plate, I often have little choice. I do know of certain instances when some tourists from the west felt offended. In the west, when a guest says no, it means no and it is impolite to insist. In some cultures, it is polite practice to leave some food on the plate to show that the guest ate a lot and is full. In another culture, it is impolite to leave anything on the plate. It may mean that the guest did not like the food! In yet another instance of cultural differences, it may be impolite to add salt into the food as it implies that the hostess did not put the ingredients in the right proportion. In India, one eats with ones hands and it’s a pleasurable experience. In the west, children are taught at a young age that it is bad manners to use one’s hands! The list is endless.

One may also look at the use of spaces as a cultural experience. In Gujarat, in many communities and areas people leave the door open as an invitation to interaction. In the west, it would not occur to anybody in an apartment to do so. Neighbours in Gujarat lean over their balconies and chat. In the west, one only exchanges a perfunctory hello to fulfill one’s civic requirements.

What is really necessary is that we should be exposed to different cultural practices so that we understand each other better!

Category: Blog

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