Immigrant Cultural Responsibility Essay

Chidiebere Uduma

HRM 350

Visitor or Immigrant Culture Responsibility

Specific cultural practices are unique to various countries of the world. One of the major challenges of imbibing different culture is the comprehension of such cultural practices of the host country by immigrants or visitors. Almost every nation, ethnic group or race is associated with a unique and entirely different set of cultural practices. These practices are expected to be respected and practiced by visitors and immigrants who find themselves among people of these cultures. A study by Steven M. Albert states that “Culture leads people to categorize and assign meanings, expect certain behaviors, and act in particular ways” (Albert, 2010). Failure to adhere to and practice the culture with the citizens of the host country may result in dangerous misunderstanding that could cause irreparable damage to the wellbeing of such visitor or immigrant.

Certain behaviors and practices that are considered inappropriate, impolite, and offensive in a host country might be the culture in immigrants or visitors’ home countries. For example, I worked with a group of Indians back in Nigeria and I got to understand that Indians

This they believe help give the food a traditional taste which is not present when you use an electric blender for your food spices. This might become offensive to Americans who might be disturbed by the noise from pounding on wooden mortars. Africans also believe in making open fires to cook because of the fervent belief that the aroma of such cooking with firewood brings them closer to their origin, hence creating a sense of belonging to their great culture and tradition. This might be repulsive and considered inappropriate in a country like the United States because many states in the US prohibit making open fires because of air