The Importance Of Crossing Culture

The act of crossing cultures can be as simple as being the new kid in school just across town or as complex as belonging to a family who has recently moved half-way around the world. Each of these examples will invariably hold familiarities as well as polar opposite situations. Having the ability to adapt to new environments, people, and their culture will give a person a unique skill set that many people do not have undoubtedly making them invaluable as friends and ambassador’s. So the question is, “Where does this cultural proficiency originate and is it possible for anyone to become an expert at intercultural competence?” Although the title of Craig Storti’s book begins with the phrase “The Art of”, there is just as much science involved with crossing cultures as there is art. Take for instance the explanation given for ethnocentric impulse: cultural conditioning. “…Wherein members of a particular group teach the next generation how to behave and how to function effectively and thereby survive in that group or culture” (Storti, p. 67, 2000). As you can plainly see, the answer to the previous question concerning the origination of cultural proficiency is with everyone you come in contact with that has the ability and/or possibility of teaching you. The answer to the second part of the question is yes. Overtly the definition of

“Ethnocentrism, the notion that the beliefs, values, norms, and practices of one’s own culture are superior to those of others” accompanied with the aforementioned expectation creates a recipe for disaster when faced with interacting with different cultures (Lustig & Koester, p. 150,????). Recognizing that there exist differences among cultures and that no one way is the only way provides an opportunity to understand the problem before you and how to rectify