Fijian Culture Fiji is a small island located on the Pacific Ocean east of Australia. The country is home to almost 900,000 people. While many would say the Fijians have come a long way from their roots and are adopting tendencies of the western culture every day, there is no doubt they still hang onto core values and beliefs. The organization of a village and family is very traditional and who and how to respect is learned at a young age. Respect is not just displayed at home but in the professional work place. Learning about common business practices and etiquette in Fiji may be critical to a positive business relationship. Along the lines of communicating effectively in the business world, we can learn a lot about communications norms in …show more content…
Fijian culture is usually considered to be very high-context. A high-context society does not put as much emphasis on words but the body language and context in which the words were spoken. In a business venture, the word “yes” may only mean the messages sent were understood. Time is very important in the Fijian business world but not in same regards as the US. Be punctual but do not be surprised if your counterpart is late. When it comes to decision making, Fijians like to take their time and contemplate in silence. According to culturalatlas.com be sure to never break the silence unless you are being spoken to. Allowing the superior’s time to think over the information presented is sign of respect so be patient. The dress code is less formal than the US. If someone is dressed up in a suit and tie, it may seem intimidating and send a message of superiority to your business partners. This could lead to an unintended message of disrespect. A prime example of the importance nonverbal presentation has in a high-context culture. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is respect your elders. Those who are older than you carry the most decision making power and demand the most respect from all …show more content…
Elders are held in the highest ranks. Traditional villages follow the direction of a chief and families follow the husband. Women are expected to take care of the home life but will not step out of line. The high-context communication styles of Fiji can be difficult for travelers to understand. Silence is honored in business meetings but timing is less of a priority. Maintain eye contact when talking to others even if it may feel uncomfortable. Breaking eye contact may cause problems and is typically against cultural norms and social practices. Overall, the Fijian culture is rich and unique in many ways and anyone who has the chance to visit the beautiful country
This paper will discuss the Native American culture and briefly review their history, some beliefs and roles in society today. A short description into their culture with References will be used to show how Native Americans have been affected throughout hundreds of years. The trauma this culture endured has created many barriers, yet one often seen today is their extreme problem with the disease of Alcoholism. The Native American culture has gone through endless struggles, which has cost them to lose so much and still continues to impact them today. They are slowly moving back toward getting benefits that should have been available long ago, but in today’s world Native Americans still battle with many barriers not only in society, but in getting appropriate treatment for mental health or addiction issues.
Cuba is the largest single island of the West Indies archipelago and one of the more influential states of the Caribbean region. After discovery by Christopher Columbus on October 27, 1492, the Spanish conquistador Diego Velazquez de Cuellar established a permanent settlement with 300 Spaniards in the town of Baracoa on the northeastern coast of Cuba in 1511. Spain relies heavily on Cuba as their main source of pure sugar. This earned Cuba the nickname Pearl of the Antilles for its vast beautiful region during the 18th century. The country has an unusual geographical and cultural unity that has given the Cuban people a strong sense of identity and a pride in their heritage.
The environment has proven over time that it has the power to cause change in its inhabitants. Native Americans were not an exception to this common occurrence, as they had to adapt to the changes in the environment that surrounded them. The Europeans came to the “new world” and disrupted the original culture of the land. Native Americans were compelled to assimilate their own traditions and culture to one more fitting of their new surroundings. Their religion was a component that changed drastically into a decline that left it without any of the original rituals, beliefs, and traditions. Some of factors that contributed to this shift in religion are disease, the fur trade, the European tourists, the economy, the Christian missionaries, and
The Polynesian peoples have a lifestyle quite different than that of any other culture, as living on an island requires a level of flexible adaptability in order to cope with such a different, sometimes difficult environment. We see the way diverse cultures build their lives around their circumstances and how they respect them in their cultural myths and stories. The Polynesian legends emphasize the physical environment that they live in. They are quite different than any other region in the world, but the beauty and individuality of the Polynesian culture is prominent as seen in their mythology.
The word community is defined as a group of individuals residing in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. We all, whether we know this or not, belong to particular communities and even sub communities (self contained community within an unusually large area). One particular community that I've been a part of during my entire life is the Haitian community. An Haitian Community is usually a place where a group of Haitian nationals reside, we share many cultural beliefs and practices together. In this paper I will be investigating some of the beliefs and practices of the Haitian Community.
Southern culture is based upon three main things. The south is known for its hospitality, language, and food. Here is a bit of an overview on the history and background of the Cajun culture and language. Cajun culture began with the arrival of French Acadians who migrated to and settled in what is now Louisiana mainly between 1765 and 1785 (Cajuns, 1996). Cajun French is a variety of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana, specifically in the southern parishes (Cajun French, 2016). The Cajuns spoke French almost exclusively until the 20th century. Many would learn English get along in an increasingly Anglo society as the 19th century progressed, but their main language was Cajun French. The basics of the language is their Acadian
In the beginning, Natural Waters of Viti Ltd. recognized the importance in establishing and maintaining good relations with the indigenous people of Fiji. An emphasis was placed on hiring, training, and advancement of the inhabitants of nearby villages. Strong leadership by Ian Lincolne, native of the Draunivi village, created an organizational culture that aligned with employees’ values of interpersonal relationships, attendance of religious services, and support of community. The company constructed a kindergarten classroom in each village and established a community development trust fund to finance projects to improve hygiene, sanitation, and safe drinking water. To create additional employment opportunities to surrounding villages, FIJI contracted out services such as transportation to and from work, security personnel to guard the factory, food preparers in the canteen, ground maintenance, and laundry. All of these efforts were acknowledged in 2004 by the U.S. State Department, bestowing upon FIJI the Award for Corporate Excellence for Outs...
The religion of the Ojibwe is centered on a belief of a single creating force but according the Minnesota Historical Society the religion also, “Incorporated a wide pantheon of spirits that played specific roles in the universe.” These different spirits took on different roles, some to protect the Ojibwe hunters, protection from illness and while in battle. Each person had a personal guardian spirit which was one of their most important. Their guardian spirit would come to them in a dream or vision and could be called on for protection and guidance. The tribe also had spiritual leaders, which were feared and respected because of their supernatural powers that could be used for good, or evil. Dreams were related to religion and spirit guides. Natives believed dreams carried great significance and that they would provide visions of their future and how to live their lives. The Ojibwe would go on annual fasts to renew the vision of their lives and reflect.
Cultural competence is a skill essential to acquire for healthcare providers, especially nurses. Cooperating effectively and understanding individuals with different backgrounds and traditions enhances the quality of health care provided by hospitals and other medical facilities. One of the many cultures that nurses and other health care providers encounter is the American Indian or Native American culture. There are hundreds of different American Indian Tribes, but their beliefs and values only differ slightly. The culture itself embodies nature. To American Indians, “The Earth is considered to be a living organism- the body of a higher individual, with a will and desire to be well. The Earth is periodically healthy and less healthy, just as human beings are” (Spector, 2009, p. 208). This is why their way of healing and symbolic items are holistic and from nature.
Australia, the 6th largest country in the world, has a square mileage of 2,967,892 and a population exceeding 23,895,200, making it the 52nd most populous in the world. More than 1/5 of Australians, about 4.293 million, live in Sydney making it the largest city in Australia. The life expectancy rates for males and females, similar to those of the US, are approximately 79 and 83, and the infant mortality rate being low at only 5 out of every 1,000 births. The most prominent spoken language is English although about 50 out of the 250 Aboriginal languages are still being used and preserved by Australian officials. Religion throughout Australia is not a huge asset to daily life though 76% of Australians consider themselves a denomination of Christianity; the other 24% are mostly unreligious or unaccounted for.
As the Hispanic Caribbean has evolved it has managed to grow and thrive beyond belief, whether one is discussing art, music or just the culture alone the Hispanic Caribbean is truly reaping the benefits of allowing themselves to be influenced by many other cultures. While the Hispanic Caribbean is thriving they are still facing the many new found struggles that come along with the territory of becoming more affluent as well as more accepting to other cultures and their beliefs. Often with the growth of large proportions comes many problems, problems also can come about when incorporating of different cultures as a whole as well as just bringing in their beliefs and mannerisms. None the less it can be argued that the struggles being faced in
Effective communication with people of difference cultures can be especially challenging. The way people interpret the world can be strikingly different between cultures. Intercultural communication occurs when a member from one culture produces a message that is absorbed by a member of another culture. How that message is understood by the communicating party is a vital part in intercultural communication. For example, in Cambodia it would be considered rude to discuss business in a social setting (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.). However, in the United States this is a common practice and is almost an encouraged event. Another important factor and consideration in intercultural communication is the importance of understanding cultures, values, history and beliefs. For instance, in Cambodia, if you deliver a present that is wrapped in white paper, this is considered to represent mourning. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to assimilate into a culture and be mindful of communication between cultures (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.).
Cultural Appropriation versus Multiculturalism In today's society, there are many different cultures that individuals identify with. Culture is very important to many people and is something that helps define who we are. When different cultures are respected and appreciated, it is a beautiful thing, it can bring individuals in society closer to one another. Ideally, this understanding of one another’s cultures can lead to multiculturalism.
Therefore, it is essential to study nonverbal and verbal communication Nonverbal communication is all forms of communication other than words themselves, which includes “body motions; vocal qualities; and the use of time, space, and even smell” (Neuliep, 2011, p. 269). On the other hand verbal communication or language “consists of symbols in the form of spoken or written words (Wood, 2014, p. 67). Thus cultures have different representations of symbols and what one culture interprets another may define or view differently. Communication is closely related to culture because communication expresses and alters culture. In a culture you learn behaviors and acceptable ideologies. This can be seen in verbal and nonverbal communication. For example, the tone of your voice is based on culture. Without communication you are unable to establish cultural differences. Your own culture directly shapes how one communicates, such as when it is appropriate to make eye contact. We are not born knowing when and how we should speak; this is a learned behavior that is taught by interaction with others. This is not an easy task because nonverbal signals differ from culture to culture. Charles Braithwaite stated, “One of the fundamental components of cultural and linguistic competence is knowing how and when to use silence as a communication tactic” (Neuliep, 2011, p. 64). Before one can communicate effectively one must understand the context in which the culture exchanges information. One must have a working awareness of how each society conveys meaning, hence high vs. low context cultures. According to the Central Michigan University text, organizational dynamics and human behavior (2009), to become a successful international manager one must develop “cross-cultural skills”. One part of the skill set involves the comprehension of the difference between high-context and low-context
It is extremely exciting that you want to come to the United States; it truly is a great place to live. However, there are a couple of subjects that you and I need to discuss, so you are not completely lost when you arrive. So the things that I will discuss and better help you understand are the family cultures in the United States, what community means and the effect it has on others around, how technology affects everyday living here, the social media, educational system and the environment, and finally the relation between self and others.