Friday, March 13, 2009
chapter 5 question 3
One thing I found interesting was the discussion surrounding cultural difference when it comes to concepts of time. One sees this difference when traveling. I go to Mexico and the Caribbean almost every year and there is a more laid back approach to timeliness. I think of it more of an approximation. More often than not 3 o'clock means 3:15 or 3:30. Westerners are viewed as high strung when it comes to our obsession with timeliness. It's a long running joke among my friends, many of whom people of color, that “we” have our own way of looking at time that is different than the dominant culture. I think that perspective is kind of true and can be funny unless one is waiting for a chronically late person, one of my personal pet peeves.
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Hello NYP! In light of our discussion of nonverbal messages this week, what nonverbal messages are sent to someone in the American culture when someone is late? What messages are sent to people from a culture were time is approximate, not firm?
ReplyDeleteHi NYP,
ReplyDeleteI did not know that people view times differently in other culture. I know that in the American culture, it is important to be on time to everything from interviews, church, class, your own wedding. But in other cultures, like the Filipino culture, they make it a habit to be late. IT is actually expected that they come late to family dinners, BBQ, and church. I know this because several of my close friends are Filipino and they are always late to gatherings. That nonverbal communication may be deemed unconventional and rude in other cultures, but in the Filipino culture, it is expected and funny to recognize.
in america, when people are late those waiting might look at their watching a lot or do some eye rolling and sighing in exasperation. when abroad i've noticed a vagueness when confirming to be picked up at a definite time. i might say, "i'll see you at 3pm" and the response might be, "okay." i've had that situation happen alot as an independent traveler.
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