SGTM 5 B: Cultural Awareness

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SGTM 5 B Cultural Awareness
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• What is culture?
• Understanding cultural differences
• Dealing with cultural differences
• Scenarios

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• Meanings
• Beliefs
• Values
• Behaviours

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Culture is

• Relative
• Learned
• Collective
• Continuously evolving
• Complex and responsive

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Social forces

• Urbanization
• Migration
• Industrialization

• Nationalism
• Colonization
• Socio-economicdevelopment

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Individual characteristics

• Education
• Language
• Profession
• Religion

• Socio-economicclass
• Gender
• Ethnic background
• Cross-culturaladjustments

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• Stereotypes
• Prejudices
• Ethnocentric perspectives

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Civilians Civilians
Military Military
CULTURE
International staff Local communities
Military Civilians
Groups within localcommunities
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• East Asia chopsticks
• Europeknife and fork
• Other regionsclean right hand
• Common plate

• Multinational dinner in Asmara, Eritrea UNMEE
  2001.

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• Beef
• Pork
• Insects

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• Know the religion of yourhost country
• Respect all beliefs

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• Pay respect to elders
• Understand family ties
• Understand gender roles

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The meaning of words is culture-specific

• What is he saying?
• Idioms and slang
• Humour

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• Gestures
• Smiles
• Handshakes
• Holding hands, touching

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• Understand local cultureand climate
• Adapt yourself to localdress codes

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Most peacekeepers die in traffic accidents, so

• Adapt to local traffic conditions
• Respect local traffic laws
• Drive defensively

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Different notions about punctuality

• Military
• Civilian
• Local

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• You have the clock, we have the time

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• Understand your culture
• Accept logic of other cultures
• Appreciate differences

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• Local knowledge
• Your performance

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• Climate
• Language
• Currency
• Road signs
• Colleagues

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Foster good relations

• Military Civilians
• Military Other military
• Teamwork

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• 1. Harmony in movement control
• 2. An honour to walk hand in hand
• 3. Toilet training