Ricky_tha_man
Californian....
WHEN IN ROME...YOU DO AS THE ROMANS WHY...
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When in Rome you do as the Romans
As we travel outside of our home state TEXAS we find some trends, customs or just plain habits; unusual but not at all unpleasant. The 'ol adage "When in Rome, do as the Romans" rings a bell, a wakeup call of sorts announcing loud and clear we ain't in Texas anymore!!
We've lived in other countries where certain customs unique to each; must be considered or else run the danger of classified as " that American tourist" American traveler who behaved in a completely culturally insensitive way while traveling, working, or living abroad. The person who tromps into a Japanese house wearing his shoes. In an effort to not be that person, friends have told me they try their darnedest to follow that age old maxim: when in Rome, do as the Romans do – i.e. follow the customs of the land and culture that you find yourself in, even if they aren’t your customs. Nothing wrong with trying to be respectful in all ways possible of other cultures, right?
The Three Key Considerations of Cultural Customs
When you’re faced with a differing tradition, custom, or habit of a culture you’re interacting with or a country that you’re traveling through/living in, the main decision you have, of course, is whether you want to follow this different custom, stick to your own ways, or try to chart some sort of middle path. In making this decision, I think there are three main considerations to take into account:
1.Manners - Is this a simple rule of behavior that the people of this country find polite? Will behaving in my normal manner seem rude? Is this just one of those intercultural quirks that I should just follow without bothering my head about it?
2.Practical – What will happen to me if I don’t follow this custom? What about if I do? Will my life or the life of others around be easier? Better?
3.Ethics – Is this custom ethical according to my beliefs? Would I be violating my ethics to follow the custom – or would it be wrong of me to not follow it, given the particular facts of the culture/country I find myself in?
Californian....
WHEN IN ROME...YOU DO AS THE ROMANS WHY...
.
When in Rome you do as the Romans
As we travel outside of our home state TEXAS we find some trends, customs or just plain habits; unusual but not at all unpleasant. The 'ol adage "When in Rome, do as the Romans" rings a bell, a wakeup call of sorts announcing loud and clear we ain't in Texas anymore!!
We've lived in other countries where certain customs unique to each; must be considered or else run the danger of classified as " that American tourist" American traveler who behaved in a completely culturally insensitive way while traveling, working, or living abroad. The person who tromps into a Japanese house wearing his shoes. In an effort to not be that person, friends have told me they try their darnedest to follow that age old maxim: when in Rome, do as the Romans do – i.e. follow the customs of the land and culture that you find yourself in, even if they aren’t your customs. Nothing wrong with trying to be respectful in all ways possible of other cultures, right?
The Three Key Considerations of Cultural Customs
When you’re faced with a differing tradition, custom, or habit of a culture you’re interacting with or a country that you’re traveling through/living in, the main decision you have, of course, is whether you want to follow this different custom, stick to your own ways, or try to chart some sort of middle path. In making this decision, I think there are three main considerations to take into account:
1.Manners - Is this a simple rule of behavior that the people of this country find polite? Will behaving in my normal manner seem rude? Is this just one of those intercultural quirks that I should just follow without bothering my head about it?
2.Practical – What will happen to me if I don’t follow this custom? What about if I do? Will my life or the life of others around be easier? Better?
3.Ethics – Is this custom ethical according to my beliefs? Would I be violating my ethics to follow the custom – or would it be wrong of me to not follow it, given the particular facts of the culture/country I find myself in?