Adaptation to Culture

8/12/2019 Adaptation to Culture

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David Mathieson A design engineer byprofession.

A teacher by accident

A photographer

A lover of hats

Someone who lovesMexican artisanal beers

and the personal chef to

my wife.

http://dtmathieson.wix.com/ilearn

http://dtmathieson.wix.com/fotografiarte

http://dtmathieson.wix.com/mysite


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From www.blueprintforfootball.com


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From www.blueprintforfootball.com


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What is British Culture?


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Britain

What comes to your mindwhen I ask this?

If I say to you.

(Time to jot things down in pairs)


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Lets see what

came to your mind.

How many thought

of some of these


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.... and of course


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The British character


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Everyone associates the British, I guess,

with the stiff upper lip.

It probably comes from being taught not to showyour emotions, especially at British Public Schools.

If you do show them, then its a sign of weakness.

Its not the winning thats important,its the taking part that counts.

This is a phrase told to many children by their

parents. It kind of gets ingrained into the British

psyche that tells you that at least you tried your best.

In sports we feel, in a way, a little embarrassed when we win

and always apologise to the loser for beating them.


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We love to collect things.

Collecting things starts from an early age with

stamps.

We are encouraged by our parents to collect

something as a hobby.

I think, really, collecting things is a way of notletting go of the past and that things were better

than they are nowwhich kind of sums up the

British Character

So Id like to take this opportunity to tell my wife that

she can actually blame my parents for all the clutter

and odd things up on shelves and in my bookcase.


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So what is Keep Calm and Carry On all about?This poster was initially produced by the British Ministry of Information at the

beginning of the Second World War, and was intended to be distributed in

order to strengthen morale in the event of a wartime disaster, such as mass

bombing of major cities using high explosives and poison gas, which was

widely expected within hours of an outbreak of war.

The first two posters, Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will

Bring Us Victoryand Freedom is in Perilwere produced by His MajestysStationery Office.

These two were posted on public transport, in shop windows, on notice

boards and hoardings across Britain.

The third and final poster of the set was Keep Calm and Carry On.

The plan for this poster was to issue it only upon the invasion of Britain by

Germany.

Thankfully this never happened and the poster was never officially seen by

the public.


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It is believed that most of the Keep Calm posters were destroyed at the end ofthe war in 1945. However, nearly 60 years later, a bookseller stumbled across

a copy hidden amongst a pile of dusty old books bought from an auction.

A small number also remain in the National Archives in London, and a further

15 were discovered in the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.

Sadly nobody knows who originally came up with the simple and

quintessential Britishness of the Keep Calm and Carry On message.

Now theres a Keep Calm and ........ for almost everything.

From - www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/history.htm


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What is Bri t ishness?


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From

Britishness, it is often suggested, is ultimately about shared values

of tolerance, respect and fair play, a belief in freedom and democracy.

If Britishness means anything at all it must go beyond ticking boxes

of general niceness.While that may make us feel good about ourselves, there is something

a bit disturbing about people who stand in front of the mirror marvelling

at their perfect teeth.(Perfect teeth, of course, are regarded as thoroughly un-British.)

Who calls themselves British?

20% of UK population prefer to be described as British

63% of people in England describe themselves as English rather than British.

This is a rise of 23%, as the figure in 2008 was 41%

Trying to define Britishness is like trying to paint the wind.


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The fact that we stillthink we rule the world


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Canada

Australia

New Zealand

New Guinea

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Kenya

Sierra LeoneGambia

Nigeria

Uganda

SudanIraq

Yemen

Hong Kong

Burma

Malaya

Singapore

India

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Sri LankaBelize

Guyana

Bahamas

JamaicaFalklands

Malta

... and if the USA dont start behaving

then well revoke their Independence from us.


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Queuing is a national obsession


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One of the only words in theEnglish language thats 4 letters

longer than it should be.


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Tea is central to our existence


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For the British, whatever goes wrong in life - whether itssudden bankruptcy, disaster by meteorite, alien invasion or

losing in the World Cup to Germany on penalties - you can be

sure that it can be fixed with a cuppa and a biscuit.

Making the perfect cuppa involves the kind of concentrationusually seen in Zen Buddhism.

Uttering the words ooh, lovely is compulsory.


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We try our best with language


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We enjoy a sense of Irony.


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Irony.

Its like goldy or silverybut made of Iron.


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Irony in Action


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To us, foreign food is strange


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One topic unites us


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We enjoy beaches differently


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We are easily pleased


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Even going out to eat is different


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Who is to blame for this?


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A Sense of Fair Play


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Its rude to complain


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Politeness


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Politeness means :

Saying thank you to another person whenyou have just given them directions.

Saying pardon me after hiccuppingwhen you are in a completely emptyroom.

Apologising to the other person whenthey stand on your foot accidentally.


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Etiquette (Pub)


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(Mis)UnderstandingBritish English


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Would you like something?

No. Im fine thanks!


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So how do you adapt?


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Realisation


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If we say who we are, we assumethat others believe us.

So having to carry a form ofidentification came, at first, as a

bit of a shock.

The British generally dont carry

any form of identification otherthan a driving licence.


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Acceptance


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Learning to acceptand respectyour new culture is an important step

to becoming a part of where you now are.


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Change everything you did before


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You learn to drive (differently)

Y l t d i (diff tl )


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You learn to drive (differently)


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But once you learn to avoid the

potholes (baches), unpredictable taxi

drivers and buses, as well as the otherdrivers; driving in Monterrey

is a piece of cake.


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Embracing the culture


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Finally. You adapt.


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Things becomea little less confusing


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You get used to the foodand traditions

You have tacos before class


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You have tacos before class


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You enjoy moviesyou didnt think you would.


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Finally, you have adapted


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You know youve adopted when ...


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Documents

Adaptation to Culture