Communication as basic of a process as it may seem can get rather tricky when communication with people of of various cultures. First, there are multiple forms of communication such a verbal and non-verbal which can differ significantly from one culture to another. Non-verbal communication includes body language, gestures, and eye contact.
During my time in the Middle East I got to experience a drastic difference into what I was used to. In the Middle East it is not customary for a women to speak to a man unless spoken to first, additionally, when shaking hands a women will extend her hand first if desired as it is uncommon for women to conduct business or initiate conversation with the opposite sex.
My first experience was at a fish market in Kuwait city. I had the pleasure of witnessing the local fishermen bring in their catch and the locals surround the piles of fish on the ground and barter. It was a fascinating experience, however, I could not take part in it. I had to give my translator my budget and watch him from a distance barter for my fish.
“Social norms define rules or standards for evaluating what behavior is considered socially acceptable” (Moran, Abramson & Moran, p. 42). Not having the freedom to conduct business for myself was a bit frustrating. Additionally, not being in control of the situation and knowing the language enough to understand the whole bartering process made me unsure if I was truly getting a good deal, but I had to respect the customs and variables in their communication process and enjoy the experience as it was.
References
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge
John Byron Spindle says
Yvonne,
I couldn’t imagine going through the struggle of being a woman in the Middle East. I am sure it was difficult to know exactly where the line was of what you could do. I was unaware that there was that much of a separation amongst the sexes. If I was in your shoe I would have also been unsure if they were just taking my money or getting a decent deal. Great post!