Honduras,  a country a little bigger than Tennessee, is located  in Central America and is bordered by Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.  With a population of 9,038,741 Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America with more than half of its people living in poverty.  This is caused from an unequal distribution of income, a high underemployment, and a  poor quality of education where the drop out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low(C.I.A, 2018).  The issue of poverty along with the fact that Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world is the reason that we are seeing a mass exodus of Hondurans coming to seek asylum in the USA.

It is not uncommon for large groups of migrants to leave out of Central America in large numbers in an attempt to flee poverty and violence.  Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are referred to the  “Northern Triangle” of Central America and rank among the most violent in the world “with drug cartels moving illegal merchandise throughout the region and street gangs controlling the neighborhoods and  charging residents “rent” (a form of extortion). (Argen, 2018).  People fearing for the safety of their families rather risk leaving their homes and an uncertain journey, for a chance at a better life for their children.

The dream of a  better life started out with a group of 160 Honduran migrants who began their journey walking north across Central America in hopes of reaching the United States.These caravans consist of  family units and regularly convene because people seek safety in numbers. “Undocumented migrants transiting Mexico often fall victim to crimes such as kidnapping, extortion and rape — often committed by criminal gangs, drug cartels, coyotes and crooked public officials.”(Argen, 2018).  Now the crowd has grown  to close to 4,000 people with the situation getting more and more dangerous every day. As they get closer to the border some have turned back but most have continued to press on.  Those who continue, are not only dealing with lack of food, basic supplies, heat,  and heavy rain but with the resistance of the countries they are passing through.

As their journey continues it is uncertain what their future holds. As we know our current administration has a Zero Policy on immigration that has gone as far as separating families at the border and has made recent comments regarding this issue tweeting, “The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!” and “We have today informed the countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador that if they allow their citizens, or others, to journey through their borders and up to the United States, with the intention of entering our country illegally, all payments made to them will STOP (END)!” (Argen, 2018).

Even with this type of unwelcoming and intimidating attitude towards them and  the fear of the unknown they continue to march on seeking asylum and hoping to seek refuge in our country.  As a mother of three children I  would do anything for my children just like I am sure these mothers and fathers are doing for their own children.   If they are choosing to continue this journey what they are leaving behind and running from must be much worse than what they are facing now, so why not let them in.  The Honduran congressman Jari Dixon, summed it up perfectly,” They are not seeking the American dream — they’re fleeing the Honduran nightmare” (Dangerfield, 2018).

References

Agren, D. (2018, October 18). Mexican government sends federal police to intercept caravan of U.S.-bound migrants. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/10/17/mexican-government-sends-federal-police-stop-caravan-u-s-bound-migrants/1674954002/

Central Intelligence Agency (2018). The world factbook. Retrieved at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.htmlLinks to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Dangerfield, K. (2018, October 20). IN PHOTOS: Thousands of migrants make dangerous trek to U.S., and the situation is getting dire. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/4576265/honduran-migrants-mexico-border-u-s/

Growing up in a traditional Latino home there were certain things that I was raised to do.  For example, when I entered a room where my elders were I would greet them with a kiss and say “bendición” which was asking them for a blessing.  As a child we would not look an adult in  the eye because it was considered disrespectful and we would call everyone older than us “don” or “doña”, which meant ma’am or sir.  When we had people over it didn’t matter if you were a total stranger or a relative you were treated like a part of the family because that was who we were.  These were just a few of the customs that made us who we were and are things that were passed on from generations to generations.

When I started to read about the people of Turkey I realized that they were not very different than me and my people.    Sure we come from two different parts of the world, speak different languages, and even have different beliefs and religions but at the core we have a lot of the same customs.  This was something that I found very interesting and decided to look further into it.

One thing that stood out to me right away was when I read “Turks are known for their hospitality”(Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 312).  Well if this isn’t like my people I don’t know what is! Then i kept reading… “They like to invite people to their houses for dinners, breakfasts, lunches, and even make there guests welcome to stay at their homes, if they are traveling from another city.  It is important for Turks to make their guests feel as comfortable as in their own home “(Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 314). I mean if you ever met a Puerto Rican grandmother you would know that this is very true of her.  She would keep feeding you until you are too full to leave and then do it all over again tomorrow.

Another custom that I found we had in common were certain gestures.  For example, Turks will not address an elderly person by their first name because it is considered disrespectful.  Instead they will add “Bey” which means Mr. or “Hanim” which means Miss.  This can also be said with the latino culture with the use of “don” and “doña”.  Another gesture is the greeting each other with a kiss that can also be seen in Turkish culture as well as in the Latino one.

Sometimes because of the times we live in we unfortunately find it easier to see the differences between us and other cultures instead of the similarities.  If we only took the time to find some similarities we would see that we have more in common than we realize.  Once we realize that w are all human beings first we can start breaking down walls and this world as cliche as it might sound would start being a better place.

References

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge.

Everyone has heard phrases like teamwork makes the dream work, alone we can do little but together we can do  much, chains are only as strong as their weakest link, many hands make light work, there is no I in team and my personal favorite TEAM stands for Together Everyone Achieves More. Sure these can be funny and cliche but there is something powerful and meaningful behind them.  The word team is defined as “a number of persons associated together in work or activity” while work is defined as being “engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose or result, especially in one’s job; do work”(Merriam-Webster).  In putting both words together, teamwork then is the “work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole”(Merriam-Webster).  If you notice that in the definition of the word work, the sense is that the ultimate goal is for one’s own individual achievement.  Teamwork has everyone using their own purpose and achievements but for the the final and ultimate goal is not for oneself but for the whole.

Teamwork is not something that can be easily achieved, Lord knows I can attest to that not just a work but in my home life too! I am a mother of three children, two dogs,  and a wife.  My team starts with my oldest beautiful daughter who is fourteen years old (I know , just pray for me now), she is followed by her nine year old handsome brother, and then by her perfect angel little eight year old sister (and no I do not have favorites).  We are five people (seven, for  those who are dog lovers) with different likes and dislikes, different ways of communicating, different life experiences, various levels of responsibilities,  all unique individuals living under one roof with one common goal.  That goal is to be a healthy, loving, successful family.

Now, in order for my family, my team to be successful and continue to hit our mark we have to intentionally continue to cultivate the type of environment that allows for those things to happen. A lot of the skill and characteristics that we can use can be the ones used from team building for success and synergy.  Since we are a team by all means of the definition and synergy is “a cooperative or combined action, and occurs when diverse or disparate individuals or groups collaborate for a common cause’… whose goal is to “increase effectiveness by sharing perceptions and experiences, insights, and knowledge” (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p.266).  The characteristics that aid in this cultivation are skills like: taking interest in each member’s achievement, the ability to give and accept feedback and not get defensive, the ability to be open to change, cultivate listening skills, clarify roles, relationships, assignments,and  responsibilities,promotes an approach that is goal-directed, seeks group participation, divides the labor fairly, and synchronizes effort (that is exactly what a “working”family should be doing),  and foster an environment of trust, confidence, and commitment, to the group.(Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p.266).

These are not only skills and characteristics that people should develop and build upon in the workforce but are very useful to people that find themselves in any team setting.  My husband and myself as coaches must continuously not only teach our children characteristics and skills that will aid them in acquiring and implementing these characteristics but also model it for them in our everyday lives.  When as a family “team” we all participate to walking this out not only do we become better people for ourselves but we become better for others.  Our home runs smoother, the environment becomes more positive, and everyone ends up better off in the long run!

Reference

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge.

Change, “to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution; the act, process, or result of transforming, to give a different position, course, or direction to” (Merriam-Webster).  Sounds kind of poetic doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t!  Change is never easy, but it is almost always necessary and almost always for the better.   In the 1980’s, a man by the name of Schein elaborated on another theorist by the name of Lewin’s 1952 change management model.  According to Schein, there were certain things or steps that a person needed to go through if they were planning to go through change.

I remember the time when I decided that I was going to start to live a healthier lifestyle. You know it was around the that time when that clock struck midnight, and everyone makes a big deal about it.  Well anyway, I was serious about it this time!  I was getting older and I was done having children so there was no better time than the present.  Schein’s first and second ideas were that anytime anyone goes through the process of changing something in their lives they not only have to learn something new, but they have to unlearn something old he called this “unfreezing” (Schein’s, 1980).  The second idea was that no change will take place unless there is a motivation to change.  Well I had a lot of unlearning to do and I was really motivated. (I mean it was a New Year’s resolution!) The first thing I had to unlearn what healthy meant to me because me and the dictionary had two different meanings.  The first thing I had to unlearn was not going out to eat as much.  So, what I did was that I learned to eat home cooked meals 5 days out of a 7-day week.  Another thing I unlearned was sitting on my couch after work. So, what I did was learned to come home and put sneakers on and go for a quick 30-minute walk 3 times a week.

As the weeks went on instead of getting easier it got a lot harder because I added things like the gym, more strenuous workouts and a little stricter diet. I really didn’t think I could keep it up and at times just wanted to quit.  My body ached, and I just didn’t think I could keep it up anymore and who are we kidding I wanted pizza!

One thing that did keep me going was that I tried to keep a positive attitude and did set up little rewards along the way.  According to Schein individual change can be seen in things such as structures, processes and attitudes (Schein’s, 1980).  For example, after having a week where I did physical activity for an hour or more 3 x out of the week and ate in the house 5 x out of 7 days in the week I rewarded myself we a cheat day.  It was awesome!  I had all my favorite foods which usually just consisted of pizza, but it was just what I needed to keep me moving in the right direction.

Even though I am still learning new things about myself every day I know that I have changed for the best.   Schein’s says that you know you have made a stable change when you “freeze” the new behavior into the “standard” behavior (Schein’s, 1980).  I now don’t feel so tempted to make an unhealthier option when at restaurants and do enjoy being more active.  One thing that I have learned is that being healthy is not something that you do but that it is a lifestyle.  When I chose to look at it that way it was liberating.

Change. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/change

Planned Change. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2018, from PSU Instructure: https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1942644/modules/items/24935391

Communicating in itself can be a difficult process but communicating across cultural and and linguistic boundaries has its own set of challenges.  It requires for us to use “flexible approaches to listen, observe, and speak according to the specific situation at hand” (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p.38).  In order to effectively communicate with people that are culturally different from us we must take the time to find out important things about them like their culture, language, history, and where they live.  This is not saying that we have to be an expert in these things but it is showing them that you have enough respect and care enough about them as a human to find out these things about them so that you can have common ground.

While living in India,  this was a lesson I learned the hard way.  It was my first time really leaving the country and I was not just going on vacation but was actually going there to live.  I was young and naive and I thought that my American bubble was as big as this world.  I quickly got that bubble burst as soon as I landed in Mumbai and was surrounded with what I can only explain as “India”.

Looking back now, things would have been so much easier for me and I would have offended so many less people if I would have just learned more about their culture, traditions, and way of living before getting there. Simple gestures such as a head nod “no”  didn’t mean “no” to them, it actually meant the opposite.  If only I would have known this simple piece of information beforehand it would have saved moments of frustration and embarrassment on both ends.

Communicating in an effective way is a two way street. You must be able to remove as many obstacles you can  in order for that to happen.  Not only will it make communicating easier but in this global market where we are working more and more with people from different cultures it shows that you took the time to understand the other person.  That is definitely something I learned from my own experience and something that I will continue to carry with me into all my new experiences.

References

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge

Growing up I didn’t realize how diverse my school and classroom were until one day it was not.  My first day in a new school was the first time in my short  twelve in a half years that I ever realized those differences.   I was no longer in the majority but in the minority and my teachers definitely did not look like me.  I faced a lot of ups and downs in middle and high school years and it because of those experiences that I decided to go into education.

I have been involved in the world of education for the last 20 years in one form or another.  From being a daycare worker, a teacher assistant, a lead teacher,  a new teacher support , and now to my current position as a behavior specialist I have seen how diverse not only the classroom has gotten but the school staff.   I have always worked in schools that have been located in low income neighborhoods and where the majority of the children are minorities.  I have seen how teachers that are different from those that they teach have taken the time to get to really know their students and how some just dismissed those differences and made no real connection.  The latter teacher didn’t last more than that first year and in the end no real learning took place and many did not succeed.

As more and more teachers enter the world of education it is imperative that they not only teach the material they are experts in but that they understand that a classroom not only has different academic levels and learning styles but cultural differences. Since the classroom is getting more and more diverse every day learning how to teach effectively in a diverse classroom is the only way to make sure that every student is given a real chance to succeed.

When a student sees that a teacher acknowledges the “validity of different cultural heritages” (Strategies for Teaching in a Diverse Classroom) it  is a big deal for them. Without knowing we can  sometimes do or say things which can suggest that the “dominant approach to life is somehow standard or ideal”(Strategies for Teaching in a Diverse Classroom).  Since every person and culture brings different prior knowledge and experiences into a classroom the goal of a teacher is to build off  that  knowledge so that students learn and understand  new things.  Taking the time to understand the “cultural assets and values”  (Strategies for Teaching in a Diverse Classroom) the students have is a crucial step in the learning process.  If we ignore them, then we as teachers and administrators shouldn’t be surprised  when the outcomes are not in our favor.  If I am teaching history in a classroom where my students are mostly hispanics and don’t teach them about someone in history who “looks” like them then I am not acknowledging who they are.  If its music and all I am having them listen to is music written and performed by old white guys then how are they supposed to make a connection?  Part of being an effective teacher is presenting your information in a way that will make a connection with the student that will spark learning. Without this spark and connection no real learning will take place and the battle of true knowledge will be lost.

Culturally responsive teaching is the type of teaching that acknowledges the validity of cultural heritages, connects the home and school environments,  in which students’ cultures are used as  part of lessons, identifies the students’ learning styles or preferred modes of learning, and maintains high expectations.  All these elements coming together will not only make it a powerful  learning environment but would show the students that you genuinely care and that success is the only option in your classroom.

Barton, G. (2018). Socio-culturally Diverse Music Learning and Teaching: Implications and Ways Forward for Classroom Practice. Music Learning and Teaching in Culturally and Socially Diverse Contexts, 187-205. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-95408-0_9

According to our text readings a study by Ting Toomey stated that “65 percent of a message’s meaning is sent through nonverbal cues. A significant component of this is body language, or physical signaling.  It contributes to at least three reasons for cross-cultural conflict” (Moran, Abramson, Mora, 2014, pg.49) . Growing up in a hispanic home in Washington Heights New York there were certain cultural things that were taught to us that were passed on from generation to generation.  From music and food, to how we respect those who are older than us and in places of authority.  One of those customs were, not looking an elder or someone of authority in the eyes. Looking away when someone of that stature spoke to us was considered a sign of respect and doing anything other than that was considered a defiant act and very disrespectful.

As I got older and moved to Pennsylvania I soon learned that my values and customs were not always accepted and normal to those around me.  I will never forget my first week of school when a teacher yelled at me in front of the class for not looking at him in the face when he spoke.  I immediately began to cry because this was something that was not familiar to me.  I had always been a good student who never ever got in trouble and could not understand why this was happening to me.  Later on that night when speaking to my mother she explained that where we live now not looking a person of authority in the eye when speaking was considered disrespectful.  This was the first time I realized how cultural differences can really affect someone in a negative way.

Looking back at this situation now I really wished my teacher would have taken the time to understand my culture. Understand that maybe that my non-verbal cues can mean something different than his.   If he did he would have know that I was not be disrespectful but the exact opposite I was giving him the respect I would give any person of authority.

As global leaders we cannot make this same mistake.  We must understand that “understanding the differences can help us become better cross-cultural communicators” (Moran, Abramson, Mora, 2014, pg.49) . It is imperative that we respect those different than us and when we can do what we can to accommodate those differences.

References

Abramson, N. R., Moran, R. T., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences Ninth Edition. London: Routledge.