In
my service learning project I find myself in situations with people of other
cultures. In one encounter a boy was wearing a garment that was not part of the
American culture. The other adolescents’ would taunt and make fun of him behind
his back. When entering into a new culture, there is always an adaptation
process. The person could accommodate or attempt to get the majority group to
accept “other”. They could use separation in which they do not want positive
relationships with another culture and wants to retain its cultural
characteristics. The boy in the situation chose to assimilate.
Assimilation is taking on a new culture’s beliefs,
values, norms, and social practices. In
this circumstance the boy never returned wearing the garment of his culture. He
has assimilated to the American culture by accepting the new cultures way of
dress. The boy most likely went with assimilation in the adaptation process
because he did not want to be teased anymore and wants to “fit in” with the
other adolescents’ in the program.
This has taught me to be culturally sensitive to people’s
attire. Not everyone dresses alike and every culture has their dressing norms.
It also has opened up my eyes to the fact that how you treat someone can affect
their entire attitude about their new culture. In the future I will be more
aware to the obvious or noticeable culture differences and the challenges that
can sometimes bring into their new culture.
