Cultural Differences

I was talking to my sister yesterday. And I was telling her about the differences between Germany and India. When I say 'differences', I don't mean to refer to roads,cars,food. I mean differences in people,in habits. I was with a group of people yesterday in school. We were around eight of us. And five out of them wanted to go and eat. If it was India the five would surely ask the other three if they want to come along. But well,here they just said 'goodbye' and left. I was a little offended. I thought they didn't want me to come along. After my conversation with my sister I realised these are just cultural differences.

I recently read the book 'Foreign to familiar' which deals with the same cultural differences. The author has divided the cultures of the world in two parts: hot-climate culture and cold-climate culture. Among the cold-climate regions,she listed Canada, the nothern states of U.S, Northern Europe(Switwerland and above), Israel , the white populations of New Zealand, Australia , and southern Brazil and white population of South Africa and any other countries or parts of countries largely settled by Europeans,such as Argentina. Among the hot climate cultures,she included Southern United States, Asia, the Pacific islands, South America, Africa, the Mediterranean countries, the Middle East and most of the rest of the world. But why differences on the climate? Thats because the hot climate people generally are outdoor and hence end up spending time with more and more people. Hence relationships and friendship is a very important part of their lifes.The cold cultural countries are focus more about being independent,to take care of your own things. Both are important in their own way.

I have total five exchange students in the place I stay in Germany. One of them from Argentina, two from the United States and two from Mexico. We all often talk about the problems we face and somehow I always found similarities between the Mexicans. And now I know why. America is also a cold climate country and so is Europe. And hence they share the basic culture. The cold climate cultures and said to be task oriented,where as the hot climate cultures and said to be relationship based.

I experience these differences everyday and just thought of sharing them with you all. I recently changed my hair colour. If I was in India most of the people would say it looks good(irrespective of what they really think about it),because truth is not the focus here;keeping a friendliness between us is. That doesn't ofcourse mean that everyone is going to say it looks great,people who are my good friends,family members would tell me what they really think about it. But well being in Germany I got different types of reactions. Some said it looks great,some said I look emo,some said it makes you look like a punk where as some said it doesn't look all that great. When they said it looks bad,I joked about being hurt from that comment. And the answer was 'What do your feelings have to do with it? This isn't about you,it's about your hair'.

In the book 'Gifts Differing' by Isabel Briggs it is said that if we are talking about personality differences rather than culture,we would call 'hot-climate' types -'feeling personalities' and cold climate types 'thinking personalities'.Those who have the priority of putting the job first does not mean anything personal but they assume you think the same way. Feeling types also assume that you think like they do,and that 's why they are offended. And thats the reason I was offended..

In the cold culture countires a 'yes' is a 'yes' and a 'no' is a 'no'. Where as in hot culture countries is more about being friendly. If someone would offer me food in India I would first say no(inspite of wanting to have it) because I don't want to sound greedy. Than I would be offered food again and than I will take it. But its not same here. If I say 'no' they will say 'okay'. No offering again and again.

Both the cultures are special in their very own way. I completed around 3 months here and starting was a little difficult to adjust. Now since I know its not about anything personal its just about the culture things are way easier. This is just a beginning and I have so much more to experience.

Well for now I like it here :)

Martin 's fest!

My host mom told me we were going somewhere at six. I got ready,came out of the house with her. Surprisingly we weren't going by car. As we were walking she told me about the fest we were going to Martin 's fest. It is celebrated everywhere specially in the area I stay. And we were going for the one in my village. We went and saw this parade of people which had fire in their hands,and little children carrying little lamps. It just felt like Diwali in the first sight because of the light^^. And then I met Marcos( the mexican exchange student). It was actually amazing to see the little children's lamps as they were all possible different colours and shapes and sizes! Like there was a little paper doll, a hallowen pumpkin to everything you can imagine. They all had lights as it gets dark at around 5.30 these days. Yes,was really strange for me in the beginning too! Leading the parade was Martin on a horse. I was busy taking pictures the whole time as I totally love kids^^. But after a while I just looked around . Me and Marcos both thought it was actually creepy. Imagine! It was like all dark and little kids and people with light and fires in their hands were randomly walking. Ofcourse they had great music with it. My host parents told me that they actually have different songs for this fest. After walking around in the parade we all went to this kindergarden school. There was a line for the entrance. All the little children and the people who played music(which includes my host dad) were getting breads by Martin. And being kids but still not exactly kids me and Marcos wanted breads too^^. I stood in the line and walked in front of Martin but I didn't get a bread :/. Then I came back where Marcos and my host mom where standing. It was so funny! Then my host dad somehow got us breads :P. I just wanted to walk in front of Martin with that bread in my mouth and show him :D(tuk tuk as we say in marathi). They were sweet,and sugar coated, pretty nice. Everyone sat,including all the kids and their parents. I am in Germany. Ofcourse there has to be drinks. And this time it wasn't beer! It was wine. Red wine,which was hot! It was cold and drinking hot wine was a great idea. Again Germans are smart people ;). After everyone settling in there was some kind of prize distribution for the children. They would call all the children of the same age group,the choose the best lamp,and then give prizes. This little kid who was sitting opposite me was great entertainment. He used to cry,laugh demand for beer(once..ehhehe). And he won the first prize for the best lamp in his age group(You can see a photo of him and his lamp). And got this cool police car set and a bunch of things more. And everyone got prizes! I wished I had made one lamp too^^.

The next day:

Me Marcos Signe and Marcos 's host family went to see the same Martin 's fest in Ahrweiler. (its a big village/town nearby). There was a competition between four groups of young boys. They had to set up fire pictures in the wine fields. The wine fields were far but we could still see all the pictures. I can't even imagine how big they would be :). Then we Marcos,Signe just went around looking at things,eating,drinking. We entered this candy store and saw candy cigarettes. We had so much fun with them. So many pictures and posing to smoke. (Aai Baba don't worry after seeing the pictures its just chocolate. I swear,tumchi mulgi ajun bigadali nahi e :P).