How You View Other Cultures & Developing Your Personal Culture

Start with a list of things you believe in or value . Could be as simple as various cuisines or dress styles or bilingualisim etc. What about what you value ; could be you value family, friends, learning and new knowledge. In combination show how your list of values shapes the way you see other people. You may consider writing down a couple of things or a list of how you see other people and why. Normally we look at situations, events, and interpret what other people say and do, according to our own set of past experiences, culture, faith, values, all of which help us form our beliefs about ourselves, about others, and about the world in general. The meaning we give events (e.g diwali), the way we make sense of our world, is based upon our set of core beliefs. Our minds are constantly trying to make sense of our world, forming judgements and opinions about every situation, event, interaction. Those judgements and opinions will be affected by our central or core belief system. It is as though we are looking at the world through distorted or coloured lenses – and everyone has their own personal prescription or colour for their glasses. Unpack your core belief system through the following questions;
-How I think about myself
-How I think about others
-How I think about the world
Your core belief system is informed by your past experiences, childhood upbringing, culture, faith, values, current circumstances (say living in an extended family like me); character traits, including genetic influences; all these shape how we react to and perceive other people.
for example;

I value and have a lot of respect for cultural diversity. Including the Aboriginal and Torres strait cultures which i view as unique, rich and meaningful with a lot of teach us in terms of respect. For example, the use of the generic phrases 'Aunty and uncle' to address older people, to whom the speaker may not be related. I would like to apply this a parenting strategy for my children to teach them respect. You may indeed consult with an opinion leader to learn more about what is embedded in their culture.

We aim to develop out cultural competences firstly by identifying areas where we are culturally incompetent. Stating how you view other people or being brutally honest by confronting your cultural stereo types/assumptions or biases could be a good starting. It is okay to be culturally incompetent, it is not a crime.

References
McConvell, Patrick (1996). "Backtracking to Babel: the chronology of Pama–Nyungan expansion in Australia". Archaeology in Oceania 31: 125–144.
Jump up ^ Sharp, Janet; Nicholas Thieberger (1992). Bilybara: Aboriginal languages of the Pilbara region. Port Hedland, Western Australia: Wangka Maya, The Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. ISBN 0-646-10711-9.
Jump up ^ Wafer, Jim (1982). A Simple Introduction to Central Australian Kinship Systems. Institute for Aboriginal Development, Alice Springs, Northern Territory.nnor, J. (2007). Dreaming Stories: A springboard for learning. Research in Practice Series. Canberra, ACT:
Early Childhood Australia.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2010). Educators Being, Belonging and Becoming: Educators’ Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Accessed 7 March, 2011 at http://www.deewr.gov.au/
Earlychildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/Documents/ EYLF_Ed_Guide.pdf. MacNaughton, G. (2003). Shaping early childhood:
Learners, curriculum and contexts. England: Open University Press.
Mundine, K., and Giugni, M. (2006). Diversity and difference: Lighting the spirit of identity. Research in Practice Series. Canberra, ACT: Early Childhood
Australia.
Richardson C. (in press). Respecting diversity:Articulating early childhood practice. Research in Practice Series. Canberra, ACT: Early Childhood
Australia.
Various authors (2009). Every Child, Vol 15, No. 2, Canberra, ACT: Early Childhood Australia.
GoodLuck!
XOXO

thank you very much Panga38.....