World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development … and Coaching
On May 21 the United Nations is celebrating cultural diversity on a special day with a cumbrous name. They are advertising 10 things to do to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (http://www.un.org/en/events/culturaldiversityday/tenthings.shtml)
Included are small steps like listening to music, visiting exhibits of other cultures in a musem or watching a movie originating in a foreign culture. All easily done and we have a choice to participate, to take action, even to like what we hear and see or not.
When living with people from other cultures we sometimes feel we have little choice. We have to play by “their” rules. Sometimes not the cultural difference, but the need to adjust our behaviour makes us feel like losing control and identity. We do not like giving up choice and relate it to cultural diversity.
To me, this is a misconception, because even in adjusting my behaviour and adapting to something new, I actually increase the options that I have. I may not be enthusiastic about all new choices, but nevertheless, my range is widened. Most of us experience this very directly once we return to our home country, people and place. There we do not see expanded options and we sense less diversity.
Wishing you joy in experiencing the daily challenges of living cross-culturally, on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Developmen and the remaining days of the year!
Jutta Depner