DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Open-minded

 

             I moved to the United States 4 years ago from Albania. One of the things I love most about living in the U.S. is how people in this country are so open-minded and how people of different cultures interact.

            Usually in Albanian culture people stick together, but now that Albanian co-culture is becoming a part of American culture, Albanians are slowly becoming more open minded. In Albanian co-culture many people, especially the older generations, believe that their children have to marry other Albanians and have Albanian babies. For example, my friend’s parents wanted their daughter to only marry an Albanian man but my friend Anila is more open-minded than her parents. She thinks that all people are the same and happened to fall in love with a guy who was Spanish. Anila had hard time convincing her family to see her boyfriend as a person and not judge him based on his skin color or where he is from. Anila’s family had to let go of certain values such as the desire to keep the same language, customs and their wish that their grandchildren will be pure Albanian. For her daughter’s benefit they had to put aside the traditional values of their co-culture and accept a man from an out-group; someone who is not Albanian, doesn’t speak the language, doesn’t know about Albanian foods, music, holidays, and other important cultural experiences. Getting to know her boyfriend better her parents understood that he was a nice guy with good principles and values. This is an example of how slowly through intercultural communication people will become more open-minded and accept differences in others.

            The people that I work with are all from different countries and cultures but through working at the hair salon we have all become friends. In fact, my co-workers have become my best friends. Keeping an open mind, we see each other as equal in every way even though we all come from different places such as Albania, Ecuador, South Africa, and Romania. We are always there to help each other in need and not judge each other. For example, English is not our first language but that is the only language we speak in the salon so we are always helping each other. Sometimes I have problems understanding new products that come in or what the clients are asking for. When I need help my co-workers never get tired of explaining new words or phrases I do not know. Intercultural communication makes us understand different cultures better by forgetting our differences and working together to solve problems.

            Being open-minded is very important in communicating in general but especially with people of different co-cultures. Having an open mind helps us to learn about other people and other cultures and make us better communicator.

 

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.