Intercultural Development Continuum (Concept)

This week’s lesson on the Intercultural Development Continuum made me think about how my understanding of Japanese culture has changed since coming to Japan. Before arriving, many of my ideas about Japan came from anime, social media, and stories from other people. However, living here has helped me move beyond stereotypes and understand the culture in a more realistic way.

As someone from India, specifically from a Bengali background, I have noticed both similarities and differences between Japanese and Bengali culture. One similarity is the importance of respect. In Bengal, we show respect to elders through language and behavior, while in Japan respect is reflected through manners, greetings, and social etiquette. Family values are also important in both cultures, although they may be expressed differently.

One difference I noticed is communication style. Bengalis are often expressive, emotional, and comfortable with direct conversations. In contrast, many Japanese people communicate more indirectly and carefully to maintain harmony within a group. At first, this difference was difficult for me to understand, but over time I began to appreciate the value of considering how others might feel before speaking.

This lesson reminded me that intercultural understanding is not about deciding which culture is better. Instead, it is about recognizing differences, appreciating similarities, and becoming more open-minded through experience.

References:

  1. Japanese Culture Explained:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLIv7HnZ_fE
  2. Understanding Japanese Communication:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGrBHiuPlT0
  3. Intercultural Development Continuum (IDI):
    https://idiinventory.com/generalinformation/
  4. Introduction to Bengali Culture:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali

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