Understanding another person and another culture

What does it mean to understand another person and another culture?

• Understanding another person and another culture abroad means trying to look beyond your own norms, values, and customs.
• Every culture has its own way of communicating, collaborating, dealing with time, hierarchy, emotions, and relationships. What is “normal” for you may be unusual or even rude elsewhere.
• Understanding another culture does not mean that you have to adopt everything or agree with everything, but rather that you:
  • are aware of differences
  • are open to other perspectives
  • try to see behavior and situations in context
• This plays a role in almost everything you do abroad: working, traveling, living, collaborating, and communicating.

What can you do to better understand other people and cultures?

• In addition to undertaking activities such as volunteering, working abroad, and internships, there are also personal things you can do such as:
• Actively listening to people and their stories.
• Observing how people interact with each other (for example, at work or in families). 
• Asking questions about customs, practices, and traditions.
• Delving into the history and culture of a country.
• Participating in local activities or traditions.
• Reflecting on your own behavior and assumptions.
• Collaborating with local colleagues or communities.
• Adapting to local customs where possible.

What are reasons to understand other people and cultures abroad?

• To communicate better: by understanding cultural differences, you prevent misunderstandings and build stronger relationships.
• To act more respectfully: you learn to take local norms and values ​​into account.
• To get to know yourself better: you become more aware of your own beliefs and behavior.
• To collaborate more effectively: understanding other working styles and forms of communication makes collaboration easier.
• To get more out of your experience: you experience a country and culture in a deeper and more meaningful way.

What skills and qualities do you need to understand other people and cultures?

• Empathy: being able to put yourself in the thoughts and feelings of others.
• Open attitude: being willing to accept new perspectives without immediately judging.
• Communication skills: being able to communicate clearly and respectfully, even when things go differently than you are used to.
• Reflective capacity: being able to reflect on your own behavior and assumptions.
• Flexibility: being able to adapt to other ways of thinking and acting.

What are the best countries to learn to understand other people and cultures better?

• Countries with different cultures and customs in Europe: Finland, Romania, Greece, Portugal.
• Countries with major cultural differences compared to the West: India, Japan, Indonesia, Morocco, Ethiopia.
• Countries with strong community and family values: Nepal, Ghana, Guatemala, Philippines.
• Multicultural societies: South Africa, United States, Malaysia, Brazil, Australia.
• Volunteer and work projects worldwide: Wherever you collaborate with local communities, NGOs, or international teams

What are the risks and points of attention regarding understanding other people and cultures?

• That you judge quickly based on your own frame of reference without understanding the context.
• That misunderstandings arise due to differences in communication (e.g., direct vs. indirect).
• That you unintentionally come across as disrespectful due to behavior, clothing, or language use. 
• Frustration arises when things run differently than you are used to (for example, planning or punctuality).
• You lose yourself in adapting and no longer properly guard your own boundaries.

Are you insured and what should you look out for?

• Understanding cultures is less about direct risks, but often about the context in which you work or travel.
• During work, an internship, or volunteering abroad, the coverage of your Dutch health insurance may change or lapse.
• Local organizations often offer no, or limited, supplementary insurance.
• Cultural misunderstandings can sometimes also affect work situations or safety, so good preparation is important.
• During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may lapse. See the pages on: insuring paid work, internships, or volunteering abroad.
• See also: insurance for working in X for paid work, for internships and for volunteer work abroad.