L.罗伯特·柯尔斯经典书“海外生活的生存工具：对于计划生活和工作的美国人”在1979年首次出版。我现在有第四版。这本书主要用于在国外工作的商人和妇女，但对于出国的任何人都有价值。这本书不是一个如何找到住房或工作的实用指南。相反，它旨在作为对国际旅行者的行为和原则的教训。这本书从几个章节开始关于美国人的刻板印象。然后，它继续讨论美国和西方人，所谓的“第三世界”国家的看法。通常Kohls的原则是，美国人应该避免直接代表他们被看到的常见的刻板印象，至少直到他们感到舒适在新的环境，甚至然后他们应该尝试以社会上可接受的方式表达自己。其次，科尔斯强调美国人应该避免对与自己不同的其他文化做出判断。他说我们不应该将其他文化视为劣等或优越，而是应该尝试理解他们的生活方式。 Kohls然后给出了一系列具体的例子，关于美国人如何不同于其他文化在他们对人类善良的感觉，他们与时间和自然的关系，以及他们对生活目的的理解。
第14章有一些有用的问题，可以帮助您更好地了解您在国外的家：
你的东道国有什么样的政府？
你的国家的英雄是什么？
你的国家对垃圾的态度是什么？
说什么语言？
什么是主要宗教？
最重要的仪式是什么？
动物如何治疗？
婚姻仪式是什么样的？
国家对美国的历史关系？
有多少人移民到美国？
许多美国人在国家外出？
保健质量？
家庭补救？
教育？免费或强制？
种族隔离？
教育质量？
Rote学习？
最好的大学？
坚定的信念命运？
他对文化冲击的写作也很有帮助。科尔斯将文化冲击描述为不是突然发生，而是逐渐发生的事情。这是慢慢建立起来的结果，难以确定对生活在其中的文化的刺激。这些通常涉及在行动和期望不完全是他们期望的情况下工作。 Kohls强调文化冲击的原因的不可知性是我可以涉及的东西。他描述了文化冲击的几个阶段。第一，前期，是欣快之一。在这个时候，事情都是新的和有趣的，什么最令人印象深刻的是世界各地的文化的一致性。第二阶段是真正的文化冲击。差异将累积，直到我们看到的是差异。第三阶段是逐步调整这些差异。第四阶段，理想的阶段是，当我们学会成功地过渡我们自己的文化态度和东道国的态度。在这个阶段，我们甚至可能喜欢或喜欢我们的许多新文化态度和行为。在这个阶段，在回家时经历逆向文化冲击是很常见的。
这本书不是学术论文。它是以非正式易于阅读的格式编写的。它旨在为计划在国外工作的个人或团体的工作簿。有很多问题与空间，你给你自己的反思。我认为，在2017年，我们大多数人都知道“丑陋的美国”刻板印象，我们知道如何将其他文化看作“原始”是不能接受的。但是，因为即使我们都知道这些固有的偏见，我们仍然有罪的展示他们。因此，这本书与40年前第一次出版时一样重要。
L. Robert Kohls classic book "Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad" was first published in 1979. I have the Fourth Edition in my hands now. The book is used mostly by businessmen and women working abroad, but can be of value to anyone traveling abroad. The book is not a practical guide on how to find housing or a job though. Rather, it is intended as a lesson in conduct and principles for international travelers. The book begins with several chapters on stereotypes of Americans. It then proceeds to discuss American, and Westerners in general, view of so-called "Third World" countries. Generally Kohls' principal is that Americans should avoid directly representing the common stereotypes they are seen to embody, at least until they feel comfortable in their new surroundings, and even then they should try to express themselves in a socially acceptable way. Secondly, Kohls emphasizes how Americans should avoid casting judgement on other cultures different from their own. He says we should not view other cultures as being inferior or superior, rather, we should try to understand their way of life. Kohls then gives a series of specific examples on how Americans are different from other cultures in their perception of human goodness, their relationship to time and nature, as well as their understanding of the purpose of life.
Chapter 14 has a useful set of questions you can ask to help get a better sense of your home abroad:
What kind of government does your host country have?
What are your country's national heroes?
What is your country's attitude towards trash?
What languages are spoken?
What is the predominant religion?
What are the most important ceremonies?
How are animals treated?
What are marriage ceremonies like?
Historical relationship of country towards the US?
How many people have emigrated to the US?
Many Americans expats in country?
Quality of health care?
Home remedies?
Education? Free or compulsory?
Racial segregation?
Quality of education?
Rote learning?
Best universities?
Strong belief in fate?
His writing on culture shock is also helpful. Kohls describes culture shock as something that does not occur suddenly, but gradually. It is the result of a slow build-up of difficult to identify irritations with the culture one is living in. These usually involve working in situations where the actions and expectations are not exactly what one would expect them to be. Kohls emphasis on the unknowability of the causes of culture shock is something that I can relate to. He describes several stages of culture shock. The first, pre-stage, is one of euphoria. At this time things are all new and interesting and what mostly impresses us is the sameness of cultures around the world. Stage two is when true culture shock hits. The differences will accumulate until all we see is differences. Stage three is the gradual adjustment to these differences. Stage four, the ideal stage, is when we have learned to successfully transition between our own cultural attitudes and those of our host country. At this stage we may even come to like or prefer many of our new cultures attitudes and behaviors. It is common, at this stage, to experience reverse culture shock upon returning home.
The book is not an academic treatise. It is written in an informal easy to read format. It is intended to a work book for either individuals or groups planning to work abroad. There are plenty of questions asked with space for you to give your own reflections. I would think that in 2017 most of us are aware of the "Ugly American" stereotypes as much as we are aware of how unacceptable it is to view other cultures as "primitive." Still, because even though we are all aware of these inherent biases we are still all guilty of exhibiting them. For that reason, the book is as valuable now as it was when first published almost 40 years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment