Intercultural competence and learning a Western responsibility?

If your 800+ introductions at multinational organisations were similarly long-winded and unclear as your post, it is no wonder they weren't interested.
Heck, after reading everything you wrote above, I still have no idea what you want to do or what the purpose of your work is!
Intercultural competence is mostly about avoiding misunderstandings - and avoiding misunderstandings is best done by saying things in a simple, clear and understandable way. Based on your post, I don't think you can help with that.

beppi wrote:

If your 800+ introductions at multinational organisations were similarly long-winded and unclear as your post, it is no wonder they weren't interested.
Heck, after reading everything you wrote above, I still have no idea what you want to do or what the purpose of your work is!
Intercultural competence is mostly about avoiding misunderstandings - and avoiding misunderstandings is best done by saying things in a simple, clear and understandable way. Based on your post, I don't think you can help with that.

Thank God! I thought I was the only one!

Hi Beppi & Primadonna,

Thanks for your valuable reaction.

So, I see that you dislike that I have not been ‘to the point’  and you confront me with that bluntly and straightforwardly.

By doing so, you provide an example of the value of being direct and putting things straight up in someone’s face, that Dutch and Germans are known for. (In Dutch: “recht voor de raap“ (straight in your face”)). 
You say that being direct, clear and simple is the best and only way of being culturally competent - No matter where, when or with whom you are.

So, what I wanted to say is that even the way people talk about cultural competence is rooted in culture and you just gave an example of that.
Furthermore, I am coining the question if all cultures want to learn about other cultures to the same extent. Unfortunately Talking about culture can't always be simple.

The help that I am asking is another thing, but I doubt that you are willing to help. Anyway, I appreciate you sharing your views.

For example, I have addressed 800+ multinational organisations (!) based in Brazil and 100 more personally, trading with the UK, Netherlands Germany or Belgium. However, none of these companies was interested in hosting the Culture Class project.

This is what you wrote, right???
Have you ever thought about why nobody had the interest???
I think it has to do how you put in. In Dutch: de toon maakt de melodie, or in English: the tune makes the melodie.

And yes: Dutch people are straight to the point, I think there is nothing to be ashamed for. It depends how and when you say it.

I agree with Beppi that your story, or actually your question is to complicated to understand what you mean. If I may speak for Beppi, she said not that you must be direct but clear and simple and that is different then what you wrote.
I hope that you are not feel attacked and I will try to help you but only when I understand what you want and need.

It's kind of you to consider my feelings after your disqualifying my work, but actually, I am really appreciating your input as it gives a living example of a one-size fits all view on avoiding cultural misunderstandings.
Another example I often hear is: 'just use your common sense and you'll be ok everywhere'. It's a similar cultural 'formula' about managing cultural differences and I find that interesting.

Because my post is
(1) a general question how others think about international differences in intercultural awareness, and
(2) an inquiry for any organization in Brazil interested in expatriate talent development.
The nutshell background of cultural competence may be too long and misplaced in a post, but it sparked some reactions and it does interest some other people.

As to your question: yes I do have thoughts about why the Brazilians are not interested (and why African organizations by comparison approach me to invite the project). But really, rather answering that alone, I am more interested in listening what others - you included - think about these issues.

However, I do have one question: Have you perhaps been thinking that I used the same text as in my post in my letters/emails to organizations?

cultureclass.
I dont mean to be rude but could you say it in plain english please. I mean shorten it a bit. sorry
What do you want to know

haggishunter wrote:

cultureclass.
I dont mean to be rude but could you say it in plain english please. I mean shorten it a bit. sorry
What do you want to know

Lass, I'm from Yorkshire.
If the OP has the first clue about cultural differences, he'll know we tend to say what we're thinking, not some nampy pamby rubbish designed to be inoffensive or stop the target crying himself to sleep the evening after reading the post.

The OP was a pile of crap.

It was way too long, made no real points and was as interesting as watching paint dry.
The whole thing looked like a re-spew of something Papademetre would pen but less interesting and with far more jargon.

However, none of these companies was interested in hosting the Culture Class project.

Isn't it fascinating?

Not even mildly interesting.
They buggers probably fell asleep or started playing games on their phones.
OP - Check for bleeping sounds and snoring at your next presentation.

Next up. Buy a ticket to the countries you wish to target. Spend at least two months in each country but never in a hotel that supplies sheets and a towel.
That way, you'll learn how people in those countries actually think and that'll make you a more interesting person who actually has a clue.

^^^ I thought I was already undiplomatic.
But I like your post!

@ Fred:

you just killed me

So I see the theoretical treat doesn't particularly excite Mas Fred or anyone else, mainly, because it's a pile of crap


How could I possibly disagree with that ..?!
I'll just agree with it too then!

A "conclusion" which is not a summary of what was said before, in fact has no obvious connection to it, and also doesn't make sense in itself.
Things are starting to get weird here.
Can you communicate in ANY culture?

Hello Cultureclass,

I had chosen until now to 'diplomatically' distance myself from this entire conversation, but I wanted to respond to one point you made in your previous response:

"As to your question: yes I do have thoughts about why the Brazilians are not interested (and why African organizations by comparison approach me to invite the project). But really, rather answering that alone, I am more interested in listening what others - you included - think about these issues."

I would just like to point out that by nature Brazilians are very straightforward, 'get-to-the-point' kind of people. This especially applies in commerce. It is quite likely that if the correspondence that you have sent to businesses in this country is anywhere near as lengthy and convoluted as your writings here, then they simply do not understand a word you're saying. Brazilians are not big on 'bafflegab' in any language, not even their own.

Ray Kroc, founder of McDonals restaurants, coined a phrase when asked about the secret to success [in franchising], but it holds true in any endeavour. That phrase is K.I.S.S. (kiss) which means... Keep it simple, stupid!

I'm sure that if you pared back your needlessly verbose document to something much shorter, succinct and easier to understand, perhaps then you might generate some interest here in Brazil. Otherwise, you're barking up the wrong tree with businesspeople here in this country.

I've been an English teacher for twenty-four years, hold a BA in English and a BEd in English, I also teach Portuguese to English speakers and I must confess that even I am having great difficulty in following what you're trying to get across.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

thanks fred

Wow, dead silence.......... "fascinating".

cultureclass wrote:

So I see the theoretical treat doesn't particularly excite Mas Fred or anyone else, mainly, because it's a pile of crap


How could I possibly disagree with that ..?!
I'll just agree with it too then!

Back to Haggis hunter's native Scotland.
Some dude call Robert came to  illustrate the maxim, If at first you don't succeed, try try try again.

W. C. Fields messed it up a bit with, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it".

Fields, in my humble opinion, knocked the proverbial nail right on its equally proverbial head.

I stick to my advice.
Want to know someone? - go live with them but, if their number ends "419", take care.

mas fred wrote:

I stick to my advice.
Want to know someone? - go live with them but, if their number ends "419", take care.

I'm with you 100% on this one mas fred, I wish that it's something that the Brazilian politicians were forced to do... live for a month without their astronomical salaries, in a little shack like millions of Brazilian citizens, consigned to taking an overcrowed bus to work and slaving away six days a week for a meager wage. Maybe then things would really change here.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

I think this is a case of someone playing a game and getting off on watching the replies.

This YouTube may help you understand.
René Guénon - The Crisis of the Modern World

Hi El Jost,

Rather entertaining video is about all I can say. Certainly does point out the consumerism, materialism and industrialization of the world we find ourselves in, but this is happening in Eastern cultures just as much as Western civilizations.

I really fail to see what, if anything, it has to do with the excessively verbose rantings of the original poster. Surely, you can't believe that Western civilization has learned NOTHING from other cultures, especially the East; or that they have not understood the significance of the Middle Ages and grown because of it?

Looks like some sort of ad campaign for the New World Order to me. Sorry! Too close to /!\ I AM A STUPID SPAMMER /!\ thinking for me I'm afraid.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

wjwoodward wrote:

mas fred wrote:

I stick to my advice.
Want to know someone? - go live with them but, if their number ends "419", take care.

I'm with you 100% on this one mas fred, I wish that it's something that the Brazilian politicians were forced to do... live for a month without their astronomical salaries, in a little shack like millions of Brazilian citizens, consigned to taking an overcrowed bus to work and slaving away six days a week for a meager wage. Maybe then things would really change here.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

Sir, I take my hat off to you.

What a fantastic idea. Once every year, make all long term politicians live on basic wage in a simple house (A month should be about right). No official car, no whatever, just live like the people they 'rule' (?).

I take local buses, hang with local people and generally get where even locals don't. No way can I know anything about this country unless I get stuck into the place.

The moral of the story: never post drunk.