Cultural Plunge
A cultural plunge is individual exposure to persons or groups markedly different in culture. from the image above is showing the person is plunging into the water, so cultural plunge is plunging, mixing, interacting within anothers' culture.
Second assigment for my personal development class is a "cultural plunge".I found the idea of a “cultural plunge” experience, to be a very glamorous one. Participating in a cultural or social experience outside of my comfort zone is an ideal way to learn about people unlike me , people with other background ,and beliefs as my. I came up with many ideas for my plunge, ranging from going out to visite a Mexican church, attend a Muslim service, or going to an African church.
Discussing the experiment with my wife and friends opened my eyes to just how prejudice we are, almost unconsciously, when we are talking about other groups of people. Especially religions; I got many reaction about visiting a mosque, such as a Christian, cannot go to a mosque. Upon analyzing each idea, I thought about what the people might think of me or how they may or may not include me in their service. Each of my concerns stemmed from some preconceived notion I had about that “type” or “group” of people. I too was judging and stereotyping these groups of people before I even knew them, only relating them to my previous assumptions. I believe these assumptions primarily developed from the images I have seen in the media. (Also from my family, friends, religions, and educational systems).
Finally I choose to attend a church service that is attended by Ghanaian, Nigerians, Togolese, and Sudanese in City Height. I have chosen that church to clarify the bias/stereotype I had about African Churches. The things I have heard from the media. I believe that cultural group holds different beliefs, values, or has different behaviors than me in some way. I spent 2 hours during the church service. I Praise and worship the Lord with them. In the beginning I was a little panic.
Naturally, I am a intimidated person when it comes to first time interact with strangers; I was acted as an observer, but by the time I really interacted with them I felt different, I didn’t feel as stranger any more. I found that the ambiance was very calm in the beginning, because that is not the way I use to start service. By the time they started with their animation I found it very pleasant, their music, songs etc. What I really pleasant found, when it’s time to worship everybody stand up and worship very loud, for a while.
My first assumption about that church was that I thought I wouldn’t understand what they would do, because I don’t understand their language. And furthermore, I thought they would call me to present myself. I was a little scared of that, because of the language differences, style and / or method of presenting oneself. I was concerned about if my style will fit in their style or not. My assumption was wrong, they don’t even call me. I know that they would welcome me and my family since I knew that there will be mostly black people there; there was no doubt in that. After the church service was over, a lot of people came to us, hug me and my family. I felt very different, I felt home even I don’t really understand everyone, but there were a few people who speak English. I shared my phone number with them. I disclosed myself with them. I found that they were very open to share their valuable information with me, a stranger, for the first time.
Further more, I found the best way to understand a culture, is to interact with the people in that culture. Then it will be easily for you to put yourself in others shoe, to understand , judge them better rather assume. If you believe in diversity, you should try to intercat with people from different culture.
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