Insecurities, irritations, misunderstandings, doubts, frustrations, hurt feelings… just to name a few of the negative emotions that expats might experience when diving into new cultures and customs. Those emotions are based on first and superficial impressions.
Cultures exist out of different layers and the difficulties we come across are usually related to concealed aspects of culture.
To calm down we need to become really knowledgeable about the culture. We cannot simply collect everything from books, the internet, through cross-cultural training or by asking the locals. We need to sense the invisible. Active participation in the new culture gives us a unique look behind the scenes; the only way to learn the internal culture of others.
Understanding Foreign Cultures
Cultures are metaphorically pictured as an iceberg.
Foreign Cultures are Pictured as an Iceberg
The iceberg is a mass of ice that floats in the ocean that represents the two layers of cultures:
Layer #1 is Visible & Explicit
Only a very small part of the iceberg can be seen above the water line. This portion resembles the areas of culture that we can easily identify: behaviors, gestures, language, food, clothing, music, arts, celebrations, devotional practices, etc. Close to the surface lie elements of culture that can often be seen when they “bubble up” such as emotions and unspoken rules. Those aspects aren´t very explicit at first sight but you´ll notice them while interacting with locals.
Layer #2 is Concealed & Implicit
The invisible side underneath the water line is the powerful foundation of the iceberg, resembling elements of culture that are difficult to access: religious beliefs, rules of relationships, approach to the family, motivations, values, attitudes to rules, nature of friendships, patterns of group decision-making, concept of past and future, tempo of work, notions of leadership, basic assumptions about space and time, communication styles, modes of thinking, comfort with risk, gender differences and more.
The Iceberg Model is Simple but Powerful
It highlights the difficulty of understanding people from different cultural backgrounds and it explains why we have to go through intercultural discomforts. It also teaches us that we shouldn´t judge because we cannot judge a new culture without having spent a great deal of time within it. *Easier said, than done*
Ignoring the true size of culture and failing to appreciate the unseen part, however, could have serious consequences; compare it to what happened to the Titanic! 😉 Not considering the foundation of foreign cultures causes collisions between those who simply know, the locals, and those who still have to learn, the foreigners.
Slowly we uncover the values and beliefs from beneath the surface. Every now and then foreign values and beliefs still bother us, but we learn to cope. We learn that it´s not a matter of being right or wrong and we prioritize asking ourselves what´s the best thing to do to settle down.
Beyond the Tip of the Iceberg
When you feel overwhelmed by negative emotions, it´s often difficult to see the deeper and invisible causes. Especially in the beginning it´s so much easier to dislike situations and judge, right?
Having a better understanding of other cultures doesn´t mean that you have to throw out your own values and adapt to the fullest. Nevertheless, the iceberg theory makes us aware of the invisible parts of other cultures as well as the hidden aspects of ours that we unconsciously carry with us.
I believe that as we start to dig deeper and look beyond the tip of the “iceberg” we go through a process of discovery that involves reflection on personal identity and questioning from both sides. We start to realize how Dutch or how whatever we are. Your cultural self-awareness grows and becomes your new and more advanced foundation in approaching foreign cultures.
How does cultural self-awareness help you in approaching new cultures? Please share your experience, ideas and feedback via the comment section below. Feel free to share this blog post via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest. Thank you! 
