Author Archives: Rae

Utafiti Blog 4: Getting comfortable with differences

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Last night I participated in an interesting discussion presented by Sietar BC on the intercultural aspects of hosting events such as the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games.  I was struck by how language and perspective shifted in the conversation, depending on whether we were talking about the process of putting on the Games  — or the intended outcome of the Games.

When discussing process we talked more about cultural differences – how the cultural orientation of staff working at the Games can affect how the work gets done, as an example.  When discussing outcome, we talked more about cultural connection – how bringing people together creates a spirit of commonality that speaks to the essence of the event.  While those conversation threads can seem almost contradictory when viewed separately, together they represent the larger whole that intercultural communication looks to embody.

That discussion led me to think about Multiculturalism at 40 and what I am asking people to do: write about a personal experience observing cultural difference in their everyday lives.  It’s not a topic that rests comfortably with everyone. I know in speaking about the project, I’ve occasionally had the feeling that multiculturalism in Canada is on that list of topics that people feel they “shouldn’t” talk about. I also admit I’ve had moments when the notion of focusing on differences has made me feel uncomfortable.  What makes us nervous?

If I go back to the evening with Sietar BC, there is something in the duality of that conversation that is important to realize.  We know that an awareness and openness to different ways of seeing, and being in the world is one way to foster greater connection.  Perhaps in our everyday lives, ingawa, we fear that the process of discussing differences won’t be perceived as supporting an outcome of greater understanding – or will become disconnected from it.  If we can find more ways to keep  the discussion process and that intended outcome framed together perhaps we’ll grow more confident about the conversation as a whole.  And from the stories submitted to this project so far I can see there is such a range of human experience to be explored that is variously thoughtful, startling, joyful, challenging, amusing and inspiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nini Katika Wingu?

MC40_CloudsHivi karibuni, rafiki, Kichina Canada wanaoishi katika Kanada juu ya 10 miaka, kunipeleka njiani kutoka Victoria downtown kwa Colwood jioni. mtazamo wa mawingu mbele aliniongoza kuchukua moja snapshot ya picha wingu pamoja na simu yangu.  mawingu katika mapema jioni ni katika sanaa Kichina wino.  Hii wakati wao alifanya "inky" uchoraji katika rangi usiku, mimi nakukumbusha ya uongozi Kichina sanaa na uzuri:  kipande freehanded umejaa sanamu imaginary: milima mbali, miti, Takwimu, maua au wanyama mbalimbali ... na nafasi kubwa baadhi tupu hapa au pale kwamba hadithi zozote wenu wanaweza kuwaambia.         – Laura katika Victoria

Si Too moja kwa moja, Eh?

Orange Maple LeafAwali mimi kutoka Salzburg, Austria. Tangu Nimeishi nje ya nchi kwa miaka michache iliyopita mimi kutumika kwa mazungumzo na vikundi mbalimbali vya kikabila.

Nini mimi si kutumika ingawa ni kwamba watu wengi wanaonekana kirafiki sana na mimi nina hakika kuna mengi ambayo ni. Lakini kile Mimi kukosa uaminifu ni. Kama kuna kitu ambacho mtu hapendi basi tu kusema ni, hakuna kitu kibaya kuhusu kwamba. Lakini hata kazini wakati mimi na kuandika barua pepe mimi si kuruhusiwa tu kusema hakuna. Wakiniambia sukari kanzu yake na kusema ni kuelekeza!!!

Hiyo ni kitu ambacho ni ngumu sana kwangu kwa sababu mimi kutumika kwa kusema moja kwa moja.  Hiyo ni tofauti kubwa kwa ajili yangu kati ya utamaduni wa Canada na utamaduni wangu.

- Kathi katika Vancouver

Original kuwasilisha katika Kijerumani

Mimi kuja awali kutoka Salzburg, Austria. Tangu mimi kuishi miaka michache nje ya nchi, mimi wamezoea kuishi pamoja na makabila mbalimbali. Endelea kusoma →

Snapshot ya Vizazi Tatu

MC40_wong_kidsBaba yangu alizaliwa na kukulia katika Jamaika. Alikuja Vancouver kama mwanafunzi na huko alikutana na mama yangu, msichana kutoka Oakville, Ontario ambao wazazi wao hama kutoka Scotland na ambaye pia alikuwa mwanafunzi. Jambo moja ikiongozwa na mwingine na, kama wao kumaliza masomo yao walipanga harusi yao. Mimi bado hawezi kudhani kwamba mama wazazi alikataa kuhudhuria harusi yake kwa sababu yeye alikuwa kuoa giza hili kuwalisha guy. Endelea kusoma →

Utafiti Blog 3: Train Talk

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Wakati Snowstorm kubwa kwamba hit Ontario na mashariki wiki chache zilizopita, Mimi kilichotokea kwa kuwa kusafiri kwa treni kati ya Toronto na Ottawa. Wamesimama katika mstari kabla ya kupanda na kusikiliza chatter kati ya wageni, Mimi naweza kusikia default starters mazungumzo ya Canada – uvumi kuhusu hali ya hewa, na swali “ambapo wewe kutoka?”

moja pili ukanishitua kwa sababu najua kwamba kuwa aliuliza swali hilo mara nyingi huja na inference kwamba ve namna fulani wameshindwa itaonekana kana kwamba wewe ni kutoka “hapa.” Akifafanua mwenyewe unaweza kupata umri pretty haraka, hasa kama una akili wewe ni daima imechaguliwa kwa swali. Bila ya kuwa mizigo ya ziada ingawa, ni swali kwamba nadhani ni mara nyingi hutumika katika njia nyingi sawa majadiliano kuhusu hali ya hewa. Ni njia ya kufanya uhusiano. Kama taifa ya wasafiri na watu “kutoka-mbali,” wengi wetu ni kutoka mahali pengine, hata kama ni tu upande wa pili wa jimbo au wilaya, au mwisho mwingine wa nchi.

Mimi kutoa uchunguzi huu ndogo ambao kupata aliuliza swali mara nyingi zaidi kuliko wao lazima wale wote. Kwa njia ya ajabu, labda ni beji ya kuingizwa. Tumekuwa aliuliza pili ya kawaida ya Canada swali. malalamiko kuhusu hali ya hewa inaweza haitakuwa mbali nyuma.

Utafiti Blog 2, Utupe Sign

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Januari 31, 2013

Nimekuwa kupokea baadhi kubwa mapema maoni kutoka kwa wageni na wale ambao wameweza in hadithi. safu mbili format kwenye ukurasa wa mbele ilikuwa ni changamoto kwa ajili ya tafsiri ya lugha kwamba kusoma kutoka kulia kwenda kushoto, kama programu switches nguzo kama vile. Basi, mimi sasa ukurasa wa mbele nakala unaorudiwa katika safu moja chini ya tab tafsiri. Lakini kwamba inajenga suala jingine. Kama Kiingereza sio lugha yako ya kwanza na kuna tab kwamba anasema “tafsiri” inaweza maana sana. Najua hii kutoka kuwa juu ya Nje Kichina lugha ambayo alikuwa tafsiri ya Kiingereza, ikiwa tu ningependa inajulikana jinsi ya kupata huko.

Hii ilionekana kama nzuri wakati kama yoyote ya kwenda kuangalia kwa alama ya kimataifa kwamba anasimama kwa ajili ya tafsiri au ufafanuzi. Hakuweza kupata moja – ingawa mtu binafsi nchi kama vile Australia wamechukua hatua ya kuja na wao wenyewe. Mimi naenda kufanya hivyo – na kujenga moja kwa ajili ya tovuti. Katika kijiji cha kimataifa, je, unadhani itakuwa kubwa kuwa na ishara zima kwa lugha mbalimbali inayotolewa? Kama mimi kukosa kitu – na moja tayari ipo, Ningependa upendo kusikia kuhusu hilo.