Learning About Filipino & Egyptian Cultures: Challenges & Excitement - Research Paper

Introduction

Learning about a foreign culture could be challenging, and at the same time, exciting to get to know and relate to people with different cultures other than yours. The purpose of this research is to learn the various aspects of Filipinos and Egyptians cultures such as language and communication, interpersonal relationships, self-identity, foods, ways of solving conflicts, and different social functions like ceremonies, religious beliefs, values, and ethnicity. The research is also aimed at helping me understand and change the perception of and attitude toward the Filipino culture, the effects of specific aspects of the development of cultural knowledge, and self-awareness towards Filipinos culture. Therefore for people belonging to the different cultural backgrounds to live and associate, they have to understand and align with the values, beliefs, and practices within that culture. The Egyptian and Filipinos culture is very different from the way they do things, clothing, religious beliefs, values, ethnicity, foods, language, and ceremonies. The Filipinos culture identity is a combination of the Spanish Catholic traditions and traditional Filipino from Asia and parts of America. They are hospitable and family-oriented people who embrace their food, art, and music (Gannon & Pillai, 2013). Their staple food is rice, which is included in almost every meal that is served in a day. They have costumes customized during most of their festivals known as fiestas. They are also religious since you can find brazen images of crosses and other religious paraphernalia in their houses. Therefore culture is what defines people's identity and how and why they do things differently.

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Kluckhohn's Framework Questions Summary

The interview Questions about Kluckhohn's Value on culture have helped gather more information about my Egyptian traditions. Based on the Questions from Kluckhohn's framework, I was able to learn and understand different aspects of Egyptian culture. Most of the successful people in life are those that keep learning and don not get to a point where they know everything. Therefore, even the most silent and polite have the capabilities because everything is not about power, but more about someone's discipline, collaboration, and teamwork. The questions also propose ways to analyze cultural values. Cultural values can be analyzed through individual or cooperation, the strength of social hierarchy, and a person's or task orientation. Based form the principles of the Kluckhohn questions every culture experiences the same problems and survival needs, and the only difference is how each solve and find answers for the problems (Kluckhohn) The reflective queries experienced by different cultures are classified into five groups and reflect on human nature, the relationship between individuals and the natural world, time, social activity, and the relationship between individuals with each other. The three possible responses to each of the questions can be based on good, evil, or mixed, Dominant, Subordinate, or Harmony, Future, Past, or Present, Individual, Hierarchical, or Collateral. The Egyptian has amusing cultural and historical attractions and is also known for their etiquette, being open, friendly, and hospitable towards other people. Family is the most significant to the Egyptians, and children live with their parents until they are married. Egyptians love celebrations; therefore, family members gather during special festivities and holidays. Due to their love for food, almost all occasions include sharing special meals prepared for the event. Most people living in Egypt are Christians and Muslims, and Arabic is the most used language (Gannon & Pillai, 2013).

Profile of the Filipinos Culture and Kluckhohn Concept

Kluckhohn's concept of human morals has been compelling. The method argues that "people share the same basic survival needs and must answer the same universal questions (Hills, 2002)." different cultural characters and traits based from the change of beliefs, human beings usually feel that their ethnic practices and beliefs are natural and reasonable, and those of other cultural groups are weird, inferior, or abnormal. The questions suggested in this theory include human relations with nature, time, and each other, the nature of human beings, social motives as well as human activity. Also, several alternative answers to the questions have been suggested to develop cultural measures of each value orientation summaries evil, mixed or good. The cultural values orientation of the Philippines represents their basic principles of a culture, and how they relate with other people from different cultural backgrounds. However, different dimensions have been identified in which the Philippines culture differs from other beliefs. The Filipinos values structure comprises their unique collection of reliable moral principles, ideas, ethical practices, cultural etiquette, and personal standards that are promoted by their people. Kluckhohn established a philosophy that puts these values into work with the fundamental rules stating that "There is a limited number of common human problems for which all peoples must at all times find some solution." The Kluckhohn values orientation theory also recommends that a preferred society's values are reflected by their ability to answer these problems. Therefore, dimensions of the desired answers would point out the morals promoted by that culture. Kluckhohn recommended some fundamental issues that every cultural value should answer to determine their social values. Which include; how people should relate with others, what motivates personality's behavior when expressing one's self? On what period should an individual focus on the present, future, or the past? What is the nature of human nature right, wrong, or a mixture? What is the connection between humankind and its natural background? These problems are common and require solutions from different cultures and provide a measurement of a culture's value orientation. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish cultures based on how they each address these human concerns. However, the values that people from the Filipinos hold sacred can change based on different factors like their upbringing, religion, and other influences. Filipinos social values, identity, and character of a person referred to as a real Filipino are fond of having critical elements that can be seen exhibited by many Filipinos. "Kapwa" is a Philippines word which is the core value of Filipino Personality, which means "togetherness." Other significant features of Filipinos values include; the care and concern for other people, their hospitality, the existence of friendliness, their religious nature, fear for God, and respect to self and others (House et al., 2002). The family is the essential unit of a Filipinos life. Parents live with their children until they get married, and in some cases, they remain in their parents' house even after marriage to take care of them in their old age. Filipinos believe that societies should be organized hierarchically. Thus, in their families, parents make all the critical decisions. The most significant percentages of the Filipinos are Christian, mostly from the Roman Catholic. They celebrate different religious holidays and attend mass, which is a reflection of their strong faith in God. The Philippines people are entrenched in the past since they believe that societies should strive to preserve and learn the traditions of the past. In conclusion, the value orientation theory was designed to help people understand cultural differences.

Similarities and Differences Between the Egyptians and Filipinos Cultures

The two countries' cultures are not that dissimilar. Egyptian and Filipinos are believed to have shared almost the same traditions and customs (Boeing, 2013). Both countries' perceptions are based on their beliefs, ethnicity, food, clothes, social gatherings and ceremonies, songs, and interpersonal relationships. This similarity can be seen even though both have different religions. Both countries share the Abrahamic faith where most of the Filipinos are Christian, while most of the Egyptians are Muslims. Both cultures have other religious faith practiced by minority groups. Both countries were colonized by the European nations where the United States and Spain colonized Filipinos, while France and the British colonized the Egyptians. Both have similar traditions, such as the love for national authority, love for social equality, and inherent resiliency. The Family is the most significant unit of both the Egyptians and Philippines societies. In Egyptian culture, blood ties play an important role in all social relations while it is the complete opposite in Philippines society where they do not mind about blood relationships. In Egypt, parents are in charge of their children and always make all the significant decisions. At the same time, in Filipino families, there are some rebels who do not want to be under the control of parents or family elders. The Egyptians love the sharing of meals on almost every occasion. Most of their dishes are made of vegetables, and their staple food is known as Foul. While on the other hand, Filipinos staple food is rice known as fiestas.

Conclusion

Culture is the knowledge, beliefs, experience, values, hierarchies, attitudes, religion, and notions of time, acquired by a group of people, and passed from one generation to another. Cultural knowledge helps people to understand and change their perspectives towards a specific community's cultural background. Different cultures have different beliefs, ethnicity, clothing, food, celebrations, etiquettes, communication, and interpersonal relations. People share the same basic survival needs and must answer the same universal questions on human relations with nature, time, and each other, the nature of human beings, social motives as well as human activity. The questions should be answered based on three notions evil, right, or mixed. The cultural values orientation represents the basic principles of a culture, and how they relate with other people from different cultural backgrounds

References

Boeing, M. (2013). Analysis of Cultural Differences and their Effects on Marketing Products in the United States of America and Germany: A Cultural Approach to Marketing using Edward T. Hall and Geert Hofstede. Retrieved from: Hamburg, Anchor Academic Pub.

Gannon, M. J., & Pillai, R. (2013). Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys Through 31 Nations, Cluster of Nations, Continents and Diversity Countries. Retrieved from: Los Angeles, Sage.

Hills, M. D. (2002). Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck's Values Orientation Theory. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 4(4), 2307-0919. Retrieved from: doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1040

House, R., Javidan, M., Hanges, P., & Dorfman, P. (2002). Understanding Cultures and Implicit Leadership Theories across the Globe: an introduction to project GLOBE. Journal of world business, 37(1), 3-10. Retrived from: doi.org/10.1016/S1090-9516(01)00069-4