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By the way: Differences that enrich us
Studying abroad enriches students with valuable experiences. Some may say that it has provided them an opportunity to learn about public sector management in a developed country. For me, the most important experience during my time in Australia revolves around cultural diversity.
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tudying abroad enriches students with valuable experiences. Some may say that it has provided them an opportunity to learn about public sector management in a developed country. Some others gained knowledge that will help them to shape a better education system back in Indonesia.
For me, the most important experience during my time in Australia revolves around cultural diversity. I consider culture an aspect that exposes individuals to differences at a greater scale compared to those that people might encounter in any other fields.
During my time in Australia, I observed how Australians think, prioritize, make decisions and deal with problems. As an Indonesian who had intensively interacted with Australians, I found one thing that often caused cross-cultural misunderstanding: verbalization.
Rooted in Western culture, Australians communicate in a very verbal manner. You need to clearly say your intention to them. This often causes non-Australians (including Indonesians) to misconceive Australians’ characters. Such misunderstanding happened to my Indonesian friend and her Australian husband.
She thought that her husband could read between the lines and instantly know what she wants, likes or loathes. Well, she guessed it wrong.
When she sulked, she was secretly hoping that her husband would comfort her. Much to her annoyance, her husband gave no special attention to her as he was unaware of the situation. For her Australian husband, the silence means everything is okay. But my Indonesian friend misread her husband’s calm response as his ignorance of her feelings.
Such a cultural clash would not happen if the couple had a discussion on intercultural communication, including on verbalization versus silence. The wife needs to clearly express her feelings to her husband. On the other side, it may be a good idea for the husband to learn decoding her words and paying more attention to her gestures.
