Close Sidebar close
    • Home
    • About Me
    • Training
    • Blog
    • Contact me

Follow me

    • Home
    • About Me
    • Training
    • Blog
    • Contact me
    • Uncategorized

    Hosting – one of the fam or treated like a king?

    Monday, July 3rd, 2017

    One of the first cultural differences I experienced overseas was the difference in how guests are treated and welcomed into someone’s home.

    In Australia, if someone wants to make you feel really welcome, they say “make yourself at home.” This means you can help yourself to whatever is in their fridge, get your tea/coffees, relax and generally just participate as another member of the family.

    Image source: Unsplash, Annie Spratt

    In other countries, to make someone feel super welcome, they treat them like a king. They will give up their own bed for the guests, not let them even get up to get a glass of water themselves, and serve everything on silver platters (figuratively, and sometimes literally)!

    If you are used to one way or the other, experiencing the opposite can leave you feeling uncomfortable. For example, I initially tend to feel like everything is too formal and I wonder, “when will I be included so I can relax?” Someone experiencing the Australian style from the guest-is-king culture might think, “wow, they really don’t care about me at all!”

    It’s good to be aware of these styles so you know how to be hospitable, what your guests might be feeling, and how to explain the differences in culture so you can move to a place of mutual understanding – and ultimately better enjoyment of each other’s company!

    no responses

    You Might Also Like

    Cross-cultural Website

    New Website

    Tuesday, November 14th, 2017

    Happy International Literacy Day!

    Thursday, September 7th, 2017

    Time for our pollies to embrace the multicultural heritage they support

    Thursday, August 17th, 2017

    no responses

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Me

  I am passionate about helping people learn about other cultures and increasing their cross-cultural awareness and skills. I want people to see the possibilities that...
Read More

Follow me

Latest Posts

  • Lessons I learned from my Hindi challenge

    Monday, March 23rd, 2020
  • Learning Hindi in 90 days?

    Friday, March 20th, 2020
  • Famous last words…

    Monday, March 2nd, 2020

TAG CLOUD

Albaniaappappreciationassumptionsasylum seekersattitudesAustraliaauthorityavoid hot waterawarenessbabiesbamboo ceilingbasicsbeautybenefitsbody languagebook reviewbookreviewbridgebusinesschallengeschangecheck the factsChildrenchocolatechoiceChristiancleanlinesscollaboratecollaborationcollaborative bridgecommunicationcommunitycompassioncompromiseconflictconsequencescross-culturalcultureculture shockcurrencyDiscoveryDiversitydragonsgoatssheepdrivingEasterelephantintheroomemotionsempathyenjoy the little thingsexchangeexcitedexperienceeye contactfactorfamilyfestivalfoodframe of referencefriendsfunGermanygiftsglobalisationgoalsgolden ruleGreeceharmonyhilariousHindihintsholidayshopehot potatoeshuman rightsiceberg modelideaidentityimmersioninfluenceinspirationinterruptJapanJet lagjobsjournaljourneylanguageleadershiplearninglisteningLiveyourpassionlost in translationmarriagemeetingsmetaphorscanonlygosofarmini rantmissionmissionariesmoneymoviesmyer briggsnew yearnewsnormalopportunitiespassionPeacepersonalityperspectivephotospoliticspositivepossibilitiesPower distancepractical experienceput yourself in their shoesquick tipreconciliationreflectionrefugeesreligionresearchresolutionresourceresumesreunionsreviewroutinesaving faceshareshoppingskillsspidersportstarfishstatussymbolsteamworktechnologytimetooltraffictragedytrainingtraveltrusttvuniversevoluntourismwaitweddingyayyes/no

Archive

©2017. Collaborative Bridges - All Rights Reserved.