Pluralization & Culture Shock

Notes and reflections based on the reading
Kim, Y.Y. (2008) Intercultural personhood: Globalization and a way of being. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32, 359-368.

• Due to globalization pure culture no longer exists- at some point people's cultural views are faced with another culture and identities shaken and questioned
• Kim's refers to intercultural personhood as a concept of the modern day dynamic cultural identity that relates and adapts to multiple different cultures
• Pluralism-multi-culturalism Novak claims that the "point about the melting pot is that it did not happen" Instead there were ethnic power movements [This is very true throughout history. I just look at the history of the town of Milford, MA were I went to high school. There was a very large deep seeded Italian population who controlled the politics in the town. Then there was an influx of Portuguese. We used to joke about the Portuguese mafia. Portuguese families own the seven coffee shops in town. The main function halls are the Macagaino Club and the Portuguese Club. During the 1990's there was influx of Puerto Ricans. About ten years ago the Brazilians brought in their version of the Portuguese language and are currently dominating downtown Milford. The Portuguese and the Brazilians do not get along. Most recently I was actually translating for the Milford school system to a group of indigenous people from Guatemala that spoke Quechua and come from an agrarian society. Interestingly enough the police were now faced with questions of how to deal with families who are killing pigs in their bathtubs. The school system needs to learn how to aid immigrants in how to brush their children's teeth. In Milford racial tensions are high. There is adaptation, but for the most part it is just periodic ethnic power movements. The Italians and Portuguese have now  moved to the middle-class, while the newcomers are impoverished.]
• positivity bais- the dark side of culture "cultural identity at any cost"-trying to keep pure cultures is impossible "cultural consumers are not dupes." We will adapt what works from each culture.
• "Open system"- everyone can adapt their own culture
• Culture shock -acculturalization & deculturalization- culture shock comes in waves and is extremes in emotion that lessen over time until adaptation occurs. People adapt better, if they experience a lot of stressful situations in the beginning of moving to the culture
• Identity transformation- [I equate this with Tantra- my religion] move from the individual to the universal- realizing we are all humans and have the same needs and wants
• Intercultural personhood is a positive move in society because of the experiences are helping shape who we are today. [Yin sees a lot of good in this move towards globalization. I wish I did. I see a lot of negative. Not because I am into maintaining pure and authentic cultures, but the reality of racial tensions, spread of poverty and disease. The loss of traditional families. The spread of a culture that values profit over people around the world. I truly feel this attitude will be the extinction of the human race.]