Different cultures Sample Clauses

Different cultures as a source of inspiration Whether it is you visiting your partner or the other way round, every visit will prompt questions and reactions. You may, for instance, wonder why they address this issue in this way, and may learn a lesson from it. Different approaches offer new ideas. Each working visit is also an opportunity to get better acquainted and discover a different way of life. A visit can be a re- warding experience in this way, too. “We wonder what you are working for. To eat or to get by? Or to ‘keep up with the Joneses’…?” They acknowledge that: “People reveal their true selves at the dinner table, just as in Guatemala. It would be a shame to miss out on this occasion by being pressed for time”. Some of us are already toying with the idea that there may be another way. “Are we on the right track?” “Isn't our partner’s approach better, if only in human terms?” Comparing and contrasting things with your partner will make you put your ideas in perspective. Below, we list some of the benefits of cultural differences. The mirror effect Collaborating with your partner is often like looking in a mirror. When – as a xxxxxxxx or elected officeholder – you explain the political structure, de- partmental organisation or what you do, you will dwell at length on mat- ters you never previously considered. This can often lead to a reassessment of democratic governance. “We have learned that you went through two world wars. We wonder whether you are still aware of how your forefathers suffered. Your history is important to the present political system.” Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx’s council cabinet member for North-South relations: “The visit to our Guatemalan partners made me think about politics at home. People in Guatemala feel involved in politics. We attended a “Cabilde abi- erto”, a public meeting of the municipal council, where a large number of local people – many of them illiterate peasants – were present. That con- trasts with the widespread public apathy we find at home.” Good or bad practices from your partner municipality can help you pin- point flaws and failings in your own municipality. Many South American towns, for example, pay much more attention to the restoration of historic monuments or integrating new buildings into the urban landscape. Partic- ipation may be organized to a surprising degree in the South. We are now making a concerted effort to re-establish neighbourhood councils and get local communities involved in our municipalities, too. Putting ...