What
I could have done to make the Anbura and Leba Simulation Run More Smoothly:
- I should have asked MMCE members to work in small groups and explain the scenario to each other and then discuss the scenario in a large group. When I initially put MMCE members in a large group they seemed a little hesitant.
- I should have introduced the scenario with a little bit more energy. I should have said that “Two Alien cultures called the Anbura and Reba have landed in Iwate for a 合宿 seminar at an onsen in Hanamaki. You have all just arrived at the an onsen, and Anbura you are about to meet the Leba.”
- I should have provided an open space for Anbura and Leba to socialize. It was difficult for them to socialize when their movement was restricted by the desks.
The
Goal of the Activity
- The goal of the activity was to consider how we feel when we meet people with completely different customs than us. This exercise made me realize that many people on instinct consider values that are different from theirs’ to be strange. It is important to remember that people who have different values than us might consider our values just as strange. Thus, maybe our way of looking at things is not as natural as we think but rather one of many ways of looking at things. I wonder what the other MMCE members thought?
My
Presentation on Values:
- From our fifth meeting I realized that my explanation of values was insufficient: Most CLGs did not answer the question as to what they thought the values of their Material World focus families were. Also, Hofstede’s dimensions of values are so interesting and relevant to what we are doing. The dimensions of masculinity, individualism, tolerance of ambiguity, and power distance provide us with an excellent way to analyze our own cultural differences! I hope that MMCE can be more about discovery and less about listening to JH. I am still looking for that balance of order provided by my presentations and disorder provided by MMCE members’ exploration and investigation of topics. I hope that we can discover this balance soon!
- I discussed two of the 5 dimensions of values. We will revisit this when the discussion has ended!