There are so many cultures about which I know nothing. Despite my exposure and
my travels, there are many cultures in the United States that I have never been introduced to. I
have been to many states in the U.S. and have traveled outside of the country as well. Despite my
interest and active pursuit of interactions with other people, there are cultures that I know little
substantive information about. These surveys have made it apparent that individuals can interact
with people from other cultures regularly, some on a daily basis, and truly know precious little
about their culture. The issue is no knowing what questions to ask. The knowledge of interesting,
colorful bits of a culture is not necessarily what enables one to be culturally competent. Knowing
how to drive doesnt make someone a mechanic.
The results of some sections of the surveys were a bit of a disappointment for me.
The surveys exposed gaps in my knowledge of some cultures I thought I was familiar with. Or,
to be more exact, what I know of these cultures is surface in nature. Little of what I know, it
seems, may be useful when working with these groups in therapeutic, helping, or social welfare
resource settings. Prior to volunteering with and for a diverse population or considering pursuing
a career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I didnt consider what questions to ask or what
aspects of culture would or could be relevant in these helping situations. I asked about what
interested me or what interested the individuals I met. I know now, to be effective and
successful, I need to ask different questions.
My hope is that through this course and future courses, along with personal
efforts, that I may come to understand how to be a better resource for the cultures I come in
contact with regularly and the cultures that I rarely encounter. I want to learn how to ask better
questions of the cultures I am exposed to. I want to develop universal and cross-cultural skills so
that I may better assist cultures that I may not have had any exposure to at all. I aspire to become
much more culturally literate. I wish to be better prepared to serve the needs of a diverse
population.