East and West

East and West – Cultural Differences

Warning From Troy

Question: Does a fish know that it is wet?

‘You are about to enter into another culture…’

Part of going on a mission trip is to grow closer to Jesus along the way.  I have found that the culture you find yourself IN…not the one you are GOING to …is your greatest hindrance.  Be ready for some fireworks if you plan on bringing the western culture with you. We want the people of Romania to experience God’s best not God’s west!  Please know that we could have posted a page called, “What Romanians think about American missionaries” but chose not to do so for fear of offending those that have no concept of this and would have no context in which to understand what is actually being said by our dear brothers and sisters here in Romania.  God’s earth is large but you will find in the midst of all these differences that all people everywhere need to hear the Gospel and enter into a relationship with the Jesus of the Bible.  To this end we will strive to understand the culture and how to reach those in this European culture that are lost. 

A. Individual and Group

Western Culture:

• People take care mostly of themselves and their very close family
• They achieve alone, make their own decisions and assume personal responsibility
• The quality of life in the society is assumed to result from the personal freedom and individual development of its members
• Personal growth and fulfillment: promotion and income are important
• Interests of the individual above the interests of the group, competition
• Emphasizing individuality and differences
• Effectiveness and efficiency

Eastern Culture:

• Small group collectivism (extended family and friends)
• Solidarity, nepotism (as far as Mafia…)
• Strong in- group versus out-group however in case of sympathy a new comer can be easily intergrated
• People take care a lot of each other, being together, sharing and feeling well is essential, little privacy
• Interdependence within the group and mostly  long-lasting connection
• Individual interest subordinated to the needs of the others in the group
• Sense of (small) community and emphasizing the common ground (not the differences or the problems)

A collectivistic culture should be good at team work, as a logical consequence!??

B. Structure and Relationship

Target/Structure-oriented (West)

• Structure and order, target and tasks are important
• Rule-oriented, rules equally apply to everybody
• Contractual relationship a word is a word
• Formal ways of doing business
• Trustworthy is the one who honours the word or contract
• Treat all cases the same way
• Control and sense of responsibility are internalized
• Abstract, function and task-related

Relationship-oriented (East)

• Relationships always have first priority
• General skepticism towards structures and institutions; the interpretation of structures and rules is based on own discretion
• Official rules are perceived as imposed and often ignored
• Situation-related and particularistic morality (e.g. helping a friend stands above national law)
• Treat all cases in their special merits
• Alter the game and love exceptions
• Trustworthy is the one who respects mutuality in the group
  • Control and sense of responsibility are relations-related

How do Romanians perceive too much structure and order? What can both patterns learn from each other?

C. Emotion

Rational-addresses head (West)

• Hardly show their feelings, especially at work
• Showing emotions is not suitable: Don’t get personal
• Professional
• Decisions are made on technical and functional grounds
• Stick to facts and figures
• Argue fact – oriented
• Cool and self-possessed conduct is admired

Emotional-expects heart (East)

• People can show their sympathy soon after meeting somebody new
• Reveal thoughts and feelings verbally and non-verbally (mouth is near to hear t and mind)
• Emotions are rather felt than loudly expressed
• More emotional than logical argumentation
• Hospitality
• Expect authenticity from the other
• Very sensitive and quickly offended, criticism is taken personally
• Ready to sacrifice for those they like

D. Achievement

High Important of achievement (West)

• Performance defines social status and recognition
• Status follows success
• Respect is based on knowledge and skills
• Achievement is very important, personal recognition based on achievement
• Quality orientation
• Culture of competition
• Proficiency
• Doing Culture

Low Importance of achievement (East)

• Work is personalized, not ‘objective’
• The sense of live is simply “being” not doing
• Motivation for achievement mainly through relationships or by satisfying a personal interest of the employees
• Quality orientation is low (it is enough if it functions)
• Personal recognition is very important
• No culture of competition (would contradict solidarity, responsiveness, care, love)

What is you proposal to motivate people in a “being culture” (sense of life given through simple existence, not necessary to show results) to achieve efficiently?

E. Business and private life

Separation of business and private life (West)

• Business and private life is separated
• Exchange of information mainly during official meetings
• Importance of formal meetings
• Private conversations while working are not really suitable
• Authority only reaches work relationship with subordinates

Diffusion of business and private life (East)

• Little separation between business and private life; often boss-subordinate and collegial relationships  not limited to the office
• High importance of informal meetings (exchange of information only here)
• Good relationships at work are important and are fostered by the staff
• One shares private subjects at work
• Paternalistic patterns (boss in charge to give to gather information from the employee and to solve all the problems)

F. Attitude towards authority

Tendency to trust authority (West)

• Authority is in general accepted and trusted, not scrutinized
• Authority =function which brings security through rules and order
• Individuals respect in general the state, the rule of law, and official institutions
• Low power distance: expecting less differentiation between those with power and those without it
• More egalitarian and in favor of stronger participation in decision making
• Hierarchy is accepted (seen as functional, less as personal)

Distrust in authority  (East)

• Primary experience with authority= exploitation and oppression
• Everything official is suspicious
• Rules and orders from outside the group are less relevant
• Western Europe and Westerner can be perceived as “authority”
• High power distance; often merely an apparent obedience towards hierarchy
• Bosses allow little to no participation on their decisions
• Aversion against teamwork

G. Self – Confidence

Stable self-confidence (West)

• Self-confidence = stable and constant
• National and personal identity generally clear
• Firm appearance

Unstable self-confidence (East)

• Unstable self-confidence, wavering between megalomania and inferiority complex, arrogance and modesty
• Valid for single persons, groups or whole nations
• Often unclear identity (personal and national)
• Self –esteem is based on appreciation from outside
• Compensation by impressing through show off of famous brands and other status symbols

What are typical expressions when Romanian stay in one of the two extreme positions?

How can a foreigner help to strengthen the self-confidence of Easterner?

H. Dealing with uncertainty

High uncertainty avoidance (West)

• Avoids uncertainty
• Strives for security, stability, orderliness, formalized procedures and consistency
• Security culture
• Can hardly handle change and uncertainty
• Afraid of change

Flexible handling of uncertainty (East)

• Uncertainty=every day normality
• Strong tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty
• Flexibility and improvisation
• Intuitive handling of uncertainty
• High creativity
• Proud of their shrewdness
• Reacting rather than taking initiave
• Lightness of life, remaining relaxed

I. Avoidance of confrontation

Low avoidance of confrontation (West)

• Likes to confront in general
• Handling of conflicts
• Problems are discussed, addressed and resolved
• Constructive criticism, feedback cultures
• Stating clearly their own opinion
• Constructive and open discussions

High avoidance of confrontation (East)

• Do not like confrontation ( would mean to hurt and being hurt)
• Try to avoid, ignore or minimize the conflict, fear sanctions and consequences
• No feedback and criticism culture
• Problems are not addressed and even less analyzed
• Avoid contradiction
• Difficulties in expressing or imposing their own opinion
• Weak in combative arguments
• In case they cannot escape

o   Are very imbarrassed

o   Passive resistance

o   Excuses and accusations

o   Make the other feel quilty

o   Strange behavior: even higher context, written form, seek informal environment

J. Communication style

Direct communication style (Thought (prolonged gap) word  has strong correlation with Deed) (West)

• Low context
• Factual discussion
• Subjects are addressed clearly and directly
• Direct and explicit language
• Eye contact, gestures, body, language
• Virtual and e-communication more welcome

Indirect communication style ( Thought simultaneous with Word) Very creative mind discovers attractive deal with weak correlation) cold reality hits then Deed. (East)

• High context
• Indirect language: Interpretation is necessary, read between the lines in what they are saying
• Silence, avoiding eye contact, gestures, intonation may play a role
• The quality of the environment and services or the status of the contact persons may also hide a message
• Life communication important
• Relationships cannot be maintained by e-mail and phone only! (however phoning is better than e-mail and fax)

K. Attitude towards time

Monochron (West)

• Doing one thing after the other
• Single-tasking, linear
• Planning and keeping to plans is important
• Time commitments are taken seriously
• Interruptions are disturbing (mobile phones are generally switched off)
• Relationships are generally subordinated to schedule
• People mostly speak one after another
• Doing culture

Polychron (East)

• Doing several things simultaneously (multitasking, multi-active)
• Time is flexible and intangible
• Changeable priorities and milestones
• Interruptions are normal (mobiles often not switched off in meetings)
• Promptness depends on the type of relationship concered
• Working in batches
• Often a “collective actionism then slow down again (Romanian Sunday mentality)
• Being culture

Imagine the situation of planning and organizing work

Two Cultures Serving One Jesus!

(NO! A fish does not know that it is wet)

When teams from America come these differences can cause quite a bit of stress and are not easily diffused.  The Romanians are deeply offended by some of the antics used by American teams.  You will need to study this comparison chart and try to figure out how much of your Christian attributes are really just a product of your own culture.   I sometimes feel like we have the church from Laodicea (Rev 3:17) coming to plant a church in Smyrna (Rev 2:9).  The solution is simple (Rev 3:18)Please be very careful to sort this out before you get here as a team.  We here on Team Galati will not be easy on those who only see Jesus through one set of eyes….the USA Jesus has been tested, tried and found WANTING!  Let us not bring our materialistic methods to this country that is already  far more interested in going to America then they are going to Heaven when they die.  If we follow our simple plan that allows us to work in harmony we will have a greater impact for our Father in heaven.  If you have watched the movies “Dances with Wolves” or “The Last Samurai” you will get a good look at the American culture and what happens when it decides to help and assist others.

Somebody has well said: “Christianity started in Palestine as a simple walk with Jesus, then moved to Greece as a philosophy; onto Rome as an institution and became Culture in Europe.   Finally, has moved to America as big enterprise.  We need to get back to a simple walk with Jesus!   If you are not actively trying to get people in the kingdom where you are live then you are really not that prepared to come to Europe and tell others about Jesus. It would appear that you are simply a tourist that had enough extra money to take a trip to Europe.  Please make leading people to the Biblical Jesus a priority before coming on a mission trip to a foreign land and telling others about  the Jesus that you follow.  You will come away from the experience with a fresh look at God’s plan around the world.  Try not to change the culture ask God to change you!  This is actually what missions are all about.  You are wanting a closer encounter with God and His plan of redemption.  Both cultures need Jesus…we all need each other.  Let’s work at adjusting our own attitudes before looking down on those in the church of Smyrna who have nothing but are truly rich in the faith.

I have purposely left out  the specific things that Americans do when they come Romania that is because they are  embarrassing to even mention.  Those of us on Team Galati promise that if you do any thing at all that is obnoxious, arrogant, ignorant, self centered, sinful, out of context, ect we will be quick to point this out to all that are effected.  “One of the quickest ways to get this church planter upset is to say that so and so just got saved because they simply repeated a prayer of repentance after a five minute encounter”.

Bringing a person out of the Orthodox faith away from their tradition, heritage and family is as difficult as getting an extremely liberal democrat to vote against abortion and then run for a political position  on the next ticket as a conservative republican standing against abortion, homosexuality and evolution!.  Just because the liberal democrat believes that Abraham Lincoln died for the slaves does not make them a conservative.   There must be a “change of life” for this to be proven that they now understand and are aware that they were wrong before about killing little unborn babies and that a marriage is between a man and a woman. (Matthew 19:4) and this from the beginning! Do you get it?

One of the most serious problems facing America as of now is the number of people that truly think  obedience is NOT a part of the faith and is optional.  If we begin to teach people they must FOLLOW Jesus then passages like 1 John 3:4-10; Eph 5:3-9; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Acts 26:15-20; Gal 6:15; ect. will help sort out this dilemma we find ourselves in.    Think about the flood (8), Sodom and Gomorrah (3), and Egypt (2).  How many people really made it through these terrible times?  How many people existed before the destruction came.  We can not afford to let the culture drive this Bible Campaign.  We must get back to a Biblical understanding of what it truly means to “make disciples” Matthew 28:19.