cross-cultural musings

On our way. Sitting in the Tokyo airport, listening to familiar classical guitar, surrounded by people (mostly men) who look an awful lot like us, and overlooking a tarmac spotted with vehicles bearing logos like United, NWA, Air Canada. Where it not for the employees, one would be hard pressed to recognize this scene as an airport from another country, let alone Pacific Asian.

What makes an experience international or cross-cultural these days? With the effects of globalization and western influences on so many countries, this does seem like an interesting question. Yet, there is little doubt in my mind that, when we arrive in Vietnam, we will know we are in a different country. Does this reflect westernization? Modernization? As a result of globalization, do we all begin to look and seem similar?

What will it be like coming back for the second time? How do previous visits and previous international or cross-cultural experiences shape subsequent experiences? Do we become more aware of assumptions we were making in our previous visit, and recognize ways in which we were adapting by relying on western perspectives and routines? Or do we further solidify such assumptions, making it more difficult to develop a more integrated perspective on our host culture?

Hmm. Well, these are questions that come to a sleep-deprived soul, writing at 4:15 a.m. ET and awaiting the third leg of this sojourn – after this one to Bangkok, then a flight to Ho Chi Minh City and finally a four-hour cab ride to Can Tho.