This week's class helped me reflect on how my "self" is shaped by culture, especially when meeting others for the first time. Using the Cultural Iceberg Model by Edward T. Hall (1976), I realized that self-introductions reflect not only surface elements like name, hometown, or hobbies, but also deeper cultural values such as modesty and respect. In Bruneian culture, I usually introduce myself by sharing my name, where I'm from, my studies or work, my hobbies and my connection to the group. From my discussion with a Japanese student, I learned that greetings in Japan reflect deeper cultural values. For example, Japanese people tend to bow instead of hugging, especially between males and females, and they maintain a comfortable distance when speaking. This shows respect and awareness of personal space. Similarly, in Bruneian culture, people also value politeness and respect when interacting with others. While a certain level of personal space is maintained, especially ...
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