Ciro A. Sotelo

Cultural differences promote priority divergence in sensitive areas of our life. One of the dynamics of culture rests on the priority level allotted by people from different cultures to many “common” activities.  Punctuality serves as a lucid example. For some cultures of the world punctuality is very important while to others it is not near as much.  Yet, if we were to ask local people from other cultures if punctuality is a priority, the vast majority would answer that it is.  Perhaps it is. However, not at the same priority level that it is for most in our mainstream culture and that generates disconnect.

There were many moments to highlight during my “Culture Shock” seminar. One point of interest for attendees was the contrast in family structure and gender role between the mainstream and Hispanic cultures. These concepts and others allowed attendees to appreciate the balance of common forces that bind us as humans with those entrenched cultural forces that set us apart.