Additional Readings• Polite but Thirsty

~Yaping Tang

Friends and Strangers ~Margaret K. Nydell A Coward

~Premchand

• The Blind Men and the Elephant A Hindu Fable ~John Godfrey

SaxeHumor

Group Members:

Polite but Thirsty -Yaping Tang

About the Author-Yaping Tang

Native of People’s Republic of ChinaBilingual educational teacher in U.S.Extracted essay from MATSOL

Currents

ContentsUnfamiliar environmentNew observationsCoping and adjustmentSocial vulnerabilityConclusion

Unfamiliar environmentUnaware of the codes of new cultureRemain silent and withdraw from othersLook like deaf mutes, feel dominated

New observationsAdventureInformal behavior of AmericansDirect and openness of AmericansEquality among Americans

Coping and adjustmentsFeel embarrassedPsychological sufferingEconomic hardshipAcademic Pressure

Social vulnerabilityFear of being cheated, robbed or injuredFeeling of insecurityLoss of status

ConclusionFace unfamiliar cultureTry to cope/ adjustLearning new responses and skills

Any Queries…..

FRIENDS AND STRANGERS-Margaret K. Nydell

CONTENTSABOUT THE AUTHORTHE CONCEPT OF FRIENDSHIPRECIPROCAL FAVORSINTRODUCTIONVISITING PATTERNS

About the authorA cross-cultural trainerTeacher of ArabicWritten several books on the Arabic

languageLectured on Arab culture

CONCEPT OF FRIENDSHIPAccording to Arabians Someone whose company one enjoys with

certain duties & rights Personalized

According to Westerner Someone whose company is enjoyed Someone who can be asked for help if

necessary

DIFFERENCE IN EXPECTATION

Leads to misunderstandingFeeling of being let downArabians feels westerner cannot be “true

friend”.

RECIPROCAL FAVORSFor ArabsOne can never openly refuse friends requestOral promise has equal values as actionExpects loyalty from friends

For WesternerNo matter about one replies for friend

requestActions are more valued than words

INTRODUCTION

For ArabsGive more information about themselvesDetermines social status and connection in

first meet

For WesternersTend to confine personal informationShare only generalities

VISITING PATTERNSFor ArabsFrequent meetingNo space for privacyForm of entertainment

For westernersKeep acquaintances at a distancePlead for privacy

Any Queries…….

A Coward-Premchand

Author’s IntroductionPremchand (1881-1936)

One of the greatest author of modern India

Founder of serious short stories in India

New style of fiction

Character’s Sketch

KeshavFrom Brahmin Family

Believed in new ways

Opposed to the old caste customs

PremaFrom Baniya family

Believed in old ways and traditions

Accustomed to old caste customs

Other CharactersPrema’s mother

Prema’s father

Keshav’s father

Dear Keshav

I was terribly upset when I heard about the rude and callous way your father treated mine. Perhaps he’s threatened you too, in which case I wait anxiously to hear what your decision is. I’m ready to undergo any kind of hardship with you. I’m aware of father’s wealth but all I need is your love to content me. Come tonight and have dinner with us. My mother and father are both eager to meet you.

I’m caught up in the dream of when the two of us will be joined by that bond that cannot be broken, that remains strong no matter how great the difficulties.

Your Prema

I'm in a terrible quandary about how to answer you. I’ve been desperate trying to figure out what to do and I’ve come to the conclusion that for the present it would be impossible for me to go against my father’s orders. Don’t think I’m a coward. I’m not being selfish either. But I don’t have the strength to get over the obstacle facing me. Forget what I told you before. At that time I had no idea of how hard it was going to be.

Keshav

Critical AnalysisNegative aspect of Hinduism

Male dominant

Discourages inter-caste marriage

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The Blind Men and the Elephant A Hindu Fable John Godfrey Saxe

Contents•About the poet•Missing stanza•Explanations of stanzas•Video•Moral of the poem

Introduction to the poet

John Godfrey Saxe (June 2, 1816-1887).American PoetBest known for writing humorous verse and

lectures

Missing stanza

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!

Explanation of the poemSix blind men go to see the elephantEach of them approach the elephant one by

oneThe first man finds the elephant very much

like a wallThe second finds the elephant very much

like a spearThe third thinks it is like a snakeThe fourth thinks the elephant is like a treeThe fifth thinks the elephant is like a fanThe sixth thinks the elephant is like a rope

What the elephant would look like

Moral of the poemWe shouldn’t consider only one aspect of the

truthThings are not always what we think they areDifferent people have different perceptionsNo one can attain perfect knowledgeWe should not consider our point of view onlyWe should learn all aspects and bring them

together

Any Queries…….

HUMORPRESIDENTS AND GIFTS

Cultural difference

• Difficult to adopt• Misunderstanding and misinterpretation

Any Queries…….