Matt Zanis CP#2

      For our second cultural workshop, we began talking about some cultural norms and practices. We explored this topic through the use of an iceberg metaphor, was the norm easily visible from someone on the outside looking in or was it something that needed to be explained. There were some easy ones that were above surface like food and some were easy to decide as below surface but the one we spent a lot of time talking about was clothing. Clothing seemed to fit both categories, obviously any one visiting another place can see they may dress differently, but do they know why? We spent a majority of our time talking about this and found it boiled down to either religion or long time social customs. We also spent time talking about the do’s and don’ts for arriving late or on time in other cultures and there were some interesting revelations. Particularly, how in Ireland it’s okay to show up a day or two after the original meeting was set.