Cultural differences

India
May 2, 2012 4:17am CST
Cultural differences do exist and it will exist always. When we meet elder members of family or a relative, the younger usually touches the feet of the elder or folds hands in Namaste style. The elder blesses the younger by putting his/her hand on the head. Males handshake with friends mostly, but ladies hug ladies; if friend is male; the ladies fold hands in Namaste style. When we write a letter to an elder, it begins with ‘Respected …..’ (Here relation like father, mother is mentioned), and ends with ‘Pranam’ (regards); if to a younger, it begins with ‘My dear …..’And ends with ‘Subhasish’(blessings). [b]We normally don’t beg apology to persons younger in age. But I beg apology if their culture differs from mine. [/b] [b]Will you please share what you do when meeting persons, how you write your letters? Do you beg apology from younger guys, girls? Please share and comment on different aspects of this story. Thanks in advance.[/b] Professor ‘Bhuwan’. . 2/5/2012 [i][/i]
1 person likes this
4 responses
jazel_juan
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
2 May 12
We also have ways of showing respect with our elders.. Like the children here "bless" the hands of the the elders.. like my kids when they arrive home and my parents are there, they would go over them and get my dad or my moms right hand, and put the right hand on their forehead.. we call that here "mano" or "magmano" a sign of respect which i still instill with them, that comes usually with a kiss on the cheek or a hug too. As for me, i do that as well to my parents. When in speaking to elders we usually speak with "po or opo" instead of just saying "yes" we add, "yes po" s sign of respect too.. As for using sorry, i teach my kids to say sorry regardless of the age. if one of them hurt the other, they should say sorry. If i accidentally too hurt them i say sorry and if they hurt me too they say sorry.. regardless of the age. As sorry is something i want to teach them as it also teaches them to keep their pride down and have more humility. I also teach them to say Please, Thank you and these are magic words.
Jane
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
2 May 12
dear dada, We also have ways of showing respect to our old folks/elders and older people. We call them auntie(tita/tiya)uncle(tito/tiyo), grandma/grandpa (lolo/lola). But when it comes to asking apology, age doesn't matter. Who ever commit mistakes should/must say sorry no matter how the age gap is. We believed that, showing respect to younger people will teach them the better way -how to respect others especially older people. Older people who ask apology and admit their mistakes to younger ones gains more respect from the society as well. Hugs to you and maa
urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
•
2 May 12
Such tokens of respect seem a little odious to me, it is my cultural aspiration to call no man master and be called master by none. All men are equal before God all the best urban
lynpreety
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
2 May 12
In my culture we usually grab the hand of the elders to blessed us as a sign of respect to them. I grew up with respect to elders, we normally eats all together as a whole family, no chatting while eating and no watching TV while eating. We usually addressed elders on respected name like auntie, uncle, grandma, or grandpa, Sir,Mr,Mam and (po) at the end of the sentence if we are talking to elders. I must say I was sad these days that only few children have learned this respect from their parents. And mostly many kids now adapted the new cultures from different foreigners that visited my country and even if they grew abroad. I hope old ways of respect must be recognized by the new generations now.