Personal profile by Emily Henao

Hall:

High context Communication Low context

C
I

Monochronic Time Polychronic

C
I

Close Personal Space Distant

C
I

Kluckhohn:

Nature
Dominating In Harmony with Subjugated to

C
I

Doing (task) Orientation Being (relation)

C
I

1) Make your personal profile of the dimensions we discussed in class of Hall and Kluckhohn (by putting an “I” where you prefer to be). You can use the format below. Justify each dimension with your own real-life examples.
Communication: I will not be indirect for no reason, but if it will hurt someone's feelings I might lie. For example: if someone gets a haircut and asks me what I think of it, I will say I like it , eventhough I don't.
Time: For doctor appointments, school, these sort of things I will be on time of course, but when me and a friend have something planned it always ends up meeting eachother a few hours later. Also with party's: if it starts at 8 I will probably be there at 10. I also do a lot of things at once, I don't plan my time, I kind of go with the flow. I value time with my family a lot.
Personal space: I am quite distant with my personal space. Some people tend to get really close when talking to me, even with family, I get super uncomfortable.
Nature: I think I am kind of in harmony with nature, but sometimes you have no choice but dominating nature. I believe that as long as nature does not bring you in danger or difficulties, you should let it be. For example, in the Netherlands we build dikes. I think that is perfectly fine, because otherwise we would suffer from floods all the time and lots of people would drown.
Orientation: Eventhough I am late quite often, I know it is not really acceptable for other people, so I do always communicate and let people know what is going on. I try to be on time. My pace of walking is kind of fast though. I do not know why, but I am annoyed by slow walking people. I do think being on time with meetings, school and other formal events/places is very important. You can bring yourself and other people in difficulties by being late.

2) Put in the same personal profile the scores for your country (with a “C”) Reflect on the following questions:

a. Where are you not in line with your national culture? Reflect why you differ. I am not in line with my national culture on communication and time. This is because Dutch people overall are very direct. They will say what they think, without thinking how that might make someone else feel. I personally am not that direct, sometimes it even bothers me how direct my friends are. This might be because of the Colombian part of my family. They are not direct at all.
Timewise I am a little less monochronic than we are used to in the Dutch culture. I like to not plan in my free time, and just relax, spend time with my family and just go with the flow. I go to school and work to live, I do not live to go to school and work.

b. Where are you in line with your national culture? Reflect why you are in line. I am in line with the Dutch culture on personal space, orientation and nature. I am in line with personal space because I too am very distant with my personal space. I think people are obnoxious and disrespectful when they are all up in my personal space. To me it is very uncomfortable, but I understand that in different cultures it can be the opposite. Eventhough I am very flexible with my free time and just go with the flow, orientation wise I am very Dutch. Meetings, appointments and school? You should always be on time.
With nature I am also quite dominating. Maybe a little less than the Dutch culture, because I believe that when it does not bother you, you should let it be, but I do believe in building dikes to protect ourselves.

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