Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Culture has become essential in our world, which is made up of many diverse societies.
Learning a new culture is important because it allows us to understand the others around us. It also gives us a shared interest to communicate about. “When individuals are born into a particular society, they begin a process of enculturation, when they learn and adopt the norms, traditions, and beliefs of their dominant culture” (Bevan & Sole, 2014).
I came from a small town in Bassdrop, Texas. My family had a small farm, where my sisters and I learned how to ride horses. When I moved to the inner city I was fourteen, and stuck out like a black eye. I had a thick accent compared to everyone at my new school. Luckily I made friends through shared interest. Learning their culture helped me to adapt to my new life in the city. My family found a new church, and my mom even learned how to make egg rolls.
In my culture we speak differently than someone from the north. We use different words. In the south we say “water fountain”, up north they refer to it as a “bubbler”. Learning other cultures will help us to understand those around us. Talking with my family I can use slang words or phrases. In a new environment that wouldn’t be proper. In order to communicate effectively we need to be able to keep an open mind about others and their way of life.

Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K. (2011). Developing Communication Competence /3.1. In Understanding Interpersonal Communication Making Connections (Second