Intercultural Readiness Self Assessment.

The first column itemizes personal characteristics that are helpful for cross-cultural interactions.Evaluate your own current intercultural readiness on a scale of 1-100.Also set a target for day when this Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP) in Wuhan, China ends. Do this honestly and intuitively.

Current self estimate Score: 1-100
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 1-100


Characteristic:

OPEN-MINDEDNESS
Current self estimate Score: 50
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 80

Comments:
In china, the toilet have low doors cubicle or even no cubicle. There is no privacy
while doing your business. I would one day try to do my business in one of these toilet if i have the chance.

RESPECT FOR OTHER BELIEFS

Current self estimate Score: 80
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 95

Comments:
Respect for other beliefs is very important, it reflect on a person thinking and the character of oneself. In this trip, i learn that if ones want to gain respect from others, he/she have to respect others first.

TRUST IN OTHER PROPLE

Current self estimate Score: 50
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 70

Comments:
i ask for direction and information from the locals which i gain trust in them, i even made some friends and took some photos of them. However i would still be alert at all times to prevent me from any unwanted danger.

TOLERANCE FOR DISCOMFORT

Current self estimate Score: 40
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 65

Comments:
There will be a level of tolerance in anyone. i will walk away from any discomfort as it will save me from any trouble. After the completion of OIP, the level would be higher as an experience was being gain.

TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY

Current self estimate Score: 60
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 70

Comments:
We need to be alert anytime, anywhere as we do not know would happen next. Always have some thinking before reacting to any situation to avoid and danger or trouble.

PATIENCE

Current self estimate Score: 40
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 55

Comments:
My patience have a limit. In wuhan, i felt that most people here have no patience, people would rush for lunch and push around to get around crowded places. While queueing for the cable car trip, china peoples are cutting queue, we could not stand it and a small commotion was being started. i felt that i got to improve more on my patience

SENSE OF PERSONAL CONTROL

Current self estimate Score: 50
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 80

Comments:
Personal Control in a foreign country is very important, if one is living on it own. Various factors have to consider such as Finance, Accomodation, Food and many more.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Current self estimate Score: 80
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 90

Comments:
i think i have done well in social communication as i do dare to make the approach to communicate with others and locals. A friendly smile and greeting would help with the approach.

WILLINGNESS TO TAKE INITIATIVE

Current self estimate Score: 40
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 45

Comments:
News were being reported that most beggers and strangers who approach were from a part of the scam organization, beggers were seen in most places in china. i did not take much initiative to take note about them or bother to donate. At one time, a stranger approach saying he would like to know if anyone know a girl that stole his phone. which he lost in a lan shop nearby. i suspect he wanna to borrow my phone and run away, so i just told him i dont know anything and continue with my meal.

However, if i could help. i would lend a hand to them.

WILLINGNESS TO TAKE RISKS

Current self estimate Score: 50
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 85

Comments:
The first free and easy trip, my team led my me took a mini unknown van driven my a stanger to the located we wanted, the van was not licence to pick any passenger. I even led my team to walk around the town and back alley with with the help of the local map in my hands and directions from the locals

SENCE OF HUMOR

Current self estimate Score: 50
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 80

Comments:
In china, i like the way the chinese people speak, they do have very strong accent. I do imitate their accent, when buying food and when bargaining stuffs, which made my friends and some local students laugh. Americans accents are also being imitate when taking with the china students as they speak like them, not like us which we have our own Singlish.


CURIOSITY ABOUT OTHER CULTURE

Current self estimate Score: 60
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 80

Comments:
Questions are asked, doubt are solve. A step have to taken to bring one forward. I take any chance to ask the tourguide questions and fellow him/her when culture were being told during field trip. Interaction with local student were also been done, with the exchange of phone number and internet messaging addresses.

COMFORT LEVEL WITH STRANGERS

Current self estimate Score: 60
Target upon completion of Wuhan,China OIP:Score: 80

Comments:
i always take the initiative to approach any strangers to ask for directions or information in my team. Cause i love to interact, however i would be on my guard as there is an amount of danger that would still be there.



Conclusion

One needs to think about the outcome, before they wants to react. Always put a safe guard to protect oneself. Always ask, why, how if have any doubt. An approach, which start from you would be good, to help the flow of interaction which much experience could be gain.