Eric Rolex JOSEPH

CULTURE

Culture refers to the systems of signs, meanings, and worldviews f particular groups of human beings. Understanding culture of others can help us living in a peaceful world. In order to avoid misunderstanding among people it’s important to learn about the difference between them. Knowing the difference in the way that they think can be useful. American culture is not homogenous, Haitian culture either. However these two countries hare some common values and assumptions. There are also some differences. Even in a same country, culture can be different from a place to another one. When talking about culture, it’s better to present the common values and assumptions first because that can shorten the differences and help to understand it.

As we said earlier, American people and Haitian people share some common values like freedom, equality, Democracy. For example, they were the first independent countries in America to become independent from European Metropolis. American people and Haitians know that all men are created equal and all men have the right to pursue their happiness. This acknowledgement is in the US constitution and in the Haitian constitution.

America is a capitalistic country and so does Haiti. They both believe in the individual power to succeed. Americans tend to define and evaluate people by the job that they have, family backgrounds, and educational attainments. Haitian people do the same thing in order to define a person. Americans and Haitians tend to spend money rather freely on material goods. They are two materialistic people.

But, Americans are more confident than Haitians. They believe more in future than Haitians. Haitian people tend to believe in God or in spirit tio gain success, but Americans know that they are the only one who can really draw their future. Haitians don’t understand too much the real value of time, in contrary for Americans who strongly know that time is as important as any other resource. American are not afraid to stand out of the crowd, Haitians tend to try to be part of the group.
Haitians people are very patient with others, they try to understand and always ask you to take your time, but Americans tend to be impatient. Americans tend to be more frank in dealing with people than Haitians who can spend a lot of time to say a very simple thing. Haitians are very emotional and they spend their time expressing feelings and requests. They don’t care to display their feelings to others with aggressiveness, usually Americans won’t do that.

In summary, the beauty of life is in its diversity. We need differences to build the world. However with the internet and the globalization, cultures tend to become more similar and people become to understand at the same time the meaning of diversity