Culture is both a great unifier and a great divider. We all are products of our backgrounds and within those histories are traditions, rules, and rituals. We sometimes bond with others through these ways of life and sometimes we find ourselves at odds with others who have different ways.

My work involves daily interaction with people of different cultures and it can be a constant struggle to understand another’s perspective. The things that I consider important, such as punctuality, can be a struggle for others to understand simply because they didn’t grow up with any emphasis on them. How does one convey a value to another when it seems like there is no common language? I can’t explain why it’s important to be on time, it just is and it always has been! I can’t even explain what on time is considering there are no two clocks displaying the same time in my office. Under those circumstances is five minutes even late? Maybe it’s early. It is an ongoing struggle to identify with other human beings.

This need to identify with others has resulted in culture. It allows us to communicate with others of a similar background with ease. Body language and vocal tones do much of our talking when interacting with people. I have a great understanding of sarcasm simply because it is a common tool of communication among my peers. I don’t have to explain what I mean when I say my day has been just great when my inflection goes up at the end of that sentence. Amazingly, sarcasm doesn’t always translate across all cultural lines. When I say my day has been great some people actually think I’ve had a great day. Can you imagine? It’s a wonder anyone understands me at all.

Despite all this the one thing that I find rarely gets lost is translation is a smile. A smile can be as simple as hello or as complicated as sympathy and it’s not often misinterpreted. Smiles convey an attempt at empathy with other peoples’ circumstances. So, the next time you find yourself in a situation where you just don’t understand the other person, give them a great big smile. If that doesn’t work, do the smile-and-nod and back away slowly towards the door.

Keri lives in Boyle Street. She has a very lovely smile.