Journal Entry

Journal Entry

Description

If I were in the scenario, I would feel awkward because I would not be sure whether I should eat whale meat to show my appreciation of traditional Japanese food or eat something else to avoid looking ignorant about eating traditional Japanese local cuisine in a meeting dominated by Japanese. I would wait to see whether anyone on the dinner table proposes that I should try whale meat or see how others eating it at the table do it to avoid disrespecting traditional requirements. I feel that as a visitor to the country, I should embrace the local culture, including their food. Therefore, my initial reaction would be to ask the person sitting next to me at the dinner table about whale meat and its significance in Japanese culture. I would then wait for the person’s proposal to try the whale meat or suggest that I should try it so that I can create the impression that I appreciate and respect local Japanese cuisine.

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Interpretation and Reflection

According to Baltes et al. (2015), cultural awareness is important in intercultural interactions because it dictates the attitudes towards different cultures. The cultural aspects of the scenario presented are appreciating local foods that hold significant value in Japanese culture because local food creates a connection among community members. People outside a culture are allowed to criticize that culture’s beliefs and values based on cultural relativism. Cowell (2022) argues that cultural relativism posits that the moral norms of society dictate whether a decision is right or wrong. Therefore, individuals outside a culture may not understand the moral norms of the culture if they are not part of the society they are practised.

References

Baltes, B., Hernandez, D., & Collins, C. (2015). Increasing cultural awareness through a cultural awareness program. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5590/jerap.2015.05.1.01

Cowell, F. (2022). Defensive relativism: The use of cultural relativism in international legal practice. University of Pennsylvania Press.

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Assignment Details

Review the scenario, and then use the following to create a journal entry. Journal entries provide the writer with an opportunity to collect their thoughts and reflect in a less formal way than they would in a traditional essay. Although a journal is not a traditional essay in format or tone, all of the elements necessary for good writing still apply, including attention to grammar, thorough proofreading and spelling checks, and presenting views in an organized paragraph structure.

Journal entry

Scenario

Your company has sent you abroad to Japan for a business trip, and while at a business dinner, you notice that whale meat is on the restaurant menu as a traditional part of the local cuisine. Click here to review Japanese views on eating whale meat.

Journal Entry

Write a journal entry which is 1-2 double-spaced pages in length that addresses the following questions. You are not required to include a cover page, but if you refer to information from other sources, be sure you provide in-text citations in accordance with APA requirements. Make sure you refer to the rubric to ensure you address all the requirements for the paper.

Description: Imagine how you would feel if you were in the scenario. Describe your reaction(s) to the situation. How do you feel about it? What is your initial reaction? How might you handle this situation at the restaurant?
Interpretation and reflection: Reflect on the cultural aspects of the scenario presented. Do people outside of a culture have the right to criticize that culture’s values or beliefs? Why or why not?

Assignment Criteria Proficient Descriptor Points
Content Description Journal Description:
• Provides personal response to the issues raised in the scenario
• Demonstrates critical thinking in connecting the given scenario to key course concepts from readings and other academic resources.
• Makes relevant inferences through contextual explanations and examples. /20 pts.
Interpretation/Reflection Journal reflection:
• Demonstrates insight and awareness of the relevance of the questions and their cultural implications to the world and society
• Examines personal assumptions and explores alternative perspectives.
• Includes what was learned from engaging with the questions and how it will inform personal behavior in the future, demonstrating growth and awareness. /20 pts.
Writing Quality Journal response is well-articulated, including in-text citations and references in accurate APA Style as needed, and is free from grammar, punctuation, usage, and spelling errors. /10 pts.
Total /50 pts.