Cultural Differences - On the Ski Slopes!
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The year is 2002 - back in the distant past as far as Captain Kirk and his trusted Vulcan Science Officer Spock is concerned. In an attempt to understand the still-warring factions of the Federation, the Starship Enterprise has travelled back in time to study Earth at a time when different cultures were constantly squabbling. The Enterprise lands on a broad, snow-filled valley in the Alps, where Spock knows there will be a rich variety of cultures to study.“A 20th century phenomenon, Captain” says Spock. “It was, I believe, known as a ski resort. Millions of people from all parts of the globe would congregate to slide down mountains on primitive planks, and the most international resorts became great multi-cultural centres. Unfortunately, because of global warming, many resorts suffered and some closed before the end of the 21st century, but thanks to what I believe was called snow-making, most were able to survive.” So what did Kirk and his crew discover about cultural differences in the Alps?
Unfortunately we do not possess Spock’s ability to carry out an instant ‘mind-meld’. By placing his hand on the head of a being from another planet, TV’s famously logical personality ‘knows’ instantly the contents, language and psyche of the ‘alien’ mind. We humans take considerably longer to overcome terrestrial communication difficulties.
You would think that common sense might prevail, especially in the mountains, where bonhommie, gemütlichkeit and ‘have-a-nice-day’ sentiments should erode cultural barriers. But common sense is derived from experience - and experience is culture-bound. Using the iceberg as a suitably wintry metaphor to describe culture, only 10 per cent is visible above the waterline, while 90 per cent remains hidden. Beneath the surface lie solid assumptions and values that are shaped by education, history, religion, language and shared experiences. Once you understand what’s happening beneath the surface - and I’m not referring to what’s under the snow - you will be in a better position to understand your fellow skiers and snowboarders and why they communicate and behave as they do.
The British, protected through centuries from invasions by surrounding seas, have often felt privileged to be isolated from the rest of Europe, although they’d quite like a share of the Alps. Our fellow Europeans who have always lived with fluctuating borders and close to their neighbours had to become culturally aware. The British have never taken to people from across the channel. “They are extremely proud and overbearing,” wrote Frederick, Duke of Würtenberg, after travelling through England in 1592. “They care little for foreigners, but scoff and laugh at them.”
Yet we have our good side, it seems. Take the British skiing in Italy, for example. You might think that Italian beginners, being ‘locals’ would learn faster than their British counterparts. You’d be wrong. Listen to Mirko Pellicone, a former Europa Cup racer who now teaches in Cervinia. “The British always learn faster. They’re out in all weathers, determined to make the most of their holiday. The Italians are always complaining. It’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too early, it’s too late, and it’s too expensive. As a consequence, the British are much better skiers when they leave us than the Italians.”
Have you noticed, perhaps, how polite the Swiss, Austrians and Germans often seem over their lunchtime gulaschsuppe, rösti and schnaps? Unlike the British and French, they rarely interrupt. Surprise surprise - there’s a reason for this. German speakers find it difficult when Anglo-Saxons interrupt conversations in English, as they are not used to it in German where the verb comes at the end of sentence. So maybe it’s all down to language rather than any desire to be polite!
Arguments in lift queues are rare in the US and Scandinavia as American and Scandinavian children are brought up to avoid confrontation and learn how to reach a compromise or consensus. On the contrary, French children are encouraged to be articulate and are rarely discouraged from being talkative and argumentative. According to many French people a good row can serve to move things along and to prevent boredom and stagnation! And next time you think a German skier is standing too close to you in the lift queue remember that the ‘personal space bubble’ is considerably smaller in Germany, than for example, in the United States. Germans do not consider it rude to pass very close to a stranger without acknowledging the other’s presence or excusing oneself. The notion of ‘personal space’ is nearly always related to whether a country is densely populated, like Germany or Italy, where people are generally more comfortable with being close to others. On the contrary, in sparsely populated parts of the world, like North America and Scandinavia, the inhabitants prefer a larger ‘bubble’.
Another aspect of French culture is that when they’re told that something is not allowed, the French often see this as a direct challenge to their ability to bypass the rules without getting caught. It may seem strange to British culture, but being able to do this well is a source of personal satisfaction and pride. According to one of my French friends, it is a way of distinguishing oneself. And standing out discreetly from the crowd. Could this possibly be why British ski instructors have had such a difficult time in the French Alps? It was, after all, a 16th century French writer, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, who came up with this quote: ‘What truth do these mountains hide that is considered a lie on the other side?’
The most irritating habit of the British, according to the people I meet in Europe, is their emphasis on beating about the bush by being vague and using understatements. Foreigners sometimes interpret this as lack of interest or standoffishness, and regard it as a major cause for misunderstandings and problems. The British often use a ‘secret code’ to express their feelings. For example, a British person may say that a ski lesson was ‘instructive’; they really mean that it was terrible. An ‘interesting’ run would be deemed ‘not bad’. This habit is baffling to most Europeans, who are much more direct and frank, which in turn many British interpret as rude!
Ever wondered about the Americans’ liking for fast-food mountain restaurants? Americans are brought up to view time as something they can ‘use’ and their culture places great value on efficiency - and to be efficient is do something in a way that’s quick and requires the minimum financial outlay. Hence a Big Mac for lunch instead of a ‘menu gourmand’. Many Norwegian skiers take a picnic up the mountain. Like the Swedes, they don’t like to waste time on lunch except as a refuelling exercise, and the two nations share this liking for a quick, cheap lunch. Maybe all those Norwegians and Swedes who emigrated to America have influenced its eating habits?
In these troubled times when we are struggling to understand cultures different from our own, we may need to be more open-minded. To quote Kyle Westgard, founder of the China Ski Corporation “There’s nothing like sitting down to a hot meal after a day on the slopes, with new friends from the other side of the planet. I can’t think of many more enjoyable ways to help bring about understanding between peoples.” Perhaps we need to adopt the approach of one of Spock’s fellow Vulcans in Star Trek:
“Greetings! I am pleased to see that we are different. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.”
This article is adapted from "It's culture Jim - but not as we know it" by Vivianne Näslund
Swedish-born Vivianne Näslund is a crosscultural management consultant.Originally published by the Ski Club of Great Britain: www.skiclub.co.uk
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