May Lee's Tree

I took this photo when I was attending the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication in 2004. This photo does not do it justice but it purely serves as a reminder and an inspiration to me to look at the bigger picture. I was at this institution in the middle of redwood country for almost a month, but I was so busy doing my conference activities that I forgot to appreciate the wonders of life. Thanks to Jack Condon and Nagesh Rao, some great interculturalists/teachers, who gave us some disposable cameras, I was able to see this giant tree, that existed hundreds of years before me, that went through so much changes, and could testify to the challenges of animosity. How did I not notice this giant being? This is a reminder for me to cultivate stillness and look beyond myslef; and concentrate on the "big picture" in any situation and in life.
~May Lee Moua-Vue

Japanese Story "Rude Introduction"

Japanese Story 2003 Curator’s clip description Mr Tachibana (Gotaro Tsunashima) waits outside the Port Hedland airport. Sandy Edwards (Toni Collette) arrives late, and with no idea of the proper way to greet a visitor from Japan. Mr Tachibana also has no idea of Australian manners – including never sitting in the back seat. At the large iron ore mine that he has come to inspect, part-owned by his father, the mining company’s Mr Richards (John Howard) shows much greater formal knowledge. Sandy is surprised to hear him speak Japanese. She’s even more surprised when the visitor shows he can speak English. Curator’s notes Much of the film is preoccupied with language, and the potential for misunderstanding between cultures, but this scene illustrates a wilful understanding. Mr Hiromitsu is withholding his language skills from Ms Edwards because she offends his sensibilities, and possibly because she is ‘only a woman’. He opens up immediately to John Howard, playing Richards. We suspect this is not simply because Richard addresses him in Japanese, and with due deference. He has ‘standing’ because he’s a man, something she is always denied in the film. Paul Byrnes, curator Australian Screen

Individualism-Collectivism Cultures

High Context-Low Context Cultures

Schaetti, Barbara and Wantanabe, Gordon. "Personal Leadership the Art of Crossing Cultures." A seminar presentated at the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication, July 2004.