Sri Lankans vs. Derdians
Have you ever played a cultural simulation called Derdians? I've facilitated it a couple of times and now that I was browsing it again, I realized some similarities with Derdians and Sri Lankans (though the former is a made up culture and the latter a real one). Here we go:Rules for the Social Behaviour of the Derdians and Sri Lankans
Touching
Derdians always touch each other, even when they talk with each other or when they pass each other. No touching means: I don’t like you!
Sri Lankans touch too, but not girls. It's ok to be all over your male friend, but don't you dare hold hands with a girl. Ok, this is something that is gradually changing. Nowadays you see more and more couples holding hands (and not just guys). Still, it's a common sight to see couples hiding under an umbrella in the furthest corner of the park or retreating to side alleys to hold hands.
Greeting
The traditional Derdian greeting procedure is a kiss on the shoulder. The person who starts the greeting ceremony kisses the other one on the shoulder. After this he will be kissed on his shoulder. Any other form of kissing will be an insult!
I've never ever seen any Sri Lankan kissing anyone anywhere. Nope, completely different from Derdians.
Insults
If a Derdian is insulted he starts complaining very loudly about it! Apart from kissing in weird places, to try and shake a Derdian's hand for a greeting is an insult.
If a Sri Lankan is insulted he starts complaining very loudly about it! Though it's quite rare to see really pissed off people.
Yes/No
A Derdian never uses the word "No". He always says yes, even if he means no. In disagreement he nods his head strongly.
A Sri Lankan never uses the word "No". He always says yes, even if he means no. In agreement he wiggles his head from left to right.
Now this is weird. Sri Lankans, at a glance, seem to be quite equal in working life. For example there are both men and women handling the tiding up of the rooms in hotels. At the office you see both men and women working in same jobs. But when it comes to top management the gender inequality is there; And the women see nothing wrong about it because they choose to make babies and take care of the family, throwing their promising career in a bin. Good or bad? Go figure.
Vice versa: A woman from Sri Lanka hardly makes acquaintance with foreign man if no one introduces her.
Derdians are always nice to foreigners.
Sri Lankans are always tooooo nice to foreigners.
The Derdians are very proud about themselves and their culture.
Sri Lankans are very proud about themselves, their culture and cricket team.
Derdians know that they cannot build the bridge without foreigners' help but they do not see the foreigners' culture as superior.
Sri Lankans have lost their faith to foreign NGOs, for a reason. The business, in turn, would benefit a lot from foreign investments and this is what the new leader of BOI (Board of Investments) is trying to lobby. However, the rest of the government is doing its utmost to torpedo foreign investments by continuing to wage the meaningless war. Sri Lankans don't necessarily see foreigners as superior, but they indeed treat you like that.
Derdians expect from the foreigners that they adopt the Derdian way of life.
Sri Lankans don't expect anything from foreigners: you can be whoever you want to be; in any case you are treated differently than locals.
posted by Tomi Astikainen @ Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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