Human beings have a great desire to be with people who are similar to themselves. This
is because they share the same ways of doing things, the same values and operate by
similar rules. When we are with people who are similar to ourselves, the ways we have
of doing things just seem like common sense. However, sometimes work or study or a
sense of adventure take us out of our comfort zone. When this happens we realise that
the things we took for granted about human interaction are not necessarily the same
for everyone. This can be a very difficult, even shocking experience. This helpsheet
explains what happens when people step out of their comfort zone by experiencing
other cultures, either by travelling to another country or by being in contact with people
from other cultures who are in your home country. It explains how we react, why we
react the way we do and how to make the interaction between people from other
cultures a positive experience.