Reflection On Bennet's Stage Of Adaptation

To begin, I am convinced that the Bennets stages of denial, defence, minimisation, acceptance, adaptation and Integration all overlap, and it is therefore very difficult to be just at one stage at one particular time. Having said that, I believe that Bennet’s stage of ‘Adaptation’ best represents the stage to which my intercultural sensitivity has progressed. The English culture is one which has predominantly shaped who I am as a person so, although I am relatively accustomed to the Dutch culture, there are still aspects which I am familiarising myself with because I am now living here permanently.

Upon recently arriving in Den Haag, I found that the city was more ethnically diverse compared to that of Alkmaar, so the superficial qualities surrounding me were shaping the way I perceived Den Haag.The diversity and focus of internationality emphasises the wide variety of cultures mixing in one place. I felt an added pressure to accept and recognise the disparities between my English culture another culture, and this was the beginning of cultural relativism. The people in Den Haag were very direct and honest with their opinions, due to their low context communication. They openly cursed at me when I accidentally didn’t see a cyclist when crossing the

I absorbed and analysed the norms and traits displayed by citizens of Alkmaar. I remember going ice skating and a school group was pushing in front of me, despite the formation of a neat queue. The teachers did not say anything about their behaviour which would be unacceptable in England. I thought that the queue jumping was wrong according to the norms I was accustomed to. I viewed the Dutch culture from the perspective and basic assumptions of the English culture. If the same situation were to be simulated in England, I am almost certain that the majority of English children would neatly join the