Moving from Somalia to America at a very young age creates a culture clash which people need to adjust to. The western culture is difficult and challenging to the new people. These two cultures have unique sets of beliefs and values that should be understood, accepted, and acknowledged in order to prevent miscommunication. There are a number of contrasts between the Somali and American cultures including their greeting customs, communication styles, and dining manners. The Somali greeting is based on the Islamic way and the class of the person being greeted. Therefore, Somali women do not shake hands with men except the men who are their relatives including their husbands. The traditional greeting in Somalia is to hug one another, and this …show more content…
In Somali culture, members of opposite sex maintain a distance of an arm’s length while they conversing. Indirect eye contact is also established during this situation; too much direct eye contact from either sex might be interpreted as a come on. The reverse is true when communication occurs in between the same sexes/gender. Somalis also, tend to speak at a closer distance than Americans do, and it is considered impolite to back away even if that person is not interested or accustomed to that much contact. Somali culture it is not a problem to hold hands and walk on the streets during their conversation for everyone. For instance, if Somali women meet in the public area such as shopping mall they greet one another, sometimes they hold hands and walk around. On the other hand, Americans have a conversation in the work area during their breaks and they sit together in the public area such as Starbucks coffee shops, and they usually have a conversation at the same table inspite of their gender. In American culture, it is ok to look at the person and make eye contact directly, regardless of their position whether he/she is the parent, teacher, or boss. Also, Americans listen to one another while someone is talking and show respect to that person. American culture it is uncommon for people of same sex to hold hands and walk on the streets while they are having