How would you define interculturalism ?

Valérie Servant : Interculturalism is about promoting interaction, understanding and respect between people from different cultures. Over and above language and appearance, it means learning where two cultures converge and diverge in order to be able to anticipate those differences and avoid any awkwardness or tactlessness in relationships. Both can be uncomfortable at best, but at worst, they can spark conflict. Ultimately, it’s all about enthusiasm, interest and respect.

Even so, are there any critical issues we need to be aware of if we’re to avoid making unintentional blunders ?

V.S : It’s very difficult to make a list of critical issues. ‘To do’ lists can be dangerous, because we don’t often find ourselves in straightforward binary situations. It’s all about common sense, really. You have to be enthusiastic about, and take an interest in, the cultures of your guests before you welcome them. Obviously, that’s going to help you gain a better understanding of their needs and expectations. Generally speaking, we make a global distinction between two types of culture. These are ‘individualistic’ cultures (in which the individual is more important than the group), and ‘collectivist’ cultures in which the group is more important than the individual. American culture is the most individualistic in the world, whereas Chinese culture is one of the most collectivist.

Are there any distinctive traits we to learn about these two cultures ?

V.S : The first thing to say is that they have very different needs, and that fact inevitably impacts the way hospitality should be extended to each nationality. More generally, for all collectivist cultures, the ‘relationship’ is the crucial point to bear in mind. It’s very important to invest time in building trust-based relationships, which is usually achieved through informal socialising. The basic rule for collectivist cultures – Algerian, Russian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, etc. – is to remember that people from these countries expect a shared meal and welcome gifts on arrival. They also expect to be taken care of throughout their stay, as a sign of respect. So flagging up clear signs of personal attention will reassure them of their importance to their ‘host’.

So does that mean individualistic cultures need to be given freedom of choice ?

V.S : Yes, constantly being part of a group can weigh heavily on individualists. While people from collectivist cultures never do anything by themselves, individualists need time to themselves to recharge their batteries. Welcoming an individualist means giving them the freedom to choose what they want to do, leaving them some free time, and giving them advice on how to enjoy their surroundings without having to join a group, for example.

“The more a culture is ritualized, the more the “small attentions” will make the difference during the reception”

Are there cultures that are more ritualised than others, and therefore demand more attention

V.S : The more ritualised a culture is – Japan is a good example – the greater the risk of unintentional blunders. Conversely, the less ritualised the culture – the USA, for example – the lower the risk… In practice, your guests don’t necessarily expect you to do or say anything specific, and will therefore be much less judgemental.
The more ritualised the culture, the more ‘little touches’ there will be that can be used to improve the welcome you extend.

So there’s no ‘miracle recipe’ for high-quality hospitality ?

V.S : It’s very rare today to find yourself in a a binary situation, and good intercultural relations require both parties to make the effort to adapt to each other’s needs. But constant adaptation can be exhausting and requires continual attention to detail, although once again, it depends on the country concerned. For example, it will be much easier for a French person to welcome a Belgian (the culture closest to French culture) than someone from Japan.