Upcoming events

Geert Hofstede, a pioneer of intercultural research, called culture “the software of the mind”. As humans, with hardwired needs and drives, we have the same “hardware”, but we run on different operating systems, apps, etc., determined by our personality, life experiences and the culture we grew up in.

The essence of culture is not just what is visible on the surface, but the shared ways in which groups of people understand and interpret the world. Our cultural programming directly impacts how we see the world and how we behave, e.g., how we interact socially and how we communicate.

Each culture’s values and norms reflect basic assumptions and absolute beliefs about life. Because these are largely unconscious, they form an unquestioned reality. This leads us to assume that our way of operating is universal, optimal, and normal and that everyone sees things the way we do. That’s why we may experience culture shock when we are confronted with a different operating system.

The default human reaction to difference is a stress response, often followed by negative judgement, labelling, excluding or attacking. Today, we sadly witness this behavior on the international political stage.

In our globalized and increasingly divisive world, we urgently need skills to effectively bridge differences and increase mutual understanding. In this workshop you will get a better understanding of how you and others operate through experiential exercises that are both fun and eye-opening.

This workshop will help you:

• understand how culture influences perceptions and behavior

• be more conscious of your own cultural “programs”, i.e., your own assumptions and expectations about how people “should” think and act 

• increase your ability to bridge cultural differences

We’re excited to announce the second joint event of BaselConnect and Centrepoint: a private tour of the new tropical greenhouse in Basel’s famous botanical garden. The focus of the tour will be on tropical plant diversity and life strategies. We will see some particularly interesting species, such as the “Strangler Fig” and the Amorphophallus titanum (Titanwurz)… famous for producing the world’s largest inflorescence!

Following the tour, anyone who wishes can join Michelle and Kathy at a nearby café to chat.

Cost: CHF 20. Advance payment by TWINT is required to confirm the registration.

Who: Centrepoint and BaselConnect community members, minimum 14, maximum 20

Trip Leaders: Michelle Lauterbach and Kathy Hartmann-Campbell

Secure your place by registering here.