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According to Hensel, the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) is one of the best markers when measuring intercultural competence. Hensel, believes that motivation is the variable used in developing intercultural understanding.

I like how this article really pointed out that it took "motivation" to truly understand a new culture. People can learn about all the different cultures but it takes motivation to want to understand how a person in India, China, etc. might actually feel about a certain situation.

I enjoyed reading about Bennett's Model. I discussed it with my husband and had fun analyzing what level we each were on! They had a chart that showed how long you were in the other country how you moved on the different levels. It was interesting to me to see that actually shortly after you have been there, you tend to regress on the model. This is because you are first excited to be there, and then you start to become home sick. Once you past that then you start to accept the country for what it is.

I enjoyed the second paragraph most of all, the part comparing acceptance of ones culture and religion to the ice cap. Just crazy, for me, thinking that as they mentioned, so many have died because of a difference in religion. On the other hand, I've never been very religious so my perspective is somewhat bias.

It is pretty weird, to me at least, to understand people with such an ethnocentric attitude, especially in the denial phase. I just don't understand how someone could think their culture is the "center" of it all. I certainly hope many people with that kind of perspective explore and reach out to see other cultures.

Learn about the six stages of the intercultural sensitivity model

My link on Bennett - http://blog.communicaid.com/cross-cultural-training/cross-cultural-theory-developmental-model-of-intercultural-sensitivity/ In reading these articles and studying the Bennett scale, my biggest "ahahhh" moment happened when I thought to myself, "Where do I fall into this scale?" Of course, while performing a self-evaluation you prefer to end up near the ethnorelative end of the scale. However, I have yet to experience different cultures outside the United States, so how can I truly evaluate myself on this subject? Unfortunately, I must go with where I am in life in terms of intercultural experiences. I would have to say I'm probably at step two - Defense against Difference. This appears to be my cultural experience level at this point, but hopefully I will have the opportunity to prove myself at a higher level later in life. In reflecting upon my day if I came from a different culture, I think specifically about my office. Regardless of culture of origin, people who are not from America are treated and viewed differently by associates. I'm not saying people are necessarily mean or heartless towards them, but there are things said in confidence and jokes made behind these folks' backs. In my relations with a few of these individuals I would honestly say they are incredibly nice people who are more respectful than the majority. If I were one of them, I certainly would not appreciate the things said behind my back. These thoughts will definitely make me think twice the next time I hear such conversation. I believe the Bennett model directly relates to me office in that most people I encounter there are stuck firmly in the first two stages. Now, I am probably in stage two myself, but I believe I act in an open-minded and accepting manor. But as the scale states, I hear "negative stereotyping" everyday, and this most certainly is a problem amongst my peers. Do we believe other cultures are inferior to ours? Are we threatened by other culture