Cross Cultural Understanding

Cross Cultural Understanding

Cross Cultural Understanding

Introduction

The writer’s main purpose in writing this paper is to fulfill the requirement for final assignment of Cross Cultural Understanding course. Beside the main purpose above, the writer also expect that this paper can provide some information that might be useful for the readers or at least it can broaden the readers’ view of the countries around the world.

In this globalization era, it is crucial to have broad view about the world. One among them is to know and to learn about other countries. Some people learn about other countries for different purpose. It might be for educational purpose, science, political, tourism, health, seek for job, and the like. It is crucial to have various guidances, whether it from books, internet, or any other Medias that provides the information that we need.

In this paper, there are 6 different countries around that are presented by the writer. These countries come from different region across the continent. These countries are: United Kingdom and Australia that represent the English country, Japan and United Arab Emirates that represent the Asian country and the last are Malaysia and Singapore that represent the Asean country.

There are some reasons why the writer chooses those countries. In general, After the writer take account several things, the writer decided to take those country based on several things, these are: the availably of source information, the reputation of those countries, the educational background, since many students from Indonesia are now studying at those countries. The specific reasons why the writer chooses each country will be explained below.

First, the writer chooses United Kingdom because that country has long history in the past. It is really a glorious country since 16th century up to nowadays. United Kingdom has become an Industrial country from the 18 century. And now, United Kingdom is one among developed country in the world. Many Indonesian college students are now continue their study there. So, the conclusion is it is important and pretty useful to provide some information about this country.

Second, the writer chooses Australia because this country is the major country that is chosen by Indonesian college students to continue their study there. Besides that, the writer chooses this country because it has some unique characteristics and long history. In the past, the only people who lived in Australia were the Aboriginal people. They are the native people of Australia. They still keep their culture up to now. By the 16th century, the British people occupied this country. But the fact that, most of British people that were sent to Australia were prisoner and some other were refugees. After they “dumped away” from their motherland, then they began to build settlements there. Ironically, the white people that came to this land grew steadily and the native people who had already lived there were forced and pushed away. Those are a little about Australia. For more information about it is explained below in Australia part.

The reasons why the writer chooses Japan also due to the major fact that many Indonesian college students are study there. And also, Japan is one of developed country in the world. Even Japan is the most advanced country in Asia in terms of economy and technology. Japan also has long history from the era of Meiji restoration to the World War II. Unlike other countries, Japan is the only country which is the real victims of nuclear weapon ever after. The US bombed Nagasaki by the 6th of August 1945 and bombed Hiroshima by the 9th of August 1945. Although this resulting in the end of WWII, it causes many lives to lost. No less than 300,000 people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima were dead at that time because of this nightmare. It is also causes nuclear pollution that harm the surrounding area. It needs over 30 years to neutralize the nuclear radiation. But not long after that, only in 20 years, Japan were managed to develop world fastest train, called “Shinkansen”. It shows us the enthusiasm of Japanese people in building their country even after the nightmare. Is not it interesting? Watch this!

The writer choose United Arab Emirates are for educational purpose and somehow because of the writer’s interest on this country. Lies in Arabic region, most of area over this land are covered by the dessert. Unlike Indonesia, the UAE only has a little both land and water. Of course they only have a few resources except oil. Their economic are mostly depend on the oil production. Ironically, with only few resources but oil, this country is one of the highest income countries among Asian countries, even world countries.

Both Malaysia and Singapore are the closest countries to Indonesia. Malaysia is one of Asean country with quite strong economic. Malaysia has been given the independence by the British in 31st of August 1957, long after Indonesia declared our independence. But somehow, now they are able to surpass Indonesia. Malaysia also has a bad reputation among countries that known as “the culture stolen”, a nickname from Indonesian. Singapore is Malaysian part in the beginning, but they broke apart from Malaysia in 1965 and states their independence. Somehow ironic, Singapore is a small country, few resources and land. But they are able to become high income country. Their economic are mostly depend on income tax and tourism.

After we know a little information about those countries, it is not a waste to seek more. This paper might help the readers to broaden their view. The information about each country will include the general information, location, history, social life, economic, government system, arts, and some other information. Thank you.

Content: The Culture of malaysia, singapura, and australia

Conclusion

There are some interesting points that we can take after we read this paper. Most important point is that we get more knowledge about those countries. We know more about their culture, social life, government system, religion, economic, and the like. The following are some summary of each.

The United Kingdom is one of developed country. It has a long history since 16th century. United Kingdom is using both monarch and parliamentary system. The king or queen as the symbol of the country, and the Prime Minister as the govern center. The main religion of people living in England is Christian, and some other like Muslim, Hinduism, and the like. This country depend their economy on industrial sector as well as tourism and trading. The White people dominate the society, while some others like Asian, black Africans, and the like are the minor society. Their main language is English and there are some other languages that exist, like Scottish, Wales and Normand.

The Australia is one of high income country in the world. Australia is the commonwealth of British that is belonging to United Kingdom. That is why Australia never has a President although their government system is democracy. The main economy sectors of this country are industrial, agriculture, tourism, and trading. The main religion is Christian; some other religions are Moslem, Hinduism, and the like. The White people are dominating the society, and Asian, Aborigine, and some other are the minor society. The main language that is used in daily is English, the other language that also used are Chinese, French, and native Aborigine.

Japan is one of the most advanced countries in the world. It is the only developed country in Asian region. With high income and high technology, Japan would be able to surpass the Us if they have more natural resources as they produce no oil, ore, nor other natural resources. But they can manage to build such a big and advanced socialization. The people of Japan are aware about this. One reason why Japan can be this modern is because of their people that very discipline. They will not let any second pass without doing anything. The main economic sectors are industrial, trading and tourism. Japanese people are dominant. Shinto is the dominant religion while other like Moslem, Christian, and Buddhism are the minority. The main language is Japanese language that is spoken in daily life. The head of this country is an emperor and the government is done by the Prime minister.

United Arab Emirates is a small country in Middle East region. Most of their land is covered by dessert. As the other Middle East countries, oil is the predominant resources. Although it is only a small country, they have relative high income. Thanks to oil. Oil refinery is the main sector in economy growing. The dominant people and language is Arabic. Moslem is the dominant religion. UAE is divided into 7 Emirates. Each is ruled by an Emirate. The head of the country is President and the government is done by Prime Minister.

Both Malaysia and Singapore are our closest neighbor country. Along with Indonesia, they founded ASEAN (Associated of South East Asian Nation) organization under the umbrella of UN (United nation). The focus of this organization is to develop and raises the cooperation among its members in terms of economic, culture, education, and some other aspects. At first, there are 5 countries who signed the treaty of Asean. Those are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines. Indonesia is now the leader of Asean.

Malaysia is a developing country in Asean region. Its economy is depending on agriculture, trading, and tourism. Although they received their independence from United Kingdom later than Indonesia in 1957, but now they can surpass Indonesia. The dominant people are Malay. Their first language is Malay and their second language is English. Moslem is the dominant religion in Malaysia. Sultan is the head of the country and the Prime minister is the head of govern. Malaysia often claimed culture from other country, including, and the most is from Indonesia. They try to steal Indonesian country into their own. “Reog Ponorogo”, “sate”, and “rasa sayange“song are the example.

Singapore is derived from ancient words that mean the place of lion. Singapore is high income developing country in Asean region. Although they have only few resources and people, they manage to become a high income country. Thanks to their strategic position. At first, Singapore is part of Malaysia. In 1965, they broke apart from Malaysia and states their independence. Their main economy sectors are trading and tourism. Buddhist is the dominant religion. Chinese is the dominant people in Singapore.

Those are the summary about this paper.