A BRIEF CRITICAL OVERVIEW ON CULTURES OF KOREA, TURKEY, EGYPT AND INDONESIA

Ini adalah tugas Cross Cultural Understanding saya menjelang UAS. Cross Cultural Understanding atau CCU sendiri adalah mata kuliah yang menarik untuk saya, karena dalam mata kuliah ini kita bisa mengenal dan mempelajari budaya negara lain yang berbeda dengan negara kita, dan ini memberi pengetahuan baru untuk saya. Kebetulan dosen saya dalam mata kuliah ini adalah lulusan S2 Edinburg University Skotlandia, jadi beliau menceritakan pengalamannya langsung selama tinggal dan bertukar budaya di Inggris. Cukup berkesan dan membuat takjub, namun di sisi lain beliau mempunyai standar yang tinggi dalam penilaian tentu saja dilatarbelakangi oleh pengalaman beliau menempuh pendidikan di luar negri dengan standar pendidikan yang tinggi pula. Setelah mengumpulkan materi dari beberapa artikel dan membacanya dengan teliti akhirnya saya bisa mengumpulkan tugas menjelang UAS ini. tugas tentang perbandingan budaya antara Indonesia, Korea, Turki, dan Mesir. Ada beberapa bahasan yang saya dapat dari sumber teman chatting saya dari negara tersebut dan sisanya dari artikel internet. Semoga bermanfaat dan mohon maaaf bila ada kekurangan.

A BRIEF CRITICAL OVERVIEW ON CULTURES OF

KOREA, TURKEY, EGYPT AND INDONESIA

Although there are significant differences among different countries, we still can find some similiarities. Regarding the people themselves, Korean people are proud of their traditional culture and their modern economic success.  Education is highly valued as the path to status, money and success. While Turkish are extremely patriotic. They are proud of their ancestors and of the achievements of their modern society. The family is the most important social unit. Each person is dependent upon and loyal to the family. Rural life is still traditional, but in cities women frequently work outside the home. Then, Indonesian along with unity and conformity to society's rules, honor and respect for the individual is the basis of Indonesian culture. Indonesians value loyalty to family and friends above all else.  And Egyptian are  kind, gentle, and have a wonderful sense of humor. Treat them with respect and kindness and they will open their hearts and homes to you.

The main differences among those counties are the languages. Egyptian’s official language is Arabic, and most Egyptians speak one of several vernacular dialects of that language. As is the case in other Arab countries, the spoken vernacular differs greatly from the literary language. Korean language is Hangul, the grammar of that language resemble of Japanese. It language use Chinese character along with their own alphabets, in their written language but spoken Korean bears no resemblance to either language. Whereas Turkish’s official language is Turkish, its written in the Arabic script. Turkish belongs to the Altay branch of the Ural-Altaic linguistic family, same as Finnish and Hungarian. And Indonesian which is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Bahasa Indonesia is a standardized dialect of Malay which had been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries. They all seem to have no similiarities about their language, because their language is adapted from the country around it.

Custom, clothing and food are also another thing that we can see differences and similiarities.  Korean customs usually leave a social gathering with say good-bye and bow to each person individually. Their traditional clothing is hanbok, but nowdays common people is wear coloured dresses, Korea being trend fashion in Asia. Korean eat rice with almost every meal and always there are Kimchi in every dish Kimchi is sliced cabbage, fermented with red chili sauce and anchovy paste. While Turkish custom like when two men meet for the first time, they shake hands and sustain direct eye contact but for close friends and family members they may kiss each other on both cheeks as well. For clothing most women wear a simple blouse and pantaloons and cover their head and lower face with a scarf, men have adopted western style of dressing or go for a blend of local and western styles. White bean is the national food of the land eaten by every Turk. Raki or an aniseed-flavored grape brandy is the national drink. Breakfast in Turkey would consist of tea, bread, butter, white cheese, eggs, olives, honey and marmalade. Similarly  Egyptian when greeting between men and women, the woman must extend her hand first. If she does not, a man should bow his head in greeting. Many of the women wear clothes that cover all parts of their bodies.The women also wear either a hijab (a covering for the neck and head) or a niquab (a covering of the face and head); however, it is not uncommon to see an Egyptian woman without a head covering. Their main meal consist of rice, ful beans, and vegetables. And Indonesian generally speak quietly and with a subdued tone. Loud people would come across as slightly aggressive. In formal event the men usually wear batik shirts with no tie and outside the trousers. A head usually covered by a black felt cap called  peci, and the women wear kebaya their hair  tied into a bun and  they might have carried a selendang, a long stretch of cloth draped over the shoulder. Rice is a national staple, Rice was placed in the center of the plate, with meats or other condiments around the edges.

Another important thing we need to compare is the marriage and wedding. Single country seems to have significant differences in terms of the process of wedding and marriage. In Korea most Koreans have Western-style weddings. After the ceremony is conducted with the bride wearing a white wedding gown, the bride and groom usually change into traditional Korean clothing to pay homage to the parents in a separate, smaller room. But in Turkey, wedding differ from one region to another, in urban and rural areas. In modern Turkish society, the official marriage arrangement signing ceremony is followed by a large celebration at a wedding hall where relatives, friends, and acquaintances come together to dance, drink, eat, and shower the new couple with gifts and good wishes. While in Egypt Females in the wedding party may have their hands stunningly decorated in Henna and will carry flowers, which they will spray over the couple as a gesture of love and luck and to symbolize new beginnings. The wedding ceremony, can take place in a variety of venues, depending on the religious customs being observed.  So, Islamic or Christian weddings will take place in their relative mosques or churches. Whereas in Indonesia marriage must depend on civil, religious, and a celebration which follows regional customs and traditions (adat). The festive celebration is often separate, and may occur days or even weeks after the legal and religious ceremonies. Each region and ethnic group practises its own marriage customs. Sometimes the decision of how to celebrate is made by the family, but usually community traditions prevail.

Egyptian and Indonesian There some similiarities between, Turkish and Korean regarding the social mores. The gentlemen in those countries such Korea do not  touch someone who not a relative or close friend, they avoid touching, patting or back slapping a Korean. Therefore Turkish whom are devout Muslims, may avoid looking into your eyes in a display of humble behavior. Similiar with Egyptian they do not stand too close to a member of the opposite sex.  And men in Indonesia do not touch a woman in public except to shake hands they are not display affection in public. All of that gentlemen have similiarity, they keep to not having too much  skinship with other opposite sex in public and they respect women. However, all four countries may have more differences in terms of annual customes. Korea have  Chuseok, that is one of the biggest and most important holidays in Korea. Family members from near and far come together to share food and stories and to give thanks to their ancestors for an abundant harvest. While Egyptian, Turkey And Indonesia are similiar, beacause mostly people in that country are moeslim so annual custom is same with religius custom. The First is Eid Al-Fitr this is held after Ramadhan (fasting day) the final fast-breaking (iftar), people often celebrate all night. Next, people visit their neighbours, relatives and friends and partake in festive meals with special dishes,beverages, and desserts. Children receive gifts and sweets on this happy occasion. People exchange greeting cards at this time. Muslim holidays are not on fixed dates because they are on the lunar calendar, so they move back by about 11 days each year. And the second is Feast of the Sacrifice, on the first day of it Muslim sacrifice rams. Before sacrificing, rams’ eyes should be covered with a white towel or handkerchief. Two-third of the meat from sacrificed animals is given to relatives, neighbour and the poor. One –third of the meat should be left in the house. Thus, you can see animal bazaars around during 4 days.