Intercultural Communication
a report written by Thabisa Nondzube

Intercultural Communication is not an easy and simple topic to write about. It is even more challenging to condense it into a short report. Had it been the case, this report would have been finished ages ago. Needless to say, it is a subject I am most excited and enthusiastic about. Most scholars from the field of intercultural studies and communication will agree that it is rather challenging to define culture. Many definitions exist but the most simplest to me, is that offered on Wikipedia. According to Wikipedia (2009) the term culture generally refers to distinctively human activity and values. It is about how a certain group of people distinguish themselves from the rest by what they value, uphold and cultivate.
With the large number of people in the world, one can imagine how many cultural groups exist. It is therefore necessary, in my opinion, that each individual take the time learn about your own culture, as well as the next person’s and communicate. So many problems in society would not have been, had time been taken to learn about culture and differences. I have been honored to be part of a multicultural landscape of South Africa, Africa and the World. Globalization has prompted nations to break down barriers, walls and boarders for the benefit of mankind. Part of the benefits is the opportunity for me, along with my South African peers from different cultural, religious, ethnical and language backgrounds, to come to Germany and experience the beautiful town of Tubingen.
Sitting in lectures and reading about the subject of intercultural communication can only do so much. I am still eternally grateful to my lecturers for proving the information and always sharing their experiences. Part of my world view has been influenced by them. The experience, with all the senses, the time and the irreversible emotions is not easy to explain. Each person will create their own frame of reference about Tubingen, its culture, atmosphere, people and more. The country has its own system of doing things and these differ from the way we do things back at home in South Africa. From food, right up to issues of chronemics (the German society is monochromic whereas in South Africa, it tends to lean more towards a polychronic time system), proxemics (the distance of interaction between people), to icons, music and dance. Learning about German culture and the reason behind certain symbols has been an eye opening experience. It has prompted me to be more tactful and not to accept what I see but also scratch beneath the surface. It was in one of these epiphanic moments that I realized that I know so little. That each person needs to find time to reflect and conduct introspection. To me, people are people. They have differences that make them unique. We need to communicate to find solutions and compromises in order to tolerate each other. It has been a profound learning experience for me to be part of this Tubingen South Africa program. I am therefore obligated, to take this home, and teach others and share my experience about this beautiful country and its people.

Thabisa Nondzube