Housesitting can increase your cultural intelligence

This is the front entrance to "our home"
Can you figure out the "cultural" marking on the ceramic tile in the centre?
No, it's not from the dog!

This week I participated in a webinar to learn more about "cultural intelligence". Cultural intelligence is "the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures". Although I took this because of being a teacher of English as a second language, I think it's something that's needed in everyday life. Afterwards, I thought about various cultures and the things many of us take for granted as being common to most cultures and communities. Last year I wrote the post, Confused Canadians cross a dry creek looking for pack rats! where I reflect on words or practices that puzzled us. I have no doubt learning the culture of others will need to be something we continually work on.

Here's a close-up of it
Hint: focus on the light centre, not the dark background
(up close it doesn't look like dog poop at all)

Drive-through Convenience

Here's an example of cultural differences. I recently commented to a homeowner that there are so many drive-through options for visiting a business here. Where we live in Canada, almost every coffee shop - and there are lots of them - has a drive-through. The same goes for most fast-food outlets, but that's about it. I protest the use of drive-throughs as I detest them, but I'll spare you that rant right now. I don't know about the rest of Canada, but Niagara Falls doesn't have drive-through banks (there may be one) and drug stores (pharmacies), which they do have here in the USA. I found it funny when the homeowner then asked "Well, how do you bank if you don't have a drive-through?". Some of us (myself included) bank online, but many others still walk through the front door of a bank building and stand in front of a teller. Cultural differences.

Here it is again, at the base of a neighbour's mailbox
There are some unique mailboxes in Fountain Hills!
Keep reading to find out what it is ...

Recycling 

Another example. At the start of each house sit, we ask about recycling. In Niagara Falls, all glass wine and liquor bottles are recyclable and refundable, along with glass beer bottles and even beer cans. We take them to the government-run beer store and get a refund. Notice I said "government-run", as beer and wine sales are strictly controlled in Canada. With a few exceptions, you won't see wine or beer sold in grocery stores in Ontario. In the USA, it's sold in grocery stores and drug stores. It still surprises me to see cases of beer in a drug store (pharmacy). At our Phoenix house sits, recyclables are collected weekly at the curb. One notable exception for recycling was in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where recycling didn't happen at all; everything went into the garbage/trash/rubbish. That just didn't feel right :(

I can't ignore our pampered housemate, Mikko!

The Answer to the Puzzle

For more images, click on the link.

Those of you who live in Arizona may be puzzled by why people wouldn't recognize Kokopelli. Yet another example of cultural intelligence perhaps, or cultural norms and differences. Kokopelli can be seen in so many places here that you can't go far without seeing him. He's in every aspect of some people's homes; decorations, furniture fabrics, bedding ... you name it, he's there. He is a fertility god from Native America culture, with many folklore tales and legends surrounding him. He is a prevelent cultural phenomenon in the Southwest USA, but I had not seen or heard of him before coming to Arizona.

The weather here in Fountain Hills has been progressively warmer this week. Today we enjoyed a sunny day with a high of 73ºF (23ºC). We've had some beautiful sunsets this week, and one morning I saw this beautiful sunrise from "our home". Nature at its best.

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Location: Fountain Hills (Phoenix), Arizona, USA
Housesitting: Mikko, a shih tzu
Weather: 73ºF (23ºC) at 4 pm
Forecast: High of 69ºF (21ºC), low of 42ºF (6ºC)

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Note: Photos of pets and homes are only used with the prior consent of the owners.