The Idea of Culture Lab: The aim is not only to deepen participants’ knowledge of well-known models of cultural comparison, but also to introduce other concepts and perspectives discovered by researchers in ethnology, sociology, and psychology. These can be useful both for self-understanding and for gaining a better understanding of others.
Who is it for: Anyone interested in learning more about cultural differences and the relationship between culture, thinking, and behavior. I warmly invite people from all over the world. Together we could create a synergy effect by seeing ourselves reflected in the mirrors of our cultures.
Format: A series of 1–1.5 hour workshops. Group tasks and discussion will be a key part of each meeting.
Session No. 2: About friendship
Friendship is a very important concept in Polish culture. It is taken seriously and is associated with frankness, loyalty, and emotional closeness.
It was only during my research for one of the ethnology courses at the Free University of Berlin that I discovered how deeply the idea of friendship is shaped by culture. In some cultures, for example, a strong emotional bond may be perceived as burdensome to this type of relationship.
What is the social role of the institution of friendship? What moral obligations and typical emotions are involved in friendship? Is friendship possible across social hierarchies or between people of different genders? When and where do people make friends over the life course? How do modern technologies affect the formation and maintenance of friendships? What kind of reciprocity does friendship require?
If you’re interested in discussing these issues, please join us at the meeting 😊
Kate Szełemej-Pobożniak
A trainer in intercultural communication, she holds a Master’s degree in Ethnology from the Free University of Berlin, a Master’s degree in Economics from the Warsaw School of Economics, a postgraduate diploma in Motivational Psychology from SWPS University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from Universität Passau. She is also a certified ICF coach and a psychological crisis consultant.
At the same time, Kate serves as vice president at Haxel Events & Incentive, a Warsaw-based company specializing in incentive travel. Her professional and personal journeys have taken her to nearly 100 countries. More information can be found at https://kasiaszelemej.pl.