Q: What is a “culture bump,” anyway?
A: I dunno—just a culture difference, I guess.
Q: So why are they important?
A: Well, I guess they can either shut the door on people or open up new ways of seeing things.
Q: Yeah, kinda like the bumps below.
A: Yeah, kinda like that.

Example 1

Two international students watch a North American woman drive up in a car. She comes around to the passenger side, opens the door and waits for an elderly woman to slowly emerge from the car. As the elderly woman stands up, she offers her arm to the driver and the two women slowly walk away. The two students shake their heads and walk away in disgust.

What was the Culture Bump?

If you said the bump was that the younger woman waited for the elderly woman to get out from the car and the driver offered her arm to her rather than taking her out of the car, you have 5 points!

Where were the students from?

If you said China, you have 5 more points! Chinese and other Asian cultures tend to do things for the elderly rather than “standing by” and allowing the elderly to do for themselves while being ready to do what is needed. They may find it difficult to see how the elderly in the USA are treated with respect. Do you know how? How do you show respect to the elderly? Do you?

Example 2

Two women from another country are walking down a Houston street. A North American woman is dressed in a business suit, carrying a briefcase and wearing jogging shoes. The two women do a double take at her feet as she walks by.

What was the Culture Bump?

If you said that the woman wearing jogging shoes with a business suit was the culture bump, you have 5 points.

Where were the two women from?

If you said that the women were from Venezuela, you have 5 more points! Women dressed in a suit and jogging shoes is a culture bump for many Latin Americans and they may find it difficult to see how American women express elegance. Do you know how?

Example 3

Mary Jones drives her city bus everyday. Today she stops to pick up passengers. The door opens, and two people look at the driver. They exchange stunned looks.

Where are the two passengers from?

If you said that the two passengers were from Kuwait, you have 5 points.

What was the Culture Bump?

If you said the Culture Bump was a woman bus driver, you have 5 points. Middle Easterners would find it very strange to see women driving a bus. They may find it difficult to see how women in the USA are treated with respect. Do you treat women with respect? Do you know how?