The East

■ Description

Your group represents an ancient Eastern culture, the Secluded Kingdom. You are poor but proud. You have begun an exchange of diplomatic correspondence with the West after many years of isolation. You will be meeting representatives from the West to discuss a valuable treasure that is in your possession. It is the Emperor's Pot. It is your national treasure and you cannot give it up under any circumstances. The West wants the Pot and is under pressure from their government to get it.


Your Culture:
It is your nature to be very agreeable and polite. You always try to answer affirmatively, wherever you mean it or not. When talking to Western officials you must avoid blunt refusals and flat negative statements. You are unable to tell the West that they will never obtain the Pot. You may agree, go along with their lines of inquiry and discussion, and may discuss it at length, but you will never let go of the Pot.

→Culturally, it is important for you to avoid strong, direct eye contact with the representatives from the West. You can look directly, but only momentarily.


Your delegation and spokesman's role: These characters will practice the ancient art of dealing through a third party. For example, your Chief Spokesman will do some of the talking as a delegate to the West or act as the host to the West, but will defer often to other members of your group. If a difficult question is directed to you, it is appropriate to give a partial response, then bow politely, and suggest that maybe the Royal Astrologer could best answer that question. Your purpose is to remain true to your ways.

■ It is up to the West to figure out how your culture operates
■ Roles:
Chief Spokesman
Paramount Lady of the Kingdom
Minister of Education and Culture
Security Officer
Political Officer
Protocol Officer
Information Officer
Honored Linguist and Speaker of Tongues
Royal Astrologer
GOD ( Group Organizational Director overall organizer of the East Team)
Most Honored Grandmother
Spokesman #2 (most honored)
Royal Guardian of Peach and Tranquility
Royal Keeper of Sagacity and Wisdom
Spiritual Advisor
Honored Historian of the Hermit Kingdom
Most Honored Guardian of Royal Antiquities
Cultivator of Rice for All Mankind
Minister of the Ocean Depths and All Creatures of the Sea
Professor of Western Civilization


■ Procedure: Check List

1. Decide on your characters. Study your role by reading the cultural traits and value handout.

2. Decide on how many delegates, and which ones should be sent to the West to hold discussions.

3. What should you talk about?

4. What approaches should be used?

5. Who will remain in the East to receive the visiting delegation from the West?

6. How will you set up the room to receive them?

7. How should you approach the discussion?

■ Wrap-up / Discussion Questions
Impressions……

What do you think of the two cultures?


How realistic are these values?


How reasonable are these values?


How did you feel while interacting with the visitors from other culture?


What were your gut reactions?




What did you learn from this activity?






■ Points to think about for large group discussion

What extent did the West take steps to educate you and to make you feel more comfortable.



How did they frustrate you?



Did everyone remain true to their character and their values?





What communication issues were involved?



What process can you develop in order to approach another culture sensitively?


The Emperor's Pot Discussion Notes:



The Emperor's Pot
Notes:


The Emperor's Pot

The Emperor's Pot belongs to the people of the East. It holds great spiritual significance for the people of the East for, once during a great famine, so the legend goes, when hope was all but lost, the Pot appeared, brimming with rice, and fed everyone. The Pot is beyond price. The West has heard about the urn and would like to acquire it for the outstanding collection of oriental art in their national museum. A series of discussions, negotiations and exchange of delegations from each culture will take place followed by a large group discussion period.

The schedule is as follows:

Phase I Planning Period
30 minutes In the East, In the West

Phase II First Negotiation
15 minutes Both sides exchang delegates

Phase III Planning Period
20 minutes In the East, In the West

Phase IV Final Negotiation
15 minutes Neutral Territory All participants in same room

Phase V Discussion Period
15 minutes In the East, In the West

Phase VI Large Group Discussion
15 minutes Together