Originally Posted by
Shivan
Interesting. The problems I see with simulation as described above is that we cannot replicate the social-cultural and religious norms and rituals learned natively, beginning in the crib; nor the language issues that "wm" raises above. One of my Arabic instructors replied to a question I posed, "the only way you can learn [fill in the blank] is if you have an Arab mother." Holds true for different situations, I have discovered. Further, many Arab relationships are via kinship ties, which prevent us from truly entering their domains socially, or being seeing them with their guard down, i.e., with their true souls bared.
Simulation/immersion is great, and will go a long way toward reducing mirror imaging and cultural ignorance, but it can only do so much.
Thanks all for your comments. Very helpful.
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