Developing & Fostering Respectful, Safe & Meaningful Cross-Cultural Relationships

Connecting across language & culture is always surprising, challenging and awkward. Sometimes it’s frightening and intimidating. But it’s often joyful and endlessly fascinating, as we get a unique reflection of ourselves in ways that are normally out of our awareness. It will also require us to develop new kinds of flexibility and to see the world very differently.  You’ll realize that even the ideas of “open-minded” and “conservative” reference your own cultural assumptions more than they describe human behavior.

Because P-P-T programs are (usually) community-based, there aren’t really any ethical standards within the US context describing appropriate cross-cultural behavior in a non-professional setting.  You are not a therapist, case manager or employee. You are not a “teacher” in the way we think of it as a profession in the US, and you are not a lawyer, so there’s no conflict of interest.

Open community spaces also have inherent risk in that someone might inadvertently get hurt, or someone may behave in an unwanted, dangerous, questionable, or culturally inappropriate way.

P-P-T has a few protocols regarding interpersonal behavior that may occur between any person who is registered with P-P-T. Then, some general guidelines about boundaries in intercultural situations and working with vulnerable populations below.

P-P-T Safety Protocols

All P-P-T staff, apprentices, and associated personnel are

• Required to adhere to Federal and local law in the country they are residing
• Required to adhere to the rules and protocols of our partners, and the sites in which we are operating
• Required to know who their site coordinator is and to inform them immediately of any situation that feels dangerous to them or any other participant
• Required to question their own assumptions about what particular behaviors mean, and ask P-P-T staff, other participants, and site coordinators about behaviors or events that are confusing to aid in interpreting them
• Required to think very carefully about any content that relates to religion, war, sex, or politics – many immigrants and refugees have experienced significant physical, emotional, or sexual trauma
• Required to inform P-P-T staff before conducting any kind of research, interview, or speaking to the press – here’s our Research policy
• Required to inform P-P-T staff if they begin a relationship with a learner outside the class that involves the exchange of money or may have a romantic dimension – these relationships are not forbidden, but they can create problems for the participants, the site coordinator, or P-P-T.  Staying open about riskier connections happening outside the classroom limits the possibility of harm.
• Required to recognize that they have power and privilege if they are facilitating the classroom space, and it’s their responsibility to manage the activities that happen there – including interrupting dangerous, offensive, or otherwise harmful behavior
• Required to recognize that there may be other dimensions of power and privilege that they bring into any interaction – and that they may not realize it at the moment
• P-P-T Staff and Owners must disclose any relationship with apprentices, assistants, or learners with a possible romantic dimension – they are not forbidden, but we may need to make adjustments to limit the possibility of harm
• Advised not to exchange money or substantial gifts with anyone from an unfamiliar cultural background, unless the relationship is well-established
• Advised not to touch anyone on any part of their body unless they are positive that it will be interpreted the way they intend
• Advised not to encourage classroom participants to touch any part of another person’s body unless they are certain it will be interpreted the way they intend
• Advised not to get in a car with anyone from another cultural background (regardless of who is driving) unless the relationship is well-established or it’s an emergency situation
• Encouraged to have the group bring and share food
• Encouraged to greet learners when they see them in the community
• Encouraged to form lasting relationships with learners once they feel like a comfortable relationship has been established
• Required to acknowledge that these relationships are unlikely to be “equal”

P-P-T has liability insurance covering unintended consequences of well-meaning P-P-T staff and associated personnel.

P-P-T staff and associated personnel are personally liable for their own on-site behavior, and any thoughtless, careless word or deed may provoke legal action.

P-P-T is not legally responsible for any behavior or incident that happens outside of a P-P-T event – including tutor matching, out of country travel hazards, or contracted work or employment with any other person or organization.