To help you develop intercultural sensitivity & insights, i.e. to help you deal with unexpected intercultural encounters, we recommend you to do the following:
Report - Keep a record each week of an experience that:
(a) affected you emotionally in some way, e.g. something that you found annoying, upsetting, embarrassing, or very pleasing; or that
(b) seemed unusual, surprising or puzzling to you; or that
(c) made you confused or uncertain as to what to do or say;
Reflect - Explain as best you can why you felt as you did;
Re-evaluate - Discuss your experience with a ‘Culture Learning Colleague’ (a chosen partner who is, if possible, from a different cultural background to you)
The 3R tool is helpful for structure your thinking on your experience(s) and help you deepen your intercultural sensitivity and competence.
Source: Spencer-Oatey, H. & Davidson, A. (2015). The 3R Tool: Developing Sensitivity and Insights into Intercultural Encounters. v.3 Available at GlobalPAD Open House: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/globalpadintercultural