How Come Nobody Here Uses
an Umbrella?
An Exploration of Northwest Culture
Agenda
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The Way We Do Things Around Here
Share a “Quintessential Moment”
Discuss the Key Aspects of NW Culture
Compare Similarities and Differences
Assess the Impact
Strategize Ways to Improve Relations and
Adjustment
The Way We Do Things Around Here
What is here?
A Quintessential Moment
• How come nobody uses an
umbrella around here?
The Key Aspects
• Nothing is universal but…
Let’s make some observations and analyze what we
heard.
• But wait…..
Let’s form new groups
– Lifelong NWers
– NW “Newcomers”
Similarities and Differences
• What do you notice when you looked at the
other groups observations?
• What surprised you?
• What made sense?
• Where are the similarities….the differences?
What’s the impact?
• The cultural rulebook impacts both sides
– Behaviors, Feelings, relationships, opportunities,
etc
What’s the impact?
• On “Newcomers” interacting with NWers
• On Lifelong NWers interacting with
“Newcomers”
Strategies / Ways to Engage
Assuming we want better, stronger relationships
and more intercultural understanding….
• How should a newcomer engage with a
lifelong NWer?
• How should a lifelong NWer engage with a
newcomer?
Interesting Books on Seattle / NW
Culture
Non-Fiction
• Pugetopolis by Knute Berger
• Seattle and the Demons of Ambition by Fred
Moody
• The Good Rain by Timothy Egan
Fiction
• Pacific Agony by Bruce Benderson
Interesting Articles on Seattle Culture
• http://pugetopolis.blogspot.com/2009/06/sixthings-you-cannot-say-in-seattle.html
• http://crosscut.com/2009/03/03/seattle/1888
6/Seattles-niceness-problem/
• http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/
2005/0213/cover.html
Ob
OBSERVATIONS OF SEATTLE
CULTURE (FROM MEETING)
Newcomers observe…
• Casual-confidence
• Environmental
consciousness
• Politeness
• Preoccupation with
weather
• Awareness of cultural
diversity
• Expectations of
tolerance
• Intense “hobbying”
• Laid back, take-yourtime pace
• Techie – preoccupied
with technology
• Seattle Freeze
Middle Group Observed…
• Connection to nature—
stewardship for
environment
• Introverted –books,
movies
• Every voice has a say –
process/process is the
product
• Independence/
individualism
• Indirect/ conflict
avoidance
• Passive aggressive
• Class not openly
acknowledged
• Surface friendliness
• Hi-tech values
• Water culture – boats,
lakes, kayaks
• Political correctness –
self-righteousness
• Insular/ hard to break in
• Neighborhood identity
Lifelongers Observed…
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Rarity to be born here
Wearing primary colors
Attraction to water
Seattle Nice-olation
– Issues with self-awareness, hospitality, reaching
out
STRATEGIES
What can you do?
Newcomer strategies
• Choose your neighborhood!
• Join an intentional
community/ activity group
Lifelongers’ Responsibility
• Get out and make the first
move
• Help newcomers get
comfortable
• Provide information to
newcomers
More ideas? Post on the SIETAR NW Website at:
http://sietarnw.wordpress.com/postings/