Bufferday: Exploring the different cultures within Dutchview

Travel through culture

The subject of "Travel Through Culture" is vital to our company as it highlights the importance of understanding and appreciating the diverse cultures within our global team. By embracing these differences, we enhance communication, foster collaboration, and spark creativity. For us, it's about building a more inclusive and innovative environment where every culture's unique contributions drive our collective success.

"Travelling through culture on buffer day made me appreciate the diversity within our team even more. It's amazing how our differences can unite us."

A cultural journey through Dutchview

At Dutchview, we celebrate a vibrant tapestry of cultures, each bringing its unique traditions, flavours, and customs to our community. During our bufferday we made sure to talk about the fascinating cultures within Dutchview. Here are some of the interesting facts that we’ve learned about the different cultures: 

🇳🇱 Netherlands: Our story starts in the Netherlands, where the land shows its resilience. Did you know the airport is 4.5 metres below sea level? This is just one example of Dutch creativity in dealing with natural challenges.

🇩🇪 Germany: Moving on to Germany, a country known for its precision and refreshing traditions—like their love for sparkling water. It’s more than just a drink; it’s a part of daily life.

🇵🇱 Poland: In Poland, Christmas Eve is a culinary celebration with 12 traditional dishes symbolising the 12 apostles. This meal is a time-honoured tradition, deeply rooted in Polish culture and family values.

🇭🇺 Hungary: As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, Hungarians unite in singing their national anthem, a moment filled with national pride and hope for the coming year.

🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Navigating Bulgarian traditions can be a unique experience. There, a nod means "no" and a shake of the head means "yes," a charming quirk that adds a layer of complexity to conversations.

🇬🇷 Greece: Greece is a land of rich culinary heritage, where dishes like moussaka and gyros have become symbols of the nation's flavorful cuisine.

🇿🇦 South Africa: In South Africa, an important ceremony is to celebrate the key of the parents house when you turn 21. 

🇮🇷 Iran: Iranian hospitality is legendary, where it’s customary to invite guests to stay longer in your home, building relationships that go beyond just being acquaintances.

🇵🇰 Pakistan: In Pakistan, religious festivals like Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr are celebrated with great fervour, marking important moments in the Islamic calendar with communal prayers and feasts.

🇮🇳 India: India is a land of diversity, with each region offering something unique:

• North Karnataka is famous for its Ennegai, a dish that showcases local flavours.

• South Karnataka is alive with festivals like Dussehra, Deepavali, Ugadi, and Varamahalakshmi Habba, each with its own significance and rituals.

• Coastal Karnataka dishes are rich with coconut, a staple ingredient that reflects the region’s lush landscapes.

• Gujarat boasts a mosaic of linguistic and ethnic diversity, offering a rich cultural experience.

• Chikamagaluru is renowned for its aromatic coffee and soothing herbal drinks, perfect for a serene retreat.

• Tamil Nadu captivates with its elaborate temple ceremonies and traditional weddings, where ancient customs come to life.

🇨🇳 China: In China, a child's first birthday is marked by the "Zhuazhou" ceremony, a tradition where the objects the child chooses are believed to predict their future interests.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Finally, we arrive in Vietnam, where the famous Pho Bo, a savoury beef soup, warms both the body and soul, representing the heart of Vietnamese cuisine.

Undercover game

After learning a lot about the different cultures within our company, we moved on to an exciting game: the Undercover Game! Teams were formed with colleagues from both the Netherlands and India. Here's how the game worked: everyone who was a "citizen" received the same card with the same item on it. However, one person got a card with a similar, but not identical, item—that person was the "Undercover." Another person received a card labelled "Mister White."

As the round began, each person had to describe their item one by one. Mister White had to listen carefully to the others' descriptions and guess the item to avoid being detected. At the end of the round, everyone wrote down who they thought Mister White and the Undercover were. We customised the game to reflect the diverse cultures within our company, so the cards were all related to cultural aspects of our teams.

I love the world game

Most people in the Netherlands are probably familiar with the show "Ik Hou Van Holland." For our final activity of the day, we played a personalised version of this popular TV program. The questions were based on the presentation given earlier in the day, making it a fun way to test whether our colleagues had been paying attention!

We were divided into four teams, each with its own buzzer and sound. The goal was to hit the buzzer as quickly as possible and give the correct answer. In the end, the orange team came out on top—how fitting!