Culture is so many things from music to norms, the list goes on and on; most of it is unspoken and underlying, like the iceberg with only 10% visible to us. It is almost impossible to separate a person from their culture. However, their culture, especially subcultures they feel a part of, can change throughout life. Growing up in the United States, a powerful nation, it has been hard for me to see myself as having a culture because of how "normative" it has always seemed. However, through class articles and discussion of many different theories and models, I can now see how this culture has influenced me.
I would definitely say that the higher the value for the culture, the higher it will be for me as well. For example, the idea of individualism is something that I believe strongly in. Yes, of course I value my family and care about them, but I have bought into this idea that I must worry about my own success and achieve as much as possible. This also connects with the U.S being pretty highly masculine which means that being strong and working hard is valued. This all leads to which roles are more salient, at times I have put my role as student above my role as sister or daughter. As I have grown up, some of these have changed in terms of my thoughts on the belief but it is still deeply rooted. The other dimensions of Hofstede that are more neutral for the United States are ones that I feel my subcultures and education have influenced how strongly I feel about it. For example, I feel that I go back and forth on power distance as well as uncertainty avoidance. I like structure but only to a certain degree, etc. which is like a push and pull between the overall culture and myself.
When it comes to the Lewis model, I would agree with being totally influenced by the linear-active ideal of being decisive and factual when it comes to many things. I am organized and like to view truth as proven scientifically because that makes it easier to understand and deal with. However, I would like to think of myself personally as being influenced by this but allowing myself to be swayed by considering situations and context in day to day life. Overall, culture is perceived differently by everyone, even people within that culture and that is really what makes it so unique.
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