This document is part of larger project to bring the reality and theory of culture together. At its core it the website www.culturalcompetence.eu.

At the bottom of the triangle model of culture individual culture is depicted as a person juggling balls with some balls on the ground. The idea is that a person is subconsciously going through all the cultures s/he is a member of to find the appropriate one for dealing with the situation at hand. The balls on the ground indicate that you are not always successful. At the same time you might also not find an appropriate culture in your repertoire, necessitating adaptation to a new culture (enculturation).

This idea of individual culture as the net result of all previously experienced cultures also clarifies why generalisations on culture are so difficult and why dealing with culture ultimately boils down to the individual. Research may assist by providing background information and ways and means of doing