Thursday, February 14, 2008
Experiencing Cultural Differences
Tell the story of an event in your life where a strong feeling of a cultural difference came through to you clearly. Write in about 200 to 300 words or so. Use a few short paragraphs. Include some dialogue (he said, she said). Make it possible to see and hear and experience what you did. Use the senses.
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Experiencing the Difference
Many years ago I taught ESL conversation classes and would invite my students to my home at the end of term. We would have a potluck supper and share the dishes of saffron rice, lamb stew, barbecue chicken and many more. One year, I decided to make a pumpkin cheesecake for my students. It was orange and very tasty--or so I thought. In fact, I had told my students about my cheesecake in class since I believed it was a unique and interesting dish.
One of my students came to me during the gathering and said that he had something important to tell me.
“Brad,” he began, “ I must tell you that we do not like your cheesecake, the way it tastes.”
“Oh,” I answered, quite unsure of what to say next.
Usually, in Canada, when someone has made a dish that is not to your taste, the acceptable behaviour is to eat a bite, then leave it on your plate. In this case, I was sure that my student intended no harm. He only wanted to make sure that I knew my dish was not to his and his friends’ liking.
The funny thing is that, although I had made the dish a few times, I have never ever made it again!
Difference Cultures
Whenever I have a chance to meet some friends, relatives, or even strangers, I find cultural differences between eastern and western countries. In general, most Asians focus on social status more than westerners. I prefer to have western style than eastern one.
Higher education and wealth are indications of a better personality in Asian society. “Learning is the noblest of human pursuits.” is an ancient proverb. Therefore, many Chinese parents encourage their children to put all effort in study. They say, “You can find beauty in books, you can find treasure in books.” People believe that diplomas and riches would qualify them to earn respect in society.
However, some people have over reacted. Chasing a better social position has become the only purpose of their life. So, parents force their children to have several extra classes after school until night time including holidays. Then parents are happy because children don’t have time to fool around with others.
In Chinese tradition, students appreciate their teachers by treating them in the restaurant on Teacher’s Day, which is on Sep, 28. As well, the adults study in the Social Education Institute. For example, parents often find themselves in a contest to establish their pecking order in educating their offspring.
“Ha!--------, do you know my son is in a distinctive class?” Mrs. Chen boasted, and she continued, “Our teacher’s son was in the same class at one time.
“My daughter spends over one million dollars (approximately CAD 50,000) each year for studying in Australia.” Mrs. Wong joined the bragging.
“I will let my daughter major in piano, and study abroad in the future.” Mrs Tu tried to catch up with the Jones’s.
“Oh! Sorry, I have to pick her up from a piano lesson then drive her for English class.” She suddenly realized her duty and left in a hurry.
“My son won an award from the mayor when he graduated.” Mrs. Jeng said, but she complained that the teacher told her, “Actually your son is not qualified to have that plaque. The honor is a kind of respect for your husband’s donation.”
The teacher felt the party was a show off gathering instead of Teacher’s Day. The only thing to do is to remain calm, for the competitive spirit has been a common custom.
On the other hand, westerners like to talk about various issues when they have a conversation, such as pets, hobbies, or sports. They sometimes talk about their work, no matter what kind of jobs they do, either in the field of technology or labor, people share their experiences in social activities.
Western parents never push their children as hard to study, so kids have time for other activities after school. If their children are excellent in school, they might mention it because the subject occurs in the conversation. Moreover, students contribute a certain amount of time to volunteering before applying for a university. Thus, family members have more time to spend together.
Since I have observed the different cultures between eastern and western styles, I prefer the latter.
512 words
Lesson I Have Learned
“I heard you guy do everything upside down”
When John, my first boarding house roommate, said to me, I smiled at him. Japanese people drive car on left hand, use saw and plain by pulling toward you, wave hand saying good-by, and cry each other for sorrow at the graduation party. Yes, it seemed the other way around for John, isn’t it? One time, tired of Western meals, I made noodle soup and sucked in my noodle with big noise. Everybody laughed at me, and then we had big argument. In Japan, some type of noodle you have to make a noise to get better taste even it is cold one and to make noise is appropriate manner. For me, Western people do everything the other way around, I thought.
Cultural difference makes people puzzled but as long as you can observe from outside, you will find the reasons why they act that way. The real trouble will occur when you encounter a different way of thinking, especially the time you try to do good for others.
In Japan, whenever you make move, you distributes some items among neighbours such as food coupon, box of chocolate or invitation to a restaurant for greeting. It is a custom even nowadays. Forty years ago, I came to Vancouver with handful peals which my friend gave to me as souvenir. I gave out some of them to my co-workers. They were delighted. At that time, I made a good friend named Andy who took me every Saturday to vocational school with his car, so I gave a pearl for his wife. Andy thanked me. After finishing school, he invited me for dinner at his house. I still had dozen pearls in hand so handed them to Andy to make a necklace for his wife.
“Masaru, don’t do it. I can afford to buy necklaces for my wife!” His face showed a slight anger and sounded with embarrassment.
Difference of custom sometime leads people in confusion and dismay, but once you understand that there is always another point of view on everything, you can learn different aspects on human, life and culture. The pearl have taught me to respect another person’s pride for sure.
Between Two Cultures
After landing in Vancouver, many things make me realizing the difference between the culture of the East and the West.
Tom is seven, my daughter's boy. He is not a good boy in the school. He can't catch up the Mathematics and way behind the class.I don't think he is stupid, and it is just because he often falls in daydream in the class.
One day, I went to school to fetch him back home. Meeting Jane's mother,I waved to her.
"Congratulation, Tom, you're doing so well. Jane tells all of that. You're such a good boy." she said. " And Jane has been praised too."
"What's that?"I asked Tom.
"I got a letter A ..." he answered with smile and had an air of complacency.
"Don't so arrogant! You've got nothing to be cocky about. Be modest!" I scold him. Then his smile disappeared, and we walked silently all the way.
Afterwards, while I think about this event. The show-offs of ours are so different. What is the reason?--the Western are direct people, and they express their feelings openly and directly. They want to share about them. And we, the Chinese, under the teaching of Confuses, modest is an important merit, so we don't express our feeling too much. We are introversion. I want to know which one is better? And Where is the best balance point for us?
In Canada, we can easily find the culture differences between Chinese immigrant and native Canadian. If you don’t know them, it will be very embarrassing sometimes.
John is my friend, as a new immigrant, he rarely speaks English. For adapting him to the new life, I brought to all kinds of activities. One day, John and I went to a dinner party in a Canadian family. I brought a bottle of wine to the host and a bunch of flowers to the hostess. When we sat down, John looked around the house.
“It’s such a nice house” he praised.
I translated it to the host.
“How much is your house worth?” John continued.
I pretended not to hear what he said and changed another topic. John was interested in politics very much, and he wanted to ask some political questions to the host. I had to stop him and explained why he could not ask the political and private questions.
It’s dinner time. The hostess prepared turkey, salad, and soup. John looked at the food, “it’s not too much food,” he murmured.
In China, if we host friends, we have to prepare a lot of food which is much more than actually needed. After the guests leave, looking at the numerous left-over, the host doesn’t know how to do it.
John quickly completed his first round. When he stood up for his second time, I followed him. While he was picking food by his fork, I prevented him from it and passed the tongs to him. In China, usually all the people share one dish and use their own chopsticks.
Dessert was also fresh for John, he didn’t have it after dinner at our home town, but he seemed not to like it. He wanted to say something, and I hurry up to give him a hint.
The long evening passed at last.
“What a day” I sighed.
-318 words
Customs and Traditions
As new Canadians, we always compare Canadian traditions and people’s behaviour with those in our old countries. In my opinion, people’s behaviour in Canada is more polite and, therefore, more friendly then in my old country, Russia.
Greetings.
Canadians have a nice tradition – to greet each other when they meet in the elevator or on the quiet New West streets. The elder people do it especially nicely. Even though those greetings are very brief, I love them; they cheer me very much. It is not that common in my native country, Russia. In big cities, strangers don’t greet each other; only in small villages people still keep this tradition. I will be very sorry if we will not keep this nice tradition in Vancouver in the future.
Attention to neighbours
Canadians are more attentive to people around them. Polite attention might be shown in different ways: by keeping the door before you opened, or by engaging in “small talk” conversation – a very friendly Canadian method of communication. As we had no such tradition in my old country, it took quite a time for me to develop some “small – talk” skills. Now, I am able not only to give a prompt proper answer to the question,” How are you?”, but also manage to ask back,”How are you?”
A polite way of speaking.
I also appreciate “real Canadian” manner of speaking in a low, calm voice that doesn’t disturb and irritate people around. By speaking politely, Canadians show respect for other people. In contrast, in my old country people are more concerned about themselves, speaking loudly and showing emotions openly. It is easy to recognize newcomers to Canada by an inappropriate loud manner of speaking their mother tongue in public places.
Even though in multicultural Canada new Canadians are encouraged to keep their cultural differences, they can learn some good customs that allow us to continue good Canadian traditions and live in more friendly, polite and enjoyable environment.
349 words.
My Experience about Cultural Difference
It happened in my first English class after I immigrated to Canada. Before the class, I was recognized as a new student by the teacher. He immediately began to introduce himself: “My name is L.”
I can’t believe my ears, and asked a classmate beside me: “What’s the teacher’s name?” The classmate pronounced “L” with strong accent while she wrote down a letter “L” on the paper. “How could ‘L’ be a teacher’s name?” I said to myself, “no, I can’t call him L! I have to call him teacher with his last name as I did in China!” I thought. Then, I asked the classmate again: “How do you call the teacher?” “L.” She said. “What’s his last name?” I asked. The classmate shrugged her shoulders and looked at me strangely: “I don’t know. We just call him L!”
During the ten-minute recess, I heard another classmate asked loudly: “L, can I ask you a question?” The teacher answered kindly with smile: “Sure,” and approached to that student.” I was surprised by the teacher’s attitude. In China, students never dared to call teachers’ names, even in the conversation behind teachers. If a teacher had heard a student called her name, it would degrade that student’s mark!
Soon, I had a question to ask the teacher, so I called him hesitantly: “Hi, teacher!” “Yes? My name is L. What’s the question about?” He responded.
The second time, I got another question. I went to him, and said: “Teacher L, I…” “L,” he corrected me with smile and said continuously: “Yes, please!”
After that, I experienced some awkward practices with embarrassment. I eventually got used to call him “L!”
Today, I could call my teachers’ name freely and comfortably. I can enjoy the close relationship with teachers in stead of being fearful of teachers by calling them teacher with their last names and keep a distance with respect as I did in China before!
Beauty goes Shopping
Poland – my country of birth – is not such a multicultural country as Canada is. When I came here I got a chance to broaden my knowledge about different cultures, traditions, and rituals. It was an opportunity I would probably never have if I did not leave my country.
I remember the very beginning after I arrived to Canada and a particular story that shown me one aspect of differences existing between these two nations.
It is commonly known in Poland that when a woman is dressed nicely she always gets a lot of compliments and attention from men; known and strangers. The appearance is very important and many people try hard to stay up-to-date. This is an extremely popular attitude, especially among teens. When a girl looks pretty men whistle and send her smiles when she passes by. This is a kind of reward for her efforts.
One sunny day I decided to go to the mall. I tried hard to make myself look glamorous, for that is what I always did before going out. I spent few hours shopping in various boutiques, but to my surprise nobody was paying much attention to me. No single compliment! Everyone seemed so busy with their affairs. Wondering what could I do wrong I went back home. Disappointed and a bit frustrated.
“What has happened? Did not you enjoy your shopping-spree?” My husband asked.
I told him about everything, expressing my concerns. He just started to laugh.
“But this is how it is here, honey. You have nothing to be worried about. You look very pretty!”
After some time I got used to Canadian customs and to the fact that people act a bit differently here. No one cares about how others look like and what are they wearing; at least they are not expressing it as loud as they do in Poland.
To be honest, I missed it a lot at the beginning, but now I do not care either and I am happy about it. Finally I can wear whatever I want to and go shopping without make-up; not worrying about what others will say. Very convenient!
(356 words, first draft)
Emilia's Story:
Canadian drivers
Clouds cried with heavy drops. Two bags hanged on my left hand and my purse kept sliding from my right hand. I was in rush to cross the street. In the middle of the street my purse felt on the ground. A small thrift store opened in the middle of the intersection: a lipstick, a wallet, a small dictionary, and few pens…all in the street. I gave a guilty look to the driver. I was prepared for:
“Hurry up! Move!” from the furious driver.
Instead of that the person looked patiently and said:
“Take your time.”
I appreciate Canadian drivers. Why? Judge for yourself!
From Ben:
Culture Differences
When I was in my home country, we celebrated Chinese New Year, and it was the best chance for family's reunion at the end of year. Actually, it is the most important dinner to gather the whole family members and best friends around a big round table to enjoy an abundant meal which implying the reunion and the prosperous for the new year.
Since I have settled down in Canada, I have never felt any of hilarious mood during the Chinese New Year. Suddently, a terrific inspiration came up! Why don't I held a potluck party myself in our apartment's lounge in this lunar year's eve.
The oriental and westerners totally 17 guests were invited to the party. In the meantime the lounge was decorated with spendid candle lighting, fragrant flowers and ever with soft music.
In order to provide the sufficient food for the party, I woke up very early in the morning to cook eight courses of delicious food, such as: beef, prawn, fish, salad, noodles, etc., and displayed for guests to enjoy. Actually, I expected more dished would be brought into potluck party by my friends then the food will be far more than enough. Something happened without my expectation because some Chinese food brought here were chicken wins, chicken feet and guts. These kind of food didn't familiar for the westerners; therefore, they merely touch it, and say,'my God!. What is that'?
More surprisingly, most of those westerners came with their chocolates or beautiful flowers intead of food. Which were pilling all over the tables, and made the lounge looked like a floral and confectionery shop. A chinese boy whispered to me,'Why they brought those flowers that I can't eat '. I replied to him with a smile and said, 'most westerners prefer pursuing romantic atmosphere during their dinner'. Fortunately, I personally had already prepared more than sufficient food -all in big plates. Otherwise, those guests have only had flowers to chew for this New Year's dinner.
The next day, I did receive a lot of call from those friends to express their deep appreciatiion. From this Potluck party, I really learned although Easterners and Westerners are so different in many way in the culture, but they can blend harmoniously together that is the spirit of Canadian.
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