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Cultural clashes... and remedies...
Cultural differences exist in between countries where geographical locations, history, climate differ from one another.
The environment we live in gives us a unique pattern of thinking and a system of rules and forms we act on in everyday life. They are often prevailing in a culture and are well recognized and accepted by a group of people. They take it for granted for their reaction to a certain thing , meanwhile ,which is also practiced by most people, thus they will give less thoughts about in what otherwise ways people from other countries may behave and react. they merely put themselves in others ' shoes, under which circumstances,they receive differently from what they've expected and their reaction causes some misunderstanding and cultural shock between two sides. So i think the key importance to deal with cultural differences is to accept its existence,think carefully before you react under the influence of your own culture,then blend yourself in that culture which serves for resonating with local people. Therefore,a successful international communication is fulfilled.
The environment we live in gives us a unique pattern of thinking and a system of rules and forms we act on in everyday life. They are often prevailing in a culture and are well recognized and accepted by a group of people. They take it for granted for their reaction to a certain thing , meanwhile ,which is also practiced by most people, thus they will give less thoughts about in what otherwise ways people from other countries may behave and react. they merely put themselves in others ' shoes, under which circumstances,they receive differently from what they've expected and their reaction causes some misunderstanding and cultural shock between two sides. So i think the key importance to deal with cultural differences is to accept its existence,think carefully before you react under the influence of your own culture,then blend yourself in that culture which serves for resonating with local people. Therefore,a successful international communication is fulfilled.
Another point i want to discuss here is what makes American 's high-pace life style. Everything seems in a rush. As we can see from most movie scenes, the big metropolitans are in a hustle and bustle, cars drive likes flying, pedestrians pass by each other of flashing speed with coffee in hands.
Then let's take a another look at a Chinese big cities streets, it's totally a different story from the previous one: people are walking care-freely in the streets with eyes looking here and there, the drivers go all out to drive at full speed which end up in serving for the traffic jams. I think what makes the differences has a lot to do with differences in economic and educational level, and another more direct factor lies in different attitudes towards time. American stands not to waste any minute or any second, they are the lively embodiment of " time is money" and "time is life". to which purpose,they build various infrastructures and facilities in public places for the goods of people's convenience, like some fast food restaurant provides customers with services even without requiring them to get out of cars. That's one point our country can take example from. Though they lead a high-pace life,they act orderly in public related activities, like waiting patiently in a line, hardly jump-the-quene phenomenon can be found which ,however,is acted in every corner of China.
These big differences between two countries lead us to lot of trouble. A Chinese in America often feels suffocating to adjust to the high-pace life style and is freaked out by the "coldness " and loneliness in highly modernized cities,while ,an American in China often complains about the bad public facilities and the unmannered behaviours which happens everywhere in airports, bus stations,restaurants etc.
In order to clear the air and keep a good relationship with each other. We should respect mutually knowing the cultures are deeply rooted, and it takes time to take it and accept it. "Do as Romans do when in Roman" ,transforming yourself into "half-Chinese and half-American" when two countries come across.
Post comment Comment (2 replies)
- Reply rachelzhaorui
- Really? I think people are all on the run in Chinese megapolis.
- Reply C.Robert
- interesting article. I believe that the first step is open mindedness and understanding of the cultural differences you encounter. Then acceptance and changed behaviour is possible. In other words, you can do as the Romans when you are among them, but to do that, you first need to know what a Roman is and how he or she thinks and behaves. The knowledge and understanding part is the hardest part, changing your behaviour is quite simple.
