Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever really experienced culture shock before. I suppose this makes sense given my background: I was born in America to Chinese parents and the only foreign countries I’ve ever travelled to are China and Canada, which isn’t too different from America culturally. Although I am Chinese-American, I grew up in a very traditional Chinese Buddhist household. My parents were both high-school graduates from a small village in Fuzhou, China and when they immigrated to America they kept a lot of Chinese practices. In short, I was fairly immersed in Chinese culture throughout my childhood.
Of course, I’ve noticed subtle differences between my family’s expression of Chinese culture and the culture in China. My family seems to be on point with all the religious aspects. In fact, most people say that my family practices Buddhism more avidly than many Chinese families in China. I think this is mostly because our separation from mainstream Chinese culture and reestablishment in a foreign country gave us a heightened sense of appreciation for Chinese traditions. There was the fear of losing a part of one’s identity in an unfamiliar place. So, in order to preserve our Chinese identity, my family in particular strived to keep up with these traditional practices. So, nothing was really new to me in terms of Buddhist culture in China, except maybe that they have bigger Buddha statues.
As for the social culture in China, I was surprised at the traffic laws...or at least the failure to follow them. Once when I was taking the public bus, we got stuck in an intersection where three lanes quickly turned into five, and cars were constantly honking for about an hour until the police finally arrived. Other times, the drivers are usually very skillful at maneuvering through other cars across solid lines that they get away with it. I suppose the police have their hands full since I was told that almost everyone does this. Another time I was visiting a clinic to get a screening and a skin ointment prescription. I was told that I didn’t need to make an appointment and walk-ins were the norm. So, I got there an hour before the clinic opening and the waiting room was practically full of people. Once the nurse opened the check-in counter, everyone swarmed to the front desk and started talking all at once. I kind of expected this since it was a public clinic, but it was still surprising for my mom and me to see since we were used to the orderly lines in America. Except on Black Friday, but that’s a different situation.
From what I can tell, the healthcare system is a lot more lax in China than in America. One time my little brother got sick while he was in China and had to be taken to a hospital. For some reason, they had run out of rooms but dad and brother walked down the streets unneglected: my brother had an IV needle stuck in his arm while my dad held the IV bag. I wasn't there but I bet it was a funny sight.
The Culture Shock video mentioned some interesting points that I witness from time to time. The point it made about Americans being encouraged to criticize was very accurate. Back in high school, I had a Chinese friend who was very introverted. Both of us took an AP English literature class that involved a lot of discussions and poetic interpretations. She was an extremely bright and skillful writer and that reflected in her work. But, she told me that she struggled with participation and that it was a conscious stress on her mind. I understood her because I also preferred to absorb the material rather than voice my opinions, but both of us knew that we had to change fast if we wanted to get a good grade in the class. For us, this pressure to speak up in class was something we were more aware of than other people, but it got better with practice. I know she had a lot to say, but she just wasn’t comfortable putting her opinions out there for criticism. I can imagine how it might be difficult for international students in college to make that adjustment. In the end, it takes time and deliberate practice.
Another good point from the video is that there’s not enough intimacy in America. In China, there’s an emphasis on relationships even with strangers. People naturally call each other auntie, uncle, brother, or sister even if they aren’t blood-related. It creates a sense of intimacy and lightens the atmosphere. Here, in America, I feel as if people often put up a stronger barrier because there are too much differences to begin with, starting with physical differences. These differences suggest that commonalities might be less likely to be found, and therefore the will to get to know each other decreases. At least, that’s my guess.
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