Tips about Cultural Gap
-By Hanlin Deng (Helen)
Before come to America, it is necessary to be well prepared, which means we should not only get all our stuffs done, but also be prepared to face many mental pressures such as loneliness, daze, lost sense of security, homesickness.
Besides the long distance away from families, how to deal with Americans is also a problem that needs to deal with sincn it is hard to deny that culture difference can be a barrier in daily life. Here are some tips close to people’s daily life and can help you to have a clear understand of the cultural gap.
Sharing:
Westerners are not expected to share treats that they have with their friends. It is not considered rude to buy a chocolate bar and then to eat it around other people.
Greetings and goodbyes:
“How are you doing today ?” and “How are you ?” are the most common greetings that Americans use in daily life. Usually, it is just a greeting, and nothing more. They don’t care about your answers or even sometimes they just saying hello for greeting. One of the best answers is ‘Not bad.’
Questions:
Asking questions is very important in the West. Usually people get to know each other during asks questions about the other person. It is a way to show interests to the other person. If they don’t want to answer, they will avoid the question, but are unlikely to be offended. Don’t be afraid to bring up questions or concerns.
Money:
Westerners have grown up with more money than is needed for their basic needs. They don’t usually consider themselves rich, and not trying to flaunt their wealth. Westerners have a less serious attitude about money and will often spend it on luxuries.
Language:
Chinese people are probably more critical of language skills than Westerners are. Don’t be afraid to make lots of mistakes in the conversation; Westerners won’t mind.
Friendship:
Westerners place a high value on having fun. This doesn’t mean that they don’t care about serious issues. If they see someone upset, they will often assume that the person wants to be left alone, unless they are good friends. Westerners can become close quite quickly in friendships, but that doesn’t mean that they are committed or baring their heart.
All above are some basic cultural difference between Chinese and Americans, hope all can do some help to your life in America.