Unit 6. Part 5. Cultural clash.

Dialogue 1.

W: Hi, Kavin. You are just back from your summer school for Chinese in China. You must have experienced a real cultural shock there.

M: You are right. You may also call it a cultural clash. I found that Chinese people are sort of shy or something like that.

W: What makes you think so, I mean did that ever embarrass or confuse you?

M: Yes, sometimes I found so. Perhaps it’s because we Americans are a bit showy or a bit direct. I mean there is nothing wrong with that. But I sometimes found it very difficult.

W: Why was that?

M: Let me show you an example. Once I learned from one of my boy classmates the Chinese for “I love you”, then I said it to a girl classmate. You know what happened? Oh, she immediately blushed and walked away. I was confused whether I had offended her. Later I was told that I shouldn’t have said “I love you”, to a girl if I didn’t really mean it. I was just joking. But the Chinese took this kind of expression very seriously. The girl felt insulted that I was making such jokes with her.

W: Well, do you still find it a problem?

M: No, once you get used to or you get to know the Chinese people well, you feel much better.

Dialogue 2.

W: Hello, David.

M: Hi, Linda. How is it going?

W: Not too bad. We are trying to catch up with all the material for this quarter.

M: Oh, yeah, a lot of work.

W: I know. Well, David, you are an American, and you have been here in this joint venture working as a sales manager for 2 years. How do you feel working in this kind of company?

M: Good question. You know things are not always so easy.

W: Yes, I have a feeling that you are frustrated sometimes.

M: Yes, sometimes. For example, some procedures I think are very straight forward, but I need to repeat it a thousand times to get it done right.

W: You need to have a lot of patience. We have several hundreds of employees. Most of them are quite new to your American style of business system.

M: I know. I also have problem motivating the Chinese people here in this company.

W: It’s a tough job to get people motivated. Everybody knows the salary of other’s, and everybody keeps an eye on those with high pay and watches how much they do.

M: Money is important but it’s not everything. In the US the salary information is confidential, so we don’t have this kind of problem.

W: But it’s in China. There are companies have adopted this kind of salary system. In any case most joint ventures are still popular because of its better working environment.

M: I am glad to hear that.

Dialogue 3.

W: Mr. Wang. How long have you been working in this research institute here in America?

M: Several years.

W: I heard people say that you are a Christian. Is it true?

M: Yes. I have been a Christian for 3 years.

W: But you are from China.

M: So what? Aren’t there religions in China? I know a long time ago there was Confucius and then Buddhism. After the cultural revolution people stopped to believe in any religion. Some people believe in power, some in money, and some in themselves. But there are still people believe in some kind of religion.

W: You said it. But I always wonder how a scientist like you can also believe in God.

M: Why not?

W: You must have learned science and the evolution.

M: I did. But it does not mean I believe in the evolution. There are many different kinds of theories about the creation of the world. But I believe in the creation by God.

W: Do you have any proof that God created the universe?

M: If it were not for the God how could the universe be so nice. Who could have such power? I think God does exist. I prey everyday and I prey before every meal. Come to the church with me this Saturday. You may come to our service.

W: I don’t know. I don’t believe in God.

M: Why not? It feels good if you believe in God.

W: But how do you know God does exist? Have you ever seen God? I think nobody has ever seen God. It’s hard for me to believe. It’s incredible to believe in God.

M: You may come around in the future.

Dialogue 4.

W: Sam, I always had the feeling that it is hard being a teenager. But dealing with a cultural clash makes it even more difficult.

M: What’s making you seen so thoughtful?

W: I have some problems with my family, I was so confused and angry with my parents.

M: Could you be more specific?

W: Well, you see. I overheard my mother’s complain one day. She said, “What should we do with her? Everyday she is becoming more like her friends. She is not an American and she has to realize that”. The other day she warned me face to face. “Look at your friends, they are dating boys and going out all the time. I cannot believe their parents let them do that at such young age. We cannot let you be friends with people like that. You have to understand that you are not like them. You can have fun later in life but right now you need to study.

M: Was it all because of your Chinese traditional values?

W: Exactly. This question would not even exit if I had not moved to America 10 years ago. I would still be an innocent little girl in China, enjoying life without taking risks or trying anything new.

M: But now you are here in America, not in China.

W: Yes, now I am here in America. After 10 years in America I have come to realize that many Americans believe happiness and health are keys to have a wonderful life. And I believe I was put on this earth to find my one true love and live happily ever after. I have tried to ignore my background by replacing it with American ways of thinking and acting. But I have been unsuccessful because my parents are constantly reminder who I am and where I came from. According to my parents and all my relatives education and wealth are the top priorities. They are very conservative in terms of dating and love.

M: So you are confused because your way of life conflicts with your culture?

W: You can say that again. My parents have to understand that we are in America now. And I have assimilated in American ways of thinking. Don’t you think that they should have a change?

M: Well, I don’t think it will be easy for them to adopt American ways. To be frank, I think it would only be fair if you change your attitude. It will be your duty to co-ordinate and balance the two cultures. You will be a stronger person in the future.
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