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Q: What are the main culture shock issues Chinese people face in the West?
I ask this as I was an organiser of my university international society back home. Every year new Chinese students would arrive, join us, meet other Chinese and then stop attending our events. It always puzzled us as the students from every other country would keep on coming and mix very well. Even on cultural exchange nights, e.g. cooking typical home meals, we'd usually be lacking a Chinese table, despite the Chinese students represented the largest international student body.
Now that I live in China I think I can understand some of the reasons:
1. Pub culture simply doesn't exist in China;
2. Going Dutch or doing rounds has a whole load of unfamiliar cultural nuances;
3. You make your own entertainment when you go out;
4. Karaoke has a bad rep;
5. The English language skills of many Chinese students is initially atrocious;
6. Being asked about the one child policy, Tibet and Taiwan is uncomfortable;
7. People speak their minds much more freely;
8. Table manners are a minefield;
...and so on.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, especially from Chinese people who have lived/studied overseas.
When I was a university student almost 10 years go, I noticed that most Chinese students usually didn't mix well with the rest of the students. They always interacted with other Chinese, went shopping and eating out in china town, the culture gap was enormous. Chinese culture, manners and the whole 'face' concept (which doesn't exist in the West) is hard for local students back home to handle.
I can think of 3 things....
Westren people have a short fuse, mostly.
The next thing is you need to get used to much cleaner food and hygine.
Better driving, the way Chinese drive will sure end up in roadrage.
I happen to know that they are... shocked by some of the freedoms and values we hold. My friend's grandmother says western women are giants in height, weight and mind. She was surprised at how many women were in positions of power.
Her grandfather (in his late 70s) was absolutely mortified when he saw 2 men holding hands and kissing. It was kind of funny. He was trying to speak english but was so stressed out if he couldn't think of the english word he'd say it in Chinese and his granddaughter was trying not to laugh as she was translating for him.
They were both appalled at the prices of groceries.
Chinese people will suffer a huge cultural shock when abroad. They have been too "closed" as a society to really understand and comprehend the different cultures and traditions abroad. Unfortunately. their normal reaction is to close up ranks and to be in contact only with other Chinese, not realizing that it is a wrong decision. By refusing to open their minds and eyes to new ways of doing things, of living a different style of life, they cling to their own views, culture and tradition, and in the process end up very unhappy and depressed, and can not wait to return home.
To me it is a pitty, they could be big contributors to foreign societies if willing to participate more.
You want specific areas, I do not list any because to me they find conflicts in just about every one, so my list will become easily too long to post. Sufficient to say that IO do feel they are not really prepared to live abroad yet.
I seem to meet more Chinese in Canada now. I know an older Chinese woman going to school. She mainly mixes with other Chinese at school. I'm her only lowai friend. I'd say the Chinese are no toutgoing enough here. Maybe they're afraid we'll tea-scam them.
I met a lowai-Chinese couple and was talking about the problems they have/had. They felt immigration just was a game to keep them going until they gve up,, and didn't. The Chinese woman said the biggest and hardest thing she had to get used to was the lack of people around. We live small town Canada.
the things that we throw out.
and the the things we wast like food
cream and cheese
mash potato
queing in line
how much bread we eat
being on time
road rage
4 letter words in a harmless situation (thats f$@king great)
green grass and a back yard
wildlife living in the back yard
and thats on the first Day
what OP said is very close to my experience. When I was abroad, I am under of a lot of pressure.. Back a few years ago,all of members of the tour went to pub,I was only one chinese during tour.It is hard for me to enjoy pub culure.I hoped that somebody can understood me and stayed with me and looked after me a little.
and also I hoped that they can slow down so that I can understand them well. but, they didn't have that much patienct to me. I try my best to fit in and keep smell on my face. At least, let them know I am friendly.
when you are abroad, people dont like talk about culure things. I felt the same way like OP, students from western countires, even other countries from asian like Thailand speak english very well, while chinese english is very bad. this is important reason that chinese students cannot mix with students from other countries.
this post is first one ,which notice how chinese students' problems.
