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Q: What happens to Chinese when they move abroad?
I've mingled with some since coming home and there is a real difference. One was from the same place as my wife, which was cool. But much more upbeat and social it seems. Is it just the type of person that would leave their homeland? Or is it something more?
I guess society influences upbringing and behaviour more than is immediately obvious.
A lot of Australians have a Chinese heritage, and, among second and third generation Chinese-Australians, I honestly do not see any real difference from general Anglo-Celtic mongrels like myself. For first-generation migrants, my guess would be that the people who get to leave are those who are already more cosmopolitan.
The first generation who migrate to Australia are quite slow to lose many of their traditional ways of thinking. What I do find though is that they do learn some basic western manners quickly and that may be due to them getting called out for things like queue cutting etc in other places. Other things such medical (the hot water thing etc) or family traditions (parent trying to arrange marriage etc) take much more time to change. As MissA said the next generations who have the opportunity to grew up as and be educated in a system that values individual thought and creativity quickly adapt and in fact do very well in general in a system that rewards effort and ability.
Good points by Miss A and Woody. I've been absolutely amazed at how docile and, bluntly, stupid so many people are in China while the Chinese I've known abroad are generally very smart and aware of what's going on around them. Without a doubt in my mind it's all down to being exposed to different educational and value systems. The Chinese are not genetically smarter or dumber than anyone else, they're just taught to be unthinking cheats and masters of illogical actions.
I think any type of person can leave China. Look how many there are in Vancouver. Remember life is different in Canada. Everything is different. Maybe the face thingy is less?
Before I left Canada , I was talking to couple, his wife was Chinese. He said it took almost 3 years to be able to bring her home. I asked how she liked Canada. She said she liked it in Canada, but the biggest difference was the lack of people which took some getting used to. She said she enjoyed it being quiet. I wish I had more time to discuss the changes but we didn't.
I'm guessing a Chinese person would have almost a reverse experience to what I (all of us)have here. The first time I came to China it was a shock to see so many Chinese people. I know you're thinking what did the idiot expect, but really, I remember standing here thinking, OMG everyone is Chinese. ( my profile was a joke being from Nunavik, much of what I write is to confuse ESL readers, like do I really stuff my GF in my suitcase, you just think I'm silly) When I came before and this time the amount of people I see is amazing. When I stood downtown, the people walking towards me reminding of a river of people that just kept coming. At first I like the changes, everything being different. I've read about culture shock and there are stages to it. That's been my experience so far. A Chinese person will see many changes, like cars that stop for you. People will be polite and friendly.
I'm trying to accept the differences and learn about how different we are. My first trip here, I had the best vacation of my life. I traveled and had fun. I've done more traveling this time, but I'm miserable. My girl friend has been difficult lately. Doesn't matter what I do, she complains. So how do I understand this? Chinese aren't supposed to complain, she picks on me, isn't this not done also, lose of face? How do I adapt when everything I read or hear is wrong? I treat her like a queen, she says I treat her like a pet. She's a poor girl. I have enough money and don't work in China. She's always going on about my spending money. She told one of my friends she was insulted that I spent so much money going to Thailand. I don't pressure her, demand things, I've been patient. Until now. I have windows open , looking for flights. Not sure if I'll go home or do some more traveling around in China. It's my girl friend that is not trying to learn that I'm different. I haven't told her yet that we're done. She's 34, hasn't had a boy friend in 10 years. I wonder what she'll be thinking in another 10 years sitting here freezing in the winter. I came here to post about a search engine for flights, this post popped up.
Jnusb416:
Well, sounds like maybe she thinks she has you whipped or wrapped around her little finger. I guess she'll soon find out how wrong she is...?
TedDBayer:
I don't mind being whipped once in awhile :) I'm not wrapped around her finger, the only thing she ever asked me for was my old iPhone
Usually tho, they skip out, over stay their visa, then years later file for citzenship.
They become very depressed when they:
- Get yelled at for jumping the queue.
-Get yelled at for spitting indoors.
-Get yelled at for smoking indoors.
-Get yelled at sleeping or surfing the internet in class or at work.
-Get yelled at when urinating in public.
-Get yelled at when stepping on the toilet seat to use it.
-Get yelled at for screaming into their mobile phones in the movie theater....
brisguy:
Second last point. Uni's in Sydney have pictures showing Chinese (Asians) not to squat on the toilets
I would say in some ways they are more culturally aware and adapatablity to change is higher, this doesn't include the filthy rich kids who come via their parents and bring their bad ways abroad. For the ones who have known some hard times or have the urge to be successful in life tend to separate one kind to another
They are trying to blend in and be more westernized! It's called blending in to your surroundings!
