大家好！
I arrived in Chengdu on Friday, January 13 after spending three
days in Hong Kong and Macau. On the trip, we were mostly sightseeing and being
typical tourists, which was pretty easy since everything in Hong Kong is
labeled in both English and Cantonese. I met some of the other students in the
program in the LA airport and we were on the same flight to Hong Kong. It was
nice getting to know them during our trip. Hong Kong was nice to visit, but it
was very fast paced. They say “a New York minute is a Hong Kong second” which
is truer than you will ever know. Hong Kong and Macau are islands, so
everything is very close together and is built up. The streets are narrow and
loads of people are out on them, all the time. Hong Kong is a city that really never sleeps.
We spent the first day in Hong Kong going around the city
and seeing notable sights. We even had dimsum at “Jumbo Floating Restauruant”
for lunch, which is exactly what it sounds like. My favorite part of our day in Hong Kong was
going to the Peak. It is the highest point in Hong Kong and you can see in all
directions. It’s a popular area for tourists, so there are loads of shops and restaurants
with amazing views. Here is one of my pictures of the skyline from a viewing
terrace:
The next morning, we took a ferry (not really a ferry, more
of a water jet) to Macau. Macau was wonderful. The Portugese influence is clear
in not only the signage, but also the architecture. Macau is small, so small
our tour guide told us that you can walk across the island from end to end in
an hour. It was much more laid back, compared to Hong Kong, even though it is
very crowded for its size. We ate a Portuguese lunch, which was delicious, and
had some time to explore the area. We witnessed a car accident, and the police
were at the scene almost immediately. Luckily no one was hurt, and we went to
see the casinos. I’ve never been to Las Vegas, but since USAC is located there,
many of the other students are Vegas natives. According to them, Macau blows
Las Vegas away when it comes to the casinos. We went into the Venetian,
specifically, since there is a lot to do if you are under 21 and can’t gamble.
It was like a city inside. Everything was gilded and it felt very euphoric. We
saw both canals and lots of shops (though most of them were luxury brands so I
didn’t buy anything). I did indulge in a beverage from Starbucks, but I got a
local favorite, Hibiscus tea. Our tour guide took us to major historical places
in Macau, including the old fort used by the Portuguese governor, complete with
360-views of the island, and the first church, which burnt down three times. ‘
Our third day in Hong Kong was a free day, so I spent it exploring
the city by myself and with some of my new friends. The next morning, we were
on a plane to Chengdu. The flight was short, but it got delayed so we made it in
around 3pm. We took a bus to our campus and dropped our bags in our rooms, then
went to Carrefour (supermarket). The whole experience was very overwhelming.
Not only were we all tired from travelling, but there are sales people in every
department, pushing certain products on you in Chinese. I was just doing my
best to remember what I needed to buy to live (ie sheets, blanket, towels,
soap). I ended up spending more money than I was carrying in cash, and had to
pay with my American credit card. I have a Discover card though, which is
really great because they have an agreement with a Chinese card company,
UnionPay, so the card can be accepted here. The most stressful part of the
whole interaction was convincing the clerk to use my card. After about fifteen minutes of me explaining in
Mandarin that my card was a domestic card, she finally used it and it worked. Phew.
Since then, life in Chengdu has been smooth sailing. Chengdu
is very laid back. The streets are significantly less crowded than Hong Kong,
and the locals are very patient and welcoming. The owner of a jiaozi (dumpling) restaurant even taught
one of my friends how to use chopsticks and practiced her English with us. This
post is quite long because I’ve had a very busy week, but I do have some
initial takeaways from my texperience so far:
·
Chinese people have been very generous. I’ve
only paid for my own food a few times after eating every meal out. The price
tag is either so cheap that someone just picks up the bill for everyone, or we
are being treated by someone older. On Monday, a publication called GoChengdu
took us to the Giant Panda Research Base, located here in Chengdu, and actually
had a whole panda-themed day planned for us. After seeing the real-life pandas
in the morning, we went to a panda-themed KFC restaurant (the only one in the
world) and they taught us how to make panda-shaped rice balls. They were so
cute, I didn’t want to eat mine. They treated us to lunch and then we went to
see the IFS panda sculpture, which is just a massive panda hanging off the side of a large shopping center. On
the roof, you can take pictures with it (don’t worry, I’ll put copious panda
photos below). They then took us to Panda Post, a local business selling
creative, hand drawn postcards, stamps, and other panda-themed goodies. They
let us send post cards back home for free, and then GoChengdu have us panda
gift bags with a stuffed panda, a wooden postcard from Panda Post, and an
English guide to living in Chengdu. Their generosity was amazing, despite
having to have many, many photos taken throughout the day.
·
My idea of what is cheap and what is expensive
has changed a ton already. Earlier today, we were in a convenience store
looking for mugs to use to take our tea or hot water to class (in China hot
water > cold water, especially since the walls are concrete and it’s always
freezing). We saw some nice ones that were around 50 kuai, and we all were shook. The thing is, though… 50 kuai is
less than $10USD. In the US that would be a bargain, but alas, we decided we
could get a better price at Walmart later. And I do mean actual Walmart, not
just a Chinese equivalent. Like, real Walmart in China, y’all. Wild.
·
Time is flexible. Everything has started late so
far on this trip. My class started late today, whenever we meet for something
people are late, etc. When we went with GoChengdu, we were supposed to leave at
7:20, and we didn’t leave until 7:50. No one was mad, really, it’s just the way
time works.
I hope you enjoy this post! If you have any questions, feel
free to comment and I’ll do what I can to answer. In the coming days, I’ll be
settling into the routine of classes so my life might be boring for a while.
Now, for the promised panda photos:
I really enjoyed reading your post; definitely a different culture to adjust to versus the United States. I find it interesting that there is such a difference in the approach to time in Hong Kong versus in Chengdu. What factors influence the way people approach time in these 2 cities? We learned about the LMR model and the United States is very linear; meaning we like to be "on time" which is about 10 minutes early and we like routine and a set schedule to follow. How are you adjusting to being in a more reactive culture?
ReplyDeleteAmie,
DeleteI think one of the main reasons for the difference between Hong Kong and Chengdu is the strong Western influence from England in HK. I think HK is an interesting hybrid of Asia and Europe, and you can feel the cultural fusion when you're there. As for your second question, I'm early to everything. I am not as early as I would be in the US, but I've definitely arrived two minutes before class starts and been the second person there. I don't think either way is better, just different.
Thanks for the questions!
Kayleigh
Hello Kayleigh! Your experiences sound amazing and very interesting so far! I can’t wait to continue to learn more through your blog of time spent in China. I noticed your story involving your mug search included Walmart. I was surprised to hear that an American chain Walmart store exists in China. In our Global Leadership Class, we have been discussing the ways that American (western) culture has influenced other cultures across the world, and vice versa. According to historical events described in text written by Dr. Perruci, the United States became a self-proclaimed “world leader” after the Cold War and also an economic superpower after World War II with international engagement. Globalization has since become a factor that impacts our view of leadership. The rugged individualism of U.S. culture competes with other cultures. Have there been other evidences of adaptation of western culture in China? Also, are you able to see the core values of Chinese culture continue to exist within these westernized businesses?
ReplyDeleteShannon,
DeleteYour question reminded me of a concept that I learning in my Chinese advertising class at MC - Glocalization. The word is a mixture of "Globalization" and "localization." This is very much what happens when Western companies come to China. For example, we have KFC and McDonalds here, but both of the menus are changed slightly to suit the palette of someone from Chengdu (I say Chengdu specifically because people here love spicy food, I've gotten a rice bowl from McDonalds that was painfully spicy, and everything at KFC is spicy). We also have stores like H&M, but the clothes are slightly different to suit Asian trends and sizing.
Thanks for the questions,
Kayleigh
Hi Kayleigh,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the pictures of the pandas! It sounds like you are having great time so far. In leadership, we recently examined several cultural differences between the U.S. and China based on Hofstede’s graphs. I am curious to see if you have noticed them and also hear about your reactions to the differences. One component we looked at was power distance. China has a significantly higher level of power distance than the U.S. Have you noticed a difference in the way certain people like elders and professors are treated in China vs. the U.S.? In class, we also examined individualism. Compared to the U.S. China has a collectivist culture. You said people often pay for your meals. Do you believe that the collectivist culture has anything to do with that? Most importantly, how have you adapted to these differences?
Michaila,
DeleteMy classes are pretty Western, I don't have to treat my professors differently and I'm never afraid to talk to them openly. I have noticed collectivist ideals, like on announcements in the subway. One announcement says something like "we strive to remain a harmonious society... so please respect public facilities..." I don't think the concept of treating someone is related to collectivism, it's just a norm in China that whoever invites, pays. If the outing includes more than dinner, you're also expected to pay for tickets/transportation as well.
I hope this answers your questions!
Kayleigh
Hi Kayleigh!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying your travels! I have a few questions but my first is regarding in groups and out groups at your university. I just came from a leadership conference at the Naval Academy and on the way home we had a conversation about how there was no gray area of military vs. non military in groups. I was wondering if since your school there is so large if you notice in groups and out groups on a smaller level or if you even feel this as an American in a foreign country. In addition, do you notice this in group/ out group mentality reflecting in your relationship with professors or if the relationship is based more upon power distance.
My other question is if there were any taboo things that you and other foreign students avoid bringing up in the culture? For example, Gabe Crowe said that bringing up WWII Europe in Germany is kind of a no no. If there are these unspoken rules, were you warned ahead of time or have there just been things you have picked up on through your own interactions?
Thanks and have fun! -Emily Vigue
Emily,
DeleteThere are definitely clear in groups at the university, most obviously that the Americans are a very distinct group. There are other foreigners that live in my building, but us American students have, naturally, grouped together. As far as taboo things, Chengdu is definitely one of the more liberal places in China, but it's certainly not as open as the US. For example, I still have to be careful who I discuss my sexuality with, and usually have to test the waters to see how they feel about LGBT+ issues.
Thanks for the questions!\
Kayleigh
Kayleigh,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting! It sounds like you are enjoying it thus far. It's an exciting time. The University you are attending looks pretty nice. Do they structure their classes similar to ours? I know that Dr. Perruci talked one day about some foreign students treating their profs with a ton of respect and all standing up with they walk in the room, whereas in America, we tend to think of our profs as more equal in status. Have you noticed any shocking differences like that? Also, not to grow too political, but I was wondering if there's much talk about Trump over there (especially in relation to trade and jobs). We talked today about multi-national corporations and how they interact to different cultural and governmental pressures. I'm curious what the business climate is like over there. As you know, we tend to think everything is made in China. Is everything there made in America (haha)?
Thanks and enjoy your trip!
~Derek Krieg
Derek,
DeleteMy classes are pretty Western, so I don't feel a strong power distance with my professors. A lot of the time, things like standing up when the teacher enters the room usually happens in primary/secondary school, and not so much at the college level. I've only discussed Trump with fellow Americans, and once with a few Chinese people. The conversation didn't last very long; they asked what I thought of him and I said "I hate him" which earned me a high-five. I haven't seen much other discussion. A lot of things here are made in China, because imported items are more expensive and are taxed more (which is the same reason why Western foods like pizza are very expensive - all of the cheese and other ingredients are imported).
I hope this answers your questions,
Kayleigh
Thanks for your response! It's interesting that they stand up in primary school, but don't continue it in college.
DeleteKayleigh,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! I am enjoying staying updated with your trip, I'm sure as much as the others! I really found it interesting that the cultures you described between Hong Kong and Chengdu were so different in time and the way they worked. Hong Kong being a fast paced place is understandable for the size and importance of the city. However, it's interesting that Chengdu and other places seem so much more relaxed. Do you think this is because of the city scene or something deeper than that?
I think back to a number of cultures, much like Brazil, that have a Northern hemisphere differ immensely from another hemisphere like the Southern. The lifestyle is different, as well as the way the people are perceived and understood. Do you see anything like this in China? I initially thought not, especially with your comments of how generous the people are. From that, I would not assume people to be discriminatory in that way, but different regions serve different ideals. It would be interesting to know whether you see any kinds of contrast in culture between different areas in China. Have you that you know of?
I look forward to hearing back from you and hope the rest of your trip serves you well! Enjoy classes and be safe!
-Sarah
Sarah,
DeleteI think the main reason for the difference in HK is the British influence on the city. For this reason, HK is much more like a Western City. However, Chengdu is more laid back than even other Chinese cities, especially large, international cities like Shanghai. Chengdu is really close to Tibet and . lot of Tibetan people live here, so I'm sure that partially contributes to the pace of life here. As far as how people are perceived, I definitely stick out as a foreigner, and we constantly have people taking photos of us (either paparazzi style or a selfie with the person). Chengdu is a big city, but its not necessarily international, so this kind of thing probably happens less in places like Shanghai. Also, the North of China ends to be more conservative and the South of China more liberal.
Thanks for the questions!
Kayleigh
Hey Kayleigh,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are having a great time on your trip. I find it really interesting that you said that you hardly had to pay for any meals because people were really generous and would pay for you. We learned in class that Eastern Asian countries typically focus on the value of being a servant leader. In addition, followers are expected to act as students and work to learn from leaders. In the situation with others buying your food, do you feel that it was because you were not from China or do you think it was because they value service/servant leadership? Furthermore, you mentioned that sometimes an older person would pay for your food. Do you feel that they wanted to teach you a lesson that you could learn and grow from? In other words, do you feel that they were acting as a servant leader or teacher? Have you experienced the idea that you are to be a student and value and consume the wisdom of your teachers? I am curious if this cultural value also plays into the classroom setting.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
-Emily Toppin
Clarification: Servant leadership involves the leader striving to better their followers. Rather than striving for self improvement, a servant leader works to improve their organization by strengthening bonds with followers and helping them to become better leaders. In terms of the East Asian context, leaders view themselves as teachers and expect their followers to desire to learn from them. This is slightly different than the traditional view of servant leadership, but the leaders are ultimately still striving for growth and betterment of their followers. In the US, we view followers in different ways, but a view from the general public (those who are not educated in the field of leadership) is that followers are to listen to leaders and do as they say, rather than making their goal to better the followers and help them grow. The Western perspective holds a very transactional view of leadership, while the East Asian perspective holds a servant oriented view.
DeleteEmily,
DeleteAs far as treating others to food, this has actually been my Western friends doing this the most! We have each other's backs because we're all in this together, so no one minds taking their turn treating others. It is the norm in China, though, that whoever invites should be the one paying, which could include food, transportation, tickets, etc.
I have noticed servant leadership in my teachers/program director though. My program director especially wants us to learn from our mistakes and from her.
I hope this answers your question!
Kayleigh
Hi Kayleigh,
DeleteI am sorry this was so delayed, but it is good to hear that you are sticking together. It is cool that you recognize servant leadership in you professors as well. Do you feel that your professors expect you to want to learn from them? Is there a higher need for respect?
I hope to hear from you soon,
Emily Toppin
Hi Kayleigh! Reading about your experiences in China and seeing your pictures has been really interesting. In global leadership we have talked about the cultural differences and the way people of different religions perceive things. For example, we have discussed the way Muslims see leadership different from those in the west and see their religion as a vital part of their government; and how Buddhists view leadership in a different context as well with an emphasis on personal journey with a student/ teacher relationship. I know you mentioned the generosity of the Chinese citizens you have interacted with when you have been out in Chengdu. Have you had any experiences where people of different religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, or Islam has impacted the way they view leadership and the interactions between leaders and followers compared to your view of leadership, coming from a western culture.
ReplyDeleteHi Kayleigh! Hope you are having the best time. I love all the photos you have taken and the stories you have shared with us! One of our upcoming readings for class is about leadership in an East Asian context. One of the symbols we are learning about is the yin and the yang as complementary opposites. Have you seen the actual symbol depicted anywhere in your travels throughout China? How do people in China react to it or view it?
ReplyDeleteWe are also learning that the Taoist way of making decisions is typically "doing without forcing", compared to the Western way of making decisions through rationality, logic, and pragmatism. This principle seems pretty patient compared to our Western worldview, almost allowing problems to solve themselves. Since Chengdu sounds pretty laid-back, I was wondering if you had any personal experiences with this yet! Best of luck with your travels!
Hey Kayleigh,
ReplyDeleteIt really seems like you're having a wonderful time in China! I've still yet to see a panda in person, so I hope you can understand why I'm so jealous.
In class we're learning about the influence of Buddhism on leadership, and I know that Buddhism did have some impact in China prior to the Tang Emperors began persecuting Buddhists. One of the really interesting characteristics of Buddhism is how flexible it can be, so I was wondering how much it may have influenced the modern culture in China. One key factor in Buddhist leadership is the focus on the teacher/student relationship. Could you describe your experiences with your teachers so far? Do you feel as though the student/teacher dynamic in China suits you better than the dynamic in America?
Thanks in advance Kayleigh, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in China!
Tristan Bailey
Hey Kayleigh!! I have really enjoyed reading about your experiences while studying abroad this semester. I found the currency difference between the American dollar and the Chinese kuai to be very interesting! It would definitely be an adjustment to justify to yourself that you were only spending $10 American dollars when the price tag shows 50 kuai. We have recently been studying Buddhist leadership in class. A large part of the Buddhist religion is about self discovery and trying to attain personal enlightenment. One of the noble truths of Buddhism states that "suffering is caused by attachment" which includes the attachment to people as well as things. Since Buddhism is one of the major religions in China, I was wondering if the people there keep to themselves more in order to make time for the self discovery as compared to Western culture? Also, are they less likely to form strong friendships or relationships because attachment is seen as the cause of suffering? I hope that the rest of your semester abroad goes well and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
ReplyDelete-Kate Ensinger
Hey Kayleigh!! I have really enjoyed reading about your experiences while studying abroad this semester. I found the currency difference between the American dollar and the Chinese kuai to be very interesting! It would definitely be an adjustment to justify to yourself that you were only spending $10 American dollars when the price tag shows 50 kuai. We have recently been studying Buddhist leadership in class. A large part of the Buddhist religion is about self discovery and trying to attain personal enlightenment. One of the noble truths of Buddhism states that "suffering is caused by attachment" which includes the attachment to people as well as things. Since Buddhism is one of the major religions in China, I was wondering if the people there keep to themselves more in order to make time for the self discovery as compared to Western culture? Also, are they less likely to form strong friendships or relationships because attachment is seen as the cause of suffering? I hope that the rest of your semester abroad goes well and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
ReplyDelete-Kate Ensinger
哈喽! 你的博客真有意思。熊猫太可爱了!
ReplyDeleteWe just learned about leadership in a Muslim context, and at the end of our discussion we talked about which aspect of Muslim leadership we would have the most trouble with as Americans. Most of us agreed that it would be the way decisions are made through consulting the community. We know from the LMR model that China is obviously a lot more collectivist than the U.S., so in light of that, do you think they would be more open to that style of decision-making, or would they have similar issues with it? What styles of decision-making have you observed, are they indeed made more collectively?
多谢!
爱莉
Hi Kayleigh,
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing about your time in Chengdu! I found it particularly interesting that people were over thirty minutes late and no one complained! We learned about time differences earlier in the semester so it was easier to understand but still surprising. I think this would take some adjusting for me because I am so used to being punctual if not early. I loved hearing about the Giant Panda Research Base and your pictures! Today in leadership we learned about leadership from a Buddhist point of view. I found it interesting that you said that Chinese people are so generous. I feel like it is not common for people here to purchase everyone’s meal because the food usually isn’t that cheap (unless you are hitting up the dollar menu!). Buddhists have to go on a long self-journey, but value their leaders and also have a very collectivist outlook. You have demonstrated that Chinese have a very collectivist outlook, but do you think that they are focused on the self at all? For developmental purposes or a journey to find themselves? Or are they solely focused on the primacy of the group and helping others? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Enjoy the rest of your time abroad!
Best,
McKenzie Fleeman
Hi Kayleigh!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you have gotten the chance to a little bit of Hong Kong and Chengdu! I love that you noted how generous Chinese people are. My Chinese friend, Coco, always gives me sweet little gifts whether its for my birthday, to share something from her culture or just because. This aspect of Chinese culture reminds me of how the African culture has a humanistic value of community. They really look out for one another in the community and elders are very respected. You mentioned how someone older sometimes picks up the bill at a restaurant. Would you say that in Chengdu there is this same sense of community and respect for elders? The African culture also holds their leaders to high ethical standards in order for them to have any respect. Would you say that ethics is important in Chinese culture?
Thanks
Emily Schemrich
Hi Kayleigh! Hope you are having a great time on your adventures! In class we recently learned about Buddhism and an aspect that stood out to me from our reading and discussion is the relationship between leaders and followers. While I know that China is not heavily influenced by Buddhism, Buddhism has had some presence in the nation. Followers in the Buddhist context have an extremely high respect for their leaders and listen to almost everything they say, with minimal, if any, questioning. I think that part of this may be due to the referent power these leaders have since they have completed their own personal journeys to enlightenment and are seen as role models. I was wondering if in China you feel that this is also the case and if in your opinion this is based more on religious or philosophical influences or if it is based on other underlying cultural norms, or both? In addition, since you are coming from a western leadership perspective, do you like these differences or are they more uncomfortable for you? For many of us in class this was one of the biggest issues we had with the Buddhist influence on leadership. Thanks and have fun!
ReplyDeleteEmily Vigue
Hi Kayleigh!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying your time in Chengdu--it sounds like such an interesting and life-changing experience! We recently have been learning about the Buddhist cultural perspective in our leadership class, and I have a few questions about how those concepts may apply to your experience. In the Buddhist perspective, leaders and followers should have a student/teacher style relationship, and the followers are expected to refer to the wisdom of the leader. Have you seen this in your experience in Chengdu, now that you've settled into your classes? Has it been difficult for you to adjust to a Chinese classroom setting? I would imagine that, coming from a western background where it is encouraged to ask questions and challenge your professors, it would be a very different experience to engage with your professors in China.
I also love what you and Emily Schemrich said about the generosity of the people you've encountered. I think that generosity and being selfless really go hand-in-hand with the teachings of Buddhism, because so much of the philosophy focuses on ridding yourself of material desires and serving the collective good. Do you feel that the teachings of Buddhism influence your interactions with others frequently?
Thanks, and I hope the rest of your semester is phenomenal!
Emily Brown
I'm sure you have a lot of homework, cultural immersion, and socializing in Chinese to do, but I have a few questions for you.
ReplyDelete1st: You mentioned that during your first arrival in Hong Kong, you and your group were sight seeing. You stated that apart from enjoying the amazing views, everything was labeled in both Chinese and English. Considering the main topic of this class is focusing on Globalization 3.0 in various cultural contexts, I was wondering where you feel that this particular development would have originated? As a refresher, globalization 1.0 is "...characterized as the rise of sovereign states competing for wealth and power..." dominated by a focus on the nation-state. The second development (globalization 2.0), focused on Multi National Corporations (MNCs). The third development is globalization 3.0, with a new unit of focus on the individual--free to compete and collaborate on a global scale. Do you feel that the influence of the United States is a result of globalization 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0? If you would like more clarification on what each of these mean to refresh your memory, please let me know!
My second question is the leader-follower relationship in China, specifically in the East Asian Context. The McManus and Perruci book states that the leader-follower relationship in China should be centered around the three treasures: moderation, humility, and compassion. However, this isn't the concept that I would like to focus on. In particular, I would like to focus on the idea of caudillismo which, translated directly means "a strong dictator on horseback." Such a leader provides order and stability as a way to gain control, demanding complete loyalty from their followers. In terms of the educational system in particular, do you see such a relationship depicted? This question came to mind when speaking with some Chinese students and their level of respect for professors and people of higher authority. It seems as though their relationship supersedes the Three Treasures. Do you feel that this is an accurate statement, or is there something that I am missing?
Kayleigh,
ReplyDeleteI hope all is going well in China! Sounds like classes are coming along and best of luck on your final exams if you haven’t had them already. In global lead we most recently discussed the Lewis Model in depth as well as Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. I think it’s very interesting that you are helping tutor while studying abroad. What has that experience been like? Mainly, I was curious as to how open the family was to having you help their daughter. With Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, one element we discussed was individualism. When I compared China with other cultures, it was mentioned that Chinese are not the most welcoming to those from “outside the group”. Being an international student in China, I was curious if you were subject to any un-welcoming behavior or reluctance to have you tutor the younger student.
Additionally, I looked at the power-distance aspect with regards to China. Hofstede eluded to the point that in China there is a large power-distance between people of different social classes. While it is easy to read and learn about this in class, I was wondering if you had any eye-witness accounts where people of a lower class were being discriminated against or abused in any way by those who are superior. This could be between people of two different classes or between employers and employees. Additionally, Hofstede’s work helped explain that people should not have an aspiration to move up in class. When mentioning your student, I was wondering if her family always had their wealth or if it was newly acquired. If their wealth was a result of something that happened recently, how did the rest of the community accept them? Being that Hofstede mentions: one should not have the aspiration to change class; How does their family handle this idea?
Have a great rest of your week!
Ryan
Hello Kayleigh!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you are having so much fun and I love reading about your adventures. Also I am sorry to hear about the wifi! Haha.
In Leadership, we have been learning about the LMR Lewis Model, which puts countries on a spectrum of linear-active, multi-active, and reactive. The USA is very close to being entirely linear-active, while china is very reactive. Examples of traits of reactive culture are being very people-oriented, not wanting to lose face with those around them, being very polite, and reacts to partners actions. Upon reading about your frustrations, I was wondering if you think that due to this aspect of their culture, this is why they treat you in the way that they do. That they are more patient with you because they do not want to lose face or be impolite. I was also wondering if you noticed other portrayal of similar traits within other aspects of culture.
Can't wait to hear from you. Hope you enjoy your week!
Mandi Medykowski
hi Kayleigh, I hope you are having a fantastic time in China!
ReplyDeleteRecently in class, we have been discussing the LMR model in great lengths. The United States is defined as more linear active as opposed to multi-active or reactive. However, China is on the opposite side of the model and defined as reactive. Citizens of reactive countries tend to listen and make judgments and actions based off other people. I was wondering if these characteristics are easy to see in everyday life, whether it be an everyday conversation, or any other context.
I hope you continue to have a fantastic time!
Daniel Fox
Kaleigh,
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying your last few weeks in China. Recently in the past few weeks we have been discussing Hall's Concept of Space in class. I was wondering what differences you have seen between an American concept of space (Personal Bubble) and the China concept of space since the two countries have a vast population difference?
-Jay Chapin