Your first experience with cultural difference

MisterPanda

seneca Post time: 2013-7-12 21:28
It is surprising that no one mentioned the staring before, but staring used to be extremely ubiqui ...

Maybe because nowadays there isn't that much staring in the big cities. Back in 2005 it was much more frequent though.

RonJaDa

Based on - Just to be clear, we are not talking about the BIGGEST cultural difference of your life but about the first time you were really left speechless.

I got on a crowded bus, I had no packages dragging me down.  This guy in his 30's got up from his seat and insisted that I sit down.  This has happened several times with men and women giving me their seat. The first few times I said thank you but no thank you but sat down when they insisted. I have noticed youth and young adults in China generally show respect to seniors.  My first feeling was embarasment I was appreciative of the gesture but did not feel I was yet a senior though I havemore and more grey hair each month.
In Toronto some will give you their seat if you look like you physically need it.   I now accept the seat and say thank you very much.  I will also give up my seat if I see someone that needs it more than I do.

RonJaDa

seneca Post time: 2013-7-16 21:03
That definitely is a "cultural thing" of sorts - giving up a seat for a laowai but ignoring the el ...

There are rude and uncaring people everywhere.

What I have seen every time I see pregnant women, adults carying a child, or someone appearing to be in their late 60 or older someone immediately gets up and offers them a seat.  My point was that even though I am not yet 60, I frequently get offered a seat regardless of if I am carrying  heavy bags etc.

RonJaDa

seneca Post time: 2013-7-16 21:45
I think you misunderstood the gist of my post some.

I said that WE LAOWAIS get treated this fine  ...

Okay I thought you were misintpreting my comment.

China is a big country with a huge population,  I am sure attitudes are different in different parts of th ecountry or even in parts of the same city. Come to think of it, I mainly see the immediate response of someone offering their seat to someone that needs it more in Xiamen.

DSseeing

RonJaDa Post time: 2013-7-17 15:55
Okay I thought you were misintpreting my comment.

China is a big country with a huge population,  ...

Don't be embarrassed.
As long as you got grey hair, we treat you as senior people and show respect.

Carole66

I met westerners when I moved from home town never meet one in Henan firt

RonJaDa

DSseeing Post time: 2013-7-17 16:42
Don't be embarrassed.
As long as you got grey hair, we treat you as senior people and show respec ...

{:soso_e181:} 谢谢您 - Thank You

it was the appreciative embarrassed  - like when someone gives you a gift when you are not expecting it.