1 . What My Year Abroad Taught Me About Cultural Differences
Imagine going to study abroad. You walk into the local shop and bam!, Golliwogs (黑面木偶) everywhere. I’m talking salespeople dressed as Golliwogs. Surprised, you go to the junk food section as that’s the only thing that will give your body the sugar rush it needs to shock your body out of the state of bewilderment (困惑). And there they were: Golliwog cookies.
I’m using the word “Golliwogs” because to a British person abroad that’s what they are. But in the Netherlands and Belgium the image is known as Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). There has been much discussion about whether or not it’s racist.
Working as a trainee with the European Commission, I met people from all over the world, not just Europe. Working alongside my German, Spanish and Italian colleagues, I learned some valuable lessons.
Another lesson was the value of the coffee break. Coffee breaks in Brussels were not just time to get coffee. It was a chance to develop new ideas with colleagues in a more informal setting. At first I declined the invitation to attend, but after a while I began to notice that almost everyone went on these trips to the coffee machine and decided to join them.
Graduates and students who have worked abroad gain an understanding of what it means to be truly European and how this can benefit you at work. Not only do you bring home experiences, skills and practices from other countries, but you also seek to take your work further afield (向远方).
A.You might be amazed by the quantity of work and innovative concepts that can emerge during informal coffee breaks. |
B.This marked my initial experience in comprehending diverse cultures. |
C.As British people, we need to stay low-profile in what we do. |
D.So, how did I apply these acquired abilities? |
E.As individuals from Britain, we must produce more influence in our pursuits. |
F.This was my first lesson in understanding British cultures. |
2 . Travel Manners
Every culture has its own unwritten list of behavior that is acceptable. Every society also has its taboos, or types of behavior that are considered a violation (违反) of good manners.
The word taboo comes from the Tongan language and is used in modern English to describe verbal and nonverbal behavior that is forbidden or to be avoided.
Verbal taboos usually involve topics that people believe are too private to talk about publicly, or relate to one’s manner of speaking. In many cultures, for example, it is considered bad manners to discuss subjects such as sex or religion in public. In some countries, the volume of one’s voice may annoy people.
Certain gestures made with the hands can have very different meanings depending on the country you are in. Crossing your middle finger over your forefinger is the sign for good luck in many western countries.
Behavior that is acceptable and non-offensive in one culture can be highly offensive in another. When visiting a foreign country, be aware of some of the basic differences, as this will help to ensure a more enjoyable trip.
A.Nonverbal taboos usually relate to body language. |
B.In Vietnam and Argentina, however, it is a rude gesture. |
C.In spite of what some people may think, taboos are not universal. |
D.Cancer is a taboo subject and people are frightened to talk openly about it. |
E.Learn a country’s customs so that you don’t hurt the local people unconsciously. |
F.They might think that someone who is speaking or laughing loudly is rude or aggressive. |
3 . Students’ Journey to Empower Rural Heritage
From Aug. 18 to 22 a team of 15 Tsinghua University students, representing diverse backgrounds from China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia, set foot on an overseas research exploration focusing on rural revitalization(振兴) in Indonesian villages, particularly within Nusa Tenggara Barat(NTB).
With the diverse cultural heritage, Indonesia is home to over 83,000 villages, each radiating its own charm and character.
The research mission took the students to Sukarara and Sade villages, two of NTB’s tourist destinations.
As the journey came to an end, the students carry with them not only the memories of their experiences there, but also the responsibility to make a positive impact on these remarkable places.
A.While these villages possess undeniable fascination, many remain underdeveloped. |
B.This effort includes the knowledge exchange between the students and local villagers |
C.Both were selected for revitalization efforts led by the Village Revitalization Team. |
D.In Sukarara, a local tradition requires girls master weaving skills before marriage |
E.They decide to be a bridge between tradition and progress, united for their growth |
F.It’s about preserving the cultural heritage and ensuring traditions being passed down |
4 . Despite the fact that American companies have been “global” for a very long time now, many people today inside companies still misunderstand cultural differences. They misperceive potential foreign-born workers, for example, as too “shy” or not “confident” enough.
In many cultures, it is just not appropriate to make small talk with someone you don’t know, especially someone above you in the corporate level.
In addition, the US is basically a “straight-shooter (坦率的人)” style culture, where it is cultural valued to tell it like it is. But this isn’t necessarily true worldwide. For example, in Japan, people prefer to communicate indirectly, especially when it comes to a sensitive topic. To avoid accidentally damaging a relationship, people approach problems through subtle hints or general statements. If someone were to directly state a problem, it would make them look ungraceful, immature, and untrustworthy.
Americans tend to be relatively informal in a business context.
The above discussion just hits the tip of the iceberg of the different cultural misinterpretations in corporate America. For American employers to succeed in selecting, training, inspiring and keeping their top foreign-born talent, it is high time that they started taking account of these cultural differences in their leadership selection process.
A.There is a significant problem in corporate America today with foreign workers. |
B.In fact, many people are quite surprised at the level of informality in American businesses. |
C.Someone who avoids making small talk can be seen as unfriendly or not a team player. |
D.However, in reality, with a moderate amount of training, these high-performing individuals could be corporate leaders of tomorrow. |
E.It can also be impolite and even dangerous to openly express your opinion. |
F.But from the perspective of American culture, this more indirect style appears as if someone is “hiding” the truth. |
5 . There are many customs and traditions connected to yearly celebrations which are part of Britain’s folklore (民俗). Lughnasadh is a celebration at the beginning of August.
Although these customs have been passed down to us from forgotten generations, they themselves have not been forgotten and continue to play a part in our modern lives.
A.Most families observe with a large meal and sometimes a religious service. |
B.There are Morris dancing groups in places as far away as New Zealand and San Francisco! |
C.It is a holiday rooted in the belief that the world is spiritually connected to heaven. |
D.Not all the origins of ancient traditions are remembered, however. |
E.Every week groups of individuals regularly meet to sing, play instruments or practice ancient dances. |
F.A custom connected with it is to make corn dolls with corn from the last of the harvest. |
6 . Symptoms of Culture Shock and Their Stages
Like any new experience, there’s a feeling of euphoria (兴高采烈) when you first arrive in a new country and you’re in awe of the differences you see and experience.
The Distress Stage
Everything you’re experiencing no longer feels new; in fact, it’s starting to feel like a thick wall that’s preventing you from experiencing things. You feel confused, alone, and realize that the familiar support systems are not easily available.
Re-integration Stage
During this stage, you start refusing to accept the differences you meet.
Autonomy Stage
This is the first stage of acceptance. It’s the emergence stage when you start to rise above the clouds and finally begin to feel like yourself again. You start to accept the differences and feel like you can begin to live with them.
Independence Stage
A.You are yourself again! |
B.You feel excited, stimulated, and enriched. |
C.You feel more confident and better able to handle any problems that may arise. |
D.You are still what you are and there is no change at all. |
E.You are like a baby. |
F.You’re angry, frustrated, and even feel hostile (敌对的) to those around you. |
7 . Each year millions of people go abroad to work, study or travel. It’s a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world! You’ re probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country. But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating, even stressful.
Have an open mind. While it’s certainly OK to feel frustrated or confused in your new surroundings, try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon. You may be quick to judge the food, manners and communication styles and as a result, you may want to do things the way you are used to.
Participate in your new life. This is obvious, but everybody needs to be reminded. Just watching life go on around you isn’t good enough. You really need to try things for yourself. Don’t worry about making a mistake; people in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have problems.
Your study abroad experience is a unique and special time in your life, one that you’ll never forget. If you follow our suggestions, you’ll be able to handle it well and have a wonderful time. Good luck!
A.Try to form the opinion about the new culture as soon as possible. |
B.Keep in touch. |
C.Talk to someone about your problem. |
D.Don’t think of the host culture as better or worse, just different. |
E.Homesickness, stress, fear, and confusion are all symptoms of “culture shock”. |
F.If you are unsure of what to do in a formal setting, follow others’ lead. |
8 . Chinese Kung Fu (Martial Arts or as popularly referred to as Gongfu or Wushu ) is a series of fighting styles which has developed over a long historical period in China.
In order to survive in an extremely hostile environment, our primitive Chinese ancestors developed primary means of defense and attack that included leaping, tumbling and kicking.
Over the centuries of development in China, Kung Fu has become a large system containing various schools or sects. It is recorded that there are over 300 distinct types of boxing existing around the country.
A.Although being fighting styles, Kung Fu advocates virtue and peace, not aggression or violence. |
B.The most outstanding and influential schools are listed as follows. |
C.Although they knew how to fight with rudimentary weapons made from stones and wood, fighting with bare hands and fists became essential skills. |
D.In the recent years, learning Chinese martial arts has been more and more popular among people of different ages and nationalities. |
E.The styles in northern and southern China are quite different, so it is hard to be simply classified. |
F.Nowadays, it is regarded as a traditional sport gaining more and more popularity and even stands as a representative for Chinese culture. |
9 . Customs and traditions in China have been formed over thousands of years, and today, there exists a traditional system of values, with the etiquette as its major aspect.
The formation process of Chinese culture began in the Ⅲ millennium BC. Over time, many of the traditions were lost, but most of them have survived and come to our days. In addition, the Chinese traditions are very diverse, since the country consists of different nations and nationalities.
However, the Chinese have a lot of specific customs and traditions observed by everybody. In particular, it concerns the greetings. Chinese welcoming traditions extend back over 2,000 years.
A.In times of old, when saying hello, the Chinese bowed, folding their hands on chest, so they believed that the lower the bow, the more the respect. |
B.Despite the technological progress, a large part of the population observes old-fashioned traditions and customs, which extend back over three thousand years. |
C.That is why China attracts millions of tourists from all over the world to China. |
D.Like other aspects of Chinese life, culture is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. |
E.The traditions and customs of China are closely related not only to its history, but also to the religions professed(公开表明) in the country. |
F.In China, there is another common tradition-giving of presents. |
10 . Huizhou Architecture Comes to Life
Huizhou has a long history. When successful Huizhou businessmen got old,they often went back to their hometown and built houses to spend their remaining years.
Huizhou architecture, with its long tradition and great diversity, occupies an important place in Chinese architectural landscape, says Zhang Wangnan, director of the China Huizhou Culture Museum in Huangshan. Huizhou houses tend to be built on the natural places, since Huizhou is a mountainous area with few flat areas of land, according to Zhang. Moreover, daylight is valued in Huizhou houses, reflected in the building of open interior courtyards, allowing sunshine to enter the rooms. “Huizhou businessmen also believed that water symbolizes wealth.
Huizhou is famous for its stone, wood and brick carvings, which are widely used to decorate local houses. “
A.When it rains, water falling on the roof soon flows to the courtyard. |
B.Many of their houses are well-preserved today, especially in Xidi and Hongcun. |
C.To talk about Huizhou culture, we must first understand Huizhou. |
D.People carved beautiful patterns and historical stories on the walls, windows and wooden posts of their houses. |
E.Features of Huizhou houses display the characteristics of local people. |
F.Huizhou people have established many schools in the field of culture. |