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.     1     Zwarte Piet is understood by most in the Netherlands to be Santa’s helper whose black face was due to his delivering presents through the chimney.

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.     2     You shouldn’t wait to say “excuse me,” or wait for a gap in the conversation to give your opinion, because you’ll walk out at the end of the meeting wondering how three hours have passed without you managing to say anything. I learned how to stop my colleagues and interject (插话) my thoughts.

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.     3    

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).

    4     Remember the Golliwog cookies? All I really wanted were some Mr. Kipling’s cakes but they’re nearly impossible to find abroad. When I finished my trainee ship with the Commission, I came home and started a business called Packed Munches, a service sending boxes of British snacks to Britons all over the world. And to think, it all started with Zwarte Pict.

2 . As Christmas Eve approached, I found myself in New York City, far from my family and friends in Taiwan. I was feeling homesick and lonely, but my Jewish friend, Rachel, who, like me, doesn’t get connected with Christmas due to any religious things, invited me to join her for a dinner in a Chinese restaurant. She explained that it was a tradition for many Jewish people to celebrate this holiday by eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve.

We went to Jing Fong, a fancy restaurant in Chinatown. The place was packed with people, and the atmosphere was lively and festive. We ordered a variety of dishes. Everything was delicious, and I felt grateful to be sharing this experience with Rachel. As we ate, we talked about our families and our cultures. We laughed and joked, and for a moment, I forgot about my homesickness.

A moment later, a group of carolers (唱圣诞歌的人) came into the restaurant, singing Christmas songs. At first, I was puzzled. Why were they singing in a Chinese restaurant? But then I realized that this was part of the magic of New York City. People from all different cultures and backgrounds could come together and celebrate the holidays in their own way. Rachel and I joined in the singing, and soon the whole restaurant was filled with music. It was a beautiful moment, and I felt blessed to be part of it.

What a night! I learned that even when you’re far from home, you can still find joy and connection with others. Rachel and I may come from different cultures, but we shared amazing food, joyful music, and most importantly heartfelt company. And that’s exactly what all the holidays are all about.

3 . Harvest Days

Harvest Days has returned bigger and better than ever. This family-fun event falls on 7th & 8th, October from 10:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. on Saturday and 11:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. on Sunday. This year’s event includes a two-day silent auction (拍卖), staged in the Firehouse. Bid (投标) on a variety of heritage pieces inspired by objects preserved in the museum’s collection. Also, up for bid are a variety of museum passes, experiences, art, wine, beer, and more. All the money will benefit the museum through the work of the Landis Valley Associates.

Used to celebrate the harvest of a year’s hard work, Harvest Days is Landis Valley’s oldest and largest family event. Come for demonstrations, exhibits, live music, and children’s activities. Taste varieties of apples and watch them become apple butter and drink. Witness wool go from sheep to clothes. Pick a pumpkin of your very own and then decorate it. All of these and more are packed into two fun-filled days.

This year’s event offers food demonstrations, such as apple butter, processing pork, bake oven and heart h cooking; craft demonstrations, such as coopering, blacksmith, leather, brooms, millinery, weaving, woodwork; craft sales, such as jams & jellies, potteries, soap, candles.

Food will be available for purchase on site. Free parking.

LOCATION: Landis Valley Village & Far m Museum

ADDRESS: 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, PA 17601

CONTACT: 717-569-0401

5 . Professor Zhu Yunxia, an award-winning researcher and educator at the University of Queensland and has an international reputation in cross-cultural management and strategy, believes that anyone can learn to overcome cultural barriers with the right approach. She offers the following suggestions.

Be prepared for surprises.

One country might contain different cultures—China, for example, is composed of 56 ethnic groups—and within these, people may act in different ways in different contexts and with different groups of people.     1    

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While speaking the language is not necessary to understand the culture, it is important to know basic greetings and courtesies (客气话) for social interaction such as “hello” and “thank you”. These everyday phrases and rituals (礼节) are entry points which allow you to access the culture. People will also appreciate that you have made the effort.

Learn to “make strange”.

In day-to-day life, we tend to take many of our own customs and behaviors for granted without recognizing that these might appear odd from others’ point of view.     3       

Use a “cultural bridge”.

The customs of another culture can be too strange or too foreign to understand.     4     “Cultural bridges” are people whose knowledge enriches our own and who can help us understand what’s going on. Having arrived as a Chinese student, Dr. Zhu has spent over 20 years in Australia but still sometimes seeks a second opinion from her daughter who was brought up here and occasionally calls up old friends for advice in China.

Don’t focus on yourself.

    5     Instead of giving in to thoughts such as “I’m a stranger in a foreign land” or “Nobody talks to me”, try to forget yourself and focus on others. By taking a more positive approach, you can even find ways to use cultural differences to your advantage.

6 . The list of music festivals seems to double each year, so we think we’d save you some time by presenting our picks that reflect a deep sense of place.

New Orleans Jazz Festival

This week-long festival was established in New Orleans, America in 1970 to celebrate the city’s status as the birthplace of jazz. Headliners that attended the first celebration included singer Mahalia Jackson and pianist Duke Ellington. Over the years, this festival has grown to showcase much more than jazz. Attendees have long enjoyed the latest hit-makers alongside booths and exhibits featuring Louisiana’s native cuisine, arts, and crafts.

Newport Folk Festival

Founded by George Wein in 1959 and best known for introducing the world to the likes of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, Newport Folk Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in America. Like New Orleans Jazz Festival, this Rhode Island event gives a false impression about the types of music one can expect to find, although it has been remaining true to its roots.

Interceltic Festival

When most people hear the word “Celtic”, they think of Ireland. But this festival takes place each summer in the heart of the seaport town of Lorient in northwestern France. While emphasizing music and dance, the ten-day festival also provides a platform for colorful expressions of Celtic art, food and drink, theater, literature, and sports.

Roskilde Music Festival

England’s Glastonbury, Hungary’s Sziget, and Denmark’s Roskilde are Europe’s three biggest music festivals. Roskilde stands out not only for its impressive and eclectic music, but for its nonprofit approach. All concert incomes are donated to support charities, music and cultural programs since its founding in 1971. With lake swimming, an on-site skate park, and an annual “naked run”, the event has earned a name for being a week-long summer camp for adults.

7 . Some foreigners who love Chinese culture try to explain China to the world. Some of them write books, while others have become vloggers. They provide a different perspective to understand Chinese people and culture.

Fuchsia Dunlop

Fuchsia Dunlop is an English writer and cook. She is the author of the book A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China. She writes about her fascinating journey as she explores China through first-hand experiences. From Sichuan and Gansu, to Fujian and Jiangsu, Dunlop shows the diverse food culture in China in a humorous way.

Peter Hessler

American writer Peter Hessler came to China in 1996 and travelled the country for over 10 years. He published a series of non-fiction works about China, including River Town, Oracle Bones and Country Driving. These works are mainly about modern life in China and include his own experiences and interviews in China.

Jerry Kowal

Jerry Kowal is an American YouTube vlogger. He became popular in China for his videos on cultural differences between China and the US. For example, he made a series of videos showing and explaining the COVID-19 pandemic in both China and the US.

Takeuchi Ryo

Takeuchi Ryo is a Japanese director. His documentary Long Time No See, Wuhan was brought into the spotlight in 2020. It presents the real lives of 10 ordinary families in Wuhan after the city lifted the lockdown. He has lived in Nanjing, Jiangsu, for seven years. He said that he wanted to promote understanding among people in the two nations. “That’s the key reason why I live in China,” he said.

8 . Born in Wuzhen in Zhejiang, Qian Lihuai has a unique bond with bamboo and whether it’s in the form of indoor bamboo bonsai or backyard bamboo groves, the material is an essential element in his home.

Qian grew up in the village known for its bamboo weaving and after studying industrial design at the Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, he began to develop an interest in the technique, learning how to do it himself.

He also traveled widely in Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces to learn local bamboo weaving techniques. “The variations are quite large in amount across the regions, and bamboo weaving comes in a wide arrange of forms. It’s sometimes used to make agricultural tools, sometimes to make daily necessities, and sometimes for artistic purposes.” Qian said. “In Wuzhen, each place focuses on producing a specific item. For instance, our village’s distinguishing feature is in making bamboo trays especially for raising silkworms.”

During a visit to a traditional basket maker in Shengzhou, Zhejiang, Qian saw that instead of using nails to fasten the basket together, the craftsman used a slanting (倾斜的) cut on the bamboo to create a precise fit that caused the joint to not be noticed. “I rarely encounter such a level of craftsmanship. He even creates small molds and modifies tools himself to improve the weaving process,” Qian says.

During his visits, he was moved by the dedication of the weavers to their craft. These experiences inspired him to return to his hometown of Wuzhen and throw himself into the bamboo weaving industry in 2013.

Bamboo techniques he has developed or improved are now widely used in everything from home furnishings to clothing, part of a growing trend toward replacing the use of plastic with bamboo, that demonstrates a continuity of the traditional Chinese culture in which bamboo has long been cherished as a topic for arts and a material for daily objects that we use in our home.