Essays on Cultural Differences.docx

1、Essays on Cultural DifferencesEssays on Cultural Differences#1 Doing Business in China While doing business in China, it is not unusual to be asked if you are married or single, how much money you earn, or have you gained weight. Dr. Caryn Voskuil provides examples of the major difference between Ch

2、inese and Western businesscultures Not long ago, I was having dinner with some colleagues. After the meal, one of them turned to me and remarked that I should consider getting plastic surgery for the bags under my eyes. Because this is my third year in China, I was not shocked or hurt (though my pri

3、de was a bit wounded), but I was again reminded of one of the interesting differences between living here and in the West: the issue of what is considered personal and what is private particularly in business and work relationships. While I make no claim to being a specialist in this field, I will m

4、ake some observations based on my own business experiences while living abroad. In China, it is not unusual for colleagues, bosses or subordinates to comment on ones appearance or to ask about ones personal life. For example, I wasonce told by a student that I seemed to be getting fat. Others have a

5、sked me if I am married (or more surprisingly, WHY Im not married!). It is not unusual for students, co-workers or clients to ask if I have a boyfriend, or if I am a Christian. I have received unsolicited advice from many people with whom I work regarding my eating habits, my clothing, and my sleepi

6、ng habits. I am regularly told not to drink cold beverages, to wear warmer clothing, not to take certain types of medicines, not to consume caffeine during certain times of the month, to drink more hot water, and not to use air conditioning. Last month, a colleague that I was working with for the fi

7、rst time asked me how much money I made! It seems that ones personal habits and private life are, in many ways, matters of public concern in China. In the west of course, one may discuss such things with friends or family. It is also possible to have friends at work with whom you discuss personal is

8、sues. However, in the workplace, such comments would be considered particularly boorish from a colleague or superior, and would be completely unacceptable from subordinates. Privacy is taken so seriously in American business that there are laws which make it illegal for a boss to ask an employee abo

9、ut most personal issues when hiring such as religion, age, marital and family status, height, weight and disabilities. Asking how much money a co-worker makes can be grounds for dismissal in many companies, and at the very least is considered uncouth. This is because in the west, business is conside

10、red an activity based upon the logical application of business principles to one end making money, and good business people are considered to be those who are not swayed by personal issues unrelated to the business matters at hand. Doing Business in China, however, is based largely upon personal rel

11、ationships and connections (关系guanxi), and asking such questions is a way to show sincere interest in your colleagues, and to build closer relationships. As my colleague, Theresa Gao, wrotein her article, Chinese Business Culture,it has been this way for centuries, so such questions not only sound c

12、ompletely natural to most Chinese, they are considered appropriate. This focus on the personal when one is Doing Business in China explains other aspects of business behavior that are often baffling to westerners. For example, it is not unusual for someone who is doing business in China to do so wit

13、hout a contract, though this would be generally unacceptable in the West. In the West, a contract assures that all business associates conduct themselves according to the laws and to their agreements. One need not know an associate personally to trust that they will adhere to the contract. But in Ch

14、ina, personal relationships between associates are the foundation for business relationships, and I often wonder if contracts seem to imply an absence of trust to Chinese. Perhaps in the minds of Chinese business people, contracts are not really necessary. Certainly this is not the case in large bus

15、iness ventures and joint ventures, but in consulting relationships and business agreements that are smaller in scope, I have noticed that contracts are rare, and even when they exist, often are not closely adhered to. Having good relationships with your associates and clients, then, is of the utmost

16、 importance! Other interesting business practices in China that differ from those of the west involve socializing with clients and associates. When Doing Business in China, it is common for business associates to socialize together after work hours. This again is done for the purpose of cementing pe

17、rsonal relationships or guanxi, with a mind to improving business relations. I have also attended many business banquets where a good deal of drinking takes place. While it is considered bad form to encourage associates to drink alcohol in the West (due to the increasing awareness of the negative he

18、alth effect of alcohol), Chinese colleagues will fill your glass repeatedly, encouraging you to toast to mutual friendship and camaraderie. Again, this is a friendly gesture meant to promote good-will. If you do not wish to drink, you can simply toast with water or juice (as I often do). Another iss

19、ue that surprises many westerners is the ubiquity of smoking in the workplace (and everywhere else) in China. Illegal in much of the West (and considered a violation of personal space), smoking in the work place is also technically not permitted in many workplaces in China but such rules are patentl

20、y ignored. Again, no offense is intended the Chinese seem to be much more tolerant of such behaviors than westerners, and are much less focused on the concept of personal space. One might argue that the stress caused by feelings of resentment is almost as bad for ones health as second-hand smoke. So

21、 let them go for now I feel certain, however, that this will change in due time as awareness of the hazards of smoking increases in China. As the business world shrinks, more westerners are Doing Business in China with greater success. An understanding of the importance of personal relationships and

22、 social interactions in Chinese business practices can clear up numerous misunderstandings between the East and the West, and bring about a prosperous future for all wishing to benefit from the rich business climate of this fertile and rapidly developing country.#2 Customs in China Customs in China

23、are very different from those in the West; Understanding such customs is the key to successfully enjoy living and working in China One of the most exciting things about traveling or living abroad is being able to experience a culture different from your own. Yet, cultural differences can also be ver

24、y frustrating! As human beings we are products of our upbringing. At the same time, we are all certain that we are products of nature thus we think that our ideas and ways of doing things are right, even though they are simply habits that we have been taught and to which we have grown accustomed. Th

25、e feeling that we are all normal and that foreigners are abnormal is common to all cultures. We are like cats who think that dogs are odd for liking bones, instead of preferring milk as we do. Custom is something we put on, like a coat or a shoe. We adopt the customs that we are told are best by our

26、 ancestors and our society, and we become so comfortable in them that we feel that we were born with them. Many cultural differences in custom are simply amusing or interesting, but those having to do with social behavior and politeness can be much more distressing as they go to the core of our feel

27、ings of esteem and self-respect. When in China, westerners may be surprised and astonished at how social behavior customs in China are very different from their own. Likewise, their Chinese hosts may feel unable to comprehend the behavior of their foreign visitors. Rest assured, however, that both C

28、hinese and western society place a great deal of value and emphasis on polite social interaction. They do not, however, define it in precisely the same way. In the west our parents, churches, and schools instruct us from an early age to treat strangers and friends alike. The Biblical golden rule “do

29、 unto others as you would have them do unto you” is the example held up to the religious and non-religious alike. Many follow it because they want to be good. Others believe that if one expects to live in a society and be treated with kindness and decency, then logic demands that one must treat othe

30、rs with kindness and decency. This translates into customs of opening doors for strangers, taking turns in traffic or at the store, waiting patiently in line and giving seats to women, the weak, and the elderly. Breaking the rules or laws of social behavior is viewed as an imposition upon the health

31、, comfort, and safety of others. To avoid conflicts and promote social harmony, no one can be an exception to the rules. The view is long-term: following the rules today will create a better environment for each of us now and in the future. Of course, many westerners do not abide by these rules, but

32、 they are generally viewed as anti-social and ill-bred by society at large. In China as in the west, social behavior is culturally and historically bound and therefore the definition of politeness is quite different. The teachings of Confucius have an important influence on societal mores in China.

33、Confucius teaches that there are five major relationships; Ruler and subject, Father and son, Friend and friend, Husband and wife, and Brother and sister. Etiquette demands that these five relationships be respected above all others. Treating strangers as one would treat a friend, family member or s