[联谊] XIA-MEN, FUJIAN PROVINCE

mayi · 发表于 2003-3-23 23:10

Spring is coming. Streets are getting lively. Feels better. I appreciate Irenefj's perspective on Montreal. The thing is I did not watch opera either in China. In terms of culture, I like 'lim-di', drinking tea. Now I become enjoy Tim-Horten's coffee and doughnut. Coming here, cultural activity becomes luxury to me. Neither French community nor Anglian belongs to us in this mosaic society. Friends are still those we knew before in China. Frankly homesick comes to secondly in this culture desert. Merge into the culture? Whose culture? this question will remain unanswered within at least upcoming 2 generations. Yeah, be positive. I know. So, be passive, folks

ChinaStory · 发表于 2003-3-24 09:15

Not everybody feels your way. The basic clue is in language. Chinese are always Chinese, as simply the color and face can't be changed. Chinese can be part of the native culture, why 100% of it ? Of course, in addition of the language, more things to learn or to know are the western courtesy, and the positive side of the native culture. Be nice, be confident, be open minded, and be with people regardless of nationality, always try to do something as much as you can helping others, your would find you are part of the society, and looks like you live in a totally different world.
Btw, bear in mind, not all caucasians even deem they are 100% the same. Pretty much, they can be characterised by Anglican, Deutsch, Jewsih, Italian, Spanish, French ... thru different life styles, cultural backgrounds and personalities. There are many reading materials about it. In general, if you look into the history for the past five hundreds of years, Anglican is pretty objective, good in law, business and public affair management, Jewish is very good in making money, Italian quite hardworking and concentrating on big family life, Spanish very enthusiastic, Germany well organized, very responsible and excellent in science, music and philosophy, French always trying to show their individuality and being super in romance, art and agriculture. This could be part of reasons that, you can easily figure out, our Quebecois friends are fairly behind in management of public affairs, like infrastructure construction, public money and investment management,the biggest gov per capita throughout the world.
Do some study and investigation, find out the weak areas, seek solutions, you would find out you could easily talk to some native people. Then you by no means feel you are outside.

ChinaStory · 发表于 2003-3-24 09:20

Of course, I mean it "in general", instead of absolutely.

mayi · 发表于 2003-3-24 21:04

Thank you Chinastory,

You are ABSOLUTELY right. now... what should I say?

mayi · 发表于 2003-3-24 23:04

"Be nice, be confident, be open minded"

What a doctrine. Your wording recalls me the mot on Olypic games: that is textbook!

I wont be here if m not open to points overheard.

"Do some study and investigation, find out the weak areas, seek solutions, you would find out you could easily talk to some native people."

Am not I doing the study? The more I study, the more I tend to feel like that. And more disillusionary, and becoming more realistic. Sprechen Sie Deutch? Danka Suin

ChinaStory · 发表于 2003-3-24 23:05

Action. From ourselves, step by step.

挚爱陌生人 · 发表于 2003-3-26 08:09

International Marathon Match

mayi · 发表于 2003-4-5 19:23

Good Saturday afternoon! How are you guys doing? Anybody plans going back to Xiamen in summer? Simply miss the wonderful island.

Irenefj · 发表于 2003-4-5 21:53

I am going back to Xiamen at the end of June.

mayi · 发表于 2003-8-7 18:29

Hi friend,

Assume you have come back from Xiamen. I will be back later.