Intercultural Behavior

Have you ever felt foreign even when you’re living in a place with people speaking your own language? That’s what I’ve felt throughout my 1 month trip last year in China. Regardless that Chinese was my second language, I found myself stuck in several moments having difficulty communicating and understanding the CHINA CHINESE behavior. It’s known to the Westerners that Chinese culture is particularly unique compared to other Asian cultures. I would say it’s the China culture and not the Chinese culture. When you step into the People's Republic of China, you would experience a certain amount of cultural shock even if you have no language barrier.

Above text was found in their immigration pass slip. Notice how they called else ones Aliens.

My worst encounter happened while I was taking their subway to the train railway station. I was carrying a huge luggage and going down the stairs. As a Singaporean, I’m very used to keep to the left so as not to obstruct anybody’s pathway. When I was midway through the stairs, a train arrived. Out of a sudden, a swarm of people dash through me, banging me left and right without a word of “excuse”. Just in split seconds, I was push from the left and stranded somewhere in the middle. Nobody looked back and apologise. They merely stared while approaching me and forcefully want me to give way. While I was boarding the train, this couple run and jump onto the train with me and my luggage as a supporting pillar. I looked back and both of them stared at me without an apologetic look. Sounds scary? I would say it’s just a very common sight in China especially when you face a huge amount of crowd. They are not programmed to be courteous and all they would do is just to stare at you and hoping you get what they want you to do. If they want you to give way, they would either push you away literally with their hands or bang you through. Compared to Singapore, it's indeed a drastic experience.

Its definitely not as easy to communicate with China people although i speak Chinese. Several occasions when i was trying to purchase something, they do not seem to understand my Chinese and they do not make an effort to either. It is very important to understand one country's lingo and live with it. Being an tourist does not make you exceptional in CHINA unless maybe you're of different SKIN.

There's this phase in Chinese which i've heard from this Singapore Business Man living in China.
(Translated to English) China citizens have efficiency but no disciplinary order. It means that China people will only focus on getting the work done (eg: walking to their destination) regardless of any order. There are times i walk on the streets of Suzhou and ask myself, "Why does it feel so different even though i'm also a Chinese?" I guess the big cultural difference comes from the different countries we live in.

Business Correspondence Critique

End of Class NOTICE for Class 11‏

From: product.support@soned.com
Sent: 30 November 2008 15: 41PM
To: melissa2ks@hotmail.com

Dear Student:

Your online class 11 of ID cm38040 is currently scheduled to end in 1 day(s) which is 12/01/2008 (11:59 pm, Eastern Time). Go to Website: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_longman_mcl_25/ and complete all assigned activities before class end date, 12/01/2008 (11:59 pm, Eastern Time). Try to keep your personal record of your class scores before class end date.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CLASS END DATE,
-Activities you submit will no longer be recorded in your instructor's class gradebook.
- All scores from work you completed before the class end date will be removed from your grades view. Note: Your instructor will still be able to view your scores, as needed, from the instructor gradebook.
- If you haved joined any other online classes for this website, you will be able to view your scores for active classes until their end dates. You can join another class, i.e. for your second semester classwork, at any time.
- You will continue to have access to the website and can view future grades for the duration of your subscription to the website. Awhile later after your subscription to the website expires, any scores in your grades view will be deleted.

To view your subscription information at anytime, click the Account Summary link on your website. If you still have any questions, go Tech Support.

Its possible to extend your class end date. Simply Notify us.

Sincerely,

Julie Coach
From the Grading and Class Management Team

I personally think that this notification later is pretty complete as they included most of the adequate information which requires me to take attention to. Email was also concrete with specific and relevant information such as class end date, specific class website to login, important things to take note of with immediate action and the consequences of not fulfilling them.

However, the email was too repetitive with regards to the end date in the first paragraph. It was quite disorganized with the chaining of class details in one sentence. It would be clearer if they were placed in point forms eg:

Your online class is currently scheduled to end in 1 day(s).
Class Name: Class 11
Website: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_longman_mcl_25/
Class ID: cm382040
Class End Date: 12/01/2006 (11:59 pm, Eastern Time)

Correctness could be improved as well.

1) Try to keep your personal record of your class scores before class end date.

It would be more efficient if they could guide me through the procedure on how to keep a personal record of your class scores.

2) WHAT HAPPENS AFTER END DATE could be wrote in a softer tone.

3) Awhile later after your subscription to the website expires, any scores in your grades view will be deleted.

This sentence was not precise enough. An exact date should be give due to the importance of the consequences.

3) If you still have any questions, go Tech Support.

Likewise for this statement, it would be better if they would provide a guide to approach Tech Support. This email was not cohesive enough as some specific instructions were given and some were not.

4) Its possible to extend your class end date. Simply Notify us.

Language was too informal and information given was not complete. They did not provide specific means for extension of class end date even when the class was ending the next day. I feel that they should have give me a faster alternative due to the urgency of matter.

When A Conflict Occurs...

When conflict occurs, a relationship may be weakened or strengthened. Conflict can cause resentment, hostility and perhaps the ending of the relationship. If handled well, it can also lead to deeper understanding, mutual respect and closeness. Often, we get too caught up by our own immediate interest that we damage our own relationship. How do we strike the balance and find healthy approaches to a conflict?

X and L have been friends for the longest time since childhood days. 6 years through primary school education, they were in the same class, childcare centre and even extra co-curriculum activity. After PSLE, both were separated into different secondary schools. X and L continued regular weekend sessions in their neighbourhood. They provided emotional support to each other and grew up with a stronger understanding. Although they had new company of friends, X and L made efforts to stay connected with each other. 4 years in a different environment, X and L developed different characteristics. X was the centre of attention within her group of friends. She became more pampered due to the showering love and attention from her friend while L had always been independent.

After O levels, both X and L made the decision to get into the same Junior College. L being more sociable joined the Student Council and made new friends instantly. X remained stuck with her same group of secondary school friends. L gathered a dance group for the coming Talent night competition. It took her weeks to prepare the dance chorography and everyone was excited about the event. Just a week before talent night, L received bad news that 2 of her dance members cannot join the competition. L started searching around and requested for X’s help. X knew that L spent a lot of effort in the dance team and has pinned high hopes upon winning the competition. After much persuasion, X agreed and went for daily practices. During the final dance practice, L’s friends came to support and provided several feedbacks. L’s friends commented that X was too stiff and she needs to be more flexible in order to fit in the group. L agreed to the comment and told X nicely that she’s a little too tense up. Upon hearing such comment, X felt pointed at and left the stage crying. L went searching for X in the school campus and found her with her clique. X’s clique reprimanded L for making a fool of X. They felt that X was merely doing L a favour and does not require such insults from other people. L tried explaining to X and her clique that her friends were just giving honest suggestions for better improvements and didn’t meant to fault anybody in particular. X felt attacked and thinks that L’s friends were merely trying to make her seem awful in the crowd she’s unfamiliar in. L tried to persuade X back to dance practice. X refused and told L she’s not joining Talent night. L was shocked, disappointed and hurt. She apologised and left. L tried several times talking to X within the 2 years of junior college but X never replied. A 11 years friendship ended in a sad scenario.

How would L handled the situation better to avoid the ending of a perfect friendship? Had X changed due to growing up in a different environment? What can L do to rekindle the friendship?