Oriental & Occidental mentalities.

[frozenmyth]

Hi all:

I found this site and it seems like an informal to exchange some interesting ideas.

I am an ethnic Chinese who have lived in the West for almost a half of my life. Therefore, I have some knowledge and understandings of both Oriental and Occidental cultures.

I have a few curious questions maybe some of you can help me learn even more. Are many of the users here like Westerners living in China or Asia? If so I will be even more interesed in learning more from those who have lived in the East for more than 3 years. Just like to communicate and see how different the mentality might have changed.

Normally, currently and globally speaking, we see more Orientals or Asians in the West than the othre way round. Therefore, it's not too interesting for me to learn more about those Asian mindsets or mentality in the West. I am interested in learning more about the opposite direction.

For example, has any westerner actually tried to undertand, besides learning, the Oriental culture more? I certainly know it's not easy for the adjustments. Lack of mutual understanding can often cause mis-understandings and frustrations and may turn into unpleasant feelings in the long run.

Please let me know about how you feel about trying to learn, fit in, adjust, and move on in the East. How deep do you think your experience change the ways you feel and see the world and people? Thanks.

[yonglan]

For example, has any westerner actually tried to undertand, besides learning, the Oriental culture more?

Please let me know about how you feel about trying to learn, fit in, adjust, and move on in the East.

If so I will be even more interesed in learning more from those who have lived in the East for more than 3 years.

Well, there have been plenty of posts on this Forum that suggest that ultimately Westerners aren't allowed to fit in the way Asians are permitted to fit in in the West. Not all agree of course, but I do. I've lived in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and will very shortly be in China. I've given up on fitting in which is a loss not only for me, but them as well, though most of them don't realize that.

Richard Hartzell, an American who's lived in Taiwan for 30 years, wrote a book on understanding Chinese culture some years ago, it's still in print, though you can only get it in Taiwan at Caves Books. There's also a book written by an American businessman, I think published in Singapore. I think it's called _Getting along with the Chinese for Fun and Profit_. I'm not terribly familiar with either of these books, having just looked at them a little.

[frozenmyth]

Hi there,

Thanks for your input.

Indeed, I suppose it's almost always for most people to take in differences as they are. I can imagine, and agree from my own experience too, that West and East have quite different approaches because of the cultural backgrounds.

Looks like you have travelled a lot too.

Not easy and sometimes the experience of living in a true culturally different environment can make us, well, tired and

Most people in the world really do not have this kind of true cultural exposures. For example, it would be much easier for an Asian to move to another Asian country and blend in. The same applies to the West. It would be much easier for an European to move to America than an Asian.

It has a lot to do with all different aspects of cultural differences.

Your experience is rare and precious in life. Difficult but really, most people in the world won't have the opportunity to truly live and experience the world. The contrast between the East and West really gives one a better insight to the real world.

Maybe we just need to be ourselves. The more unique ones instead of conforming to either a newer environment or our origin all the time.

Most people in the world do not have the experience to truly grasp or comprehend what you've learned. How could they think and see the world in a way they never experienced? You should be a more complete and real person than many already. Hope you have a good sojourn in China.

[yonglan]

Richard Hartzell also wrote a book (or books) in Chinese explaining Westerners to Chinese/Taiwanese. He's one of the moderators over at Forumosa.com. I don't know the guy, but considering what he's wrote you may want to email him.