The United States is a place of many cultures, and because of this many people may experience cultural differences that they are not used to. For example difference in attitudes, the way we dress, our customs, and even how people express their emotions to others. I have probably seen or experienced many cultural differences; however I can’t recall any of them. I assume that I’m so used to seeing it; I don’t realize the differences anymore. So instead I asked my friend for an example of his experiences.
My friend Zhang has emigrated from Mainland China and has lived in the United States for about two and a half years now. The time that Zhang has lived here he has noticed a cultural difference in how we view education in America. He said that he notices that kids or teens don’t really take education serious and that the teachers don’t really challenge them like the teachers in China. Also, that there seems to be less order in the class rooms than he is used to in his former education. He notices students just leaving school during the day (cut class) and lots of students rarely study, treating school like it’s a joke or it doesn’t matter. While in China every student is pushed to learn and work hard.
Another cultural difference that Zhang noticed was personal space difference. He noticed in America people have like a barrier around them and once you accidentally enter this barrier they get uncomfortable for no reason. He gave an example of when he was on the train one day and he accidentally brushed someone’s shoulder. The person got uncomfortable and started yelling at him, even though he calmly apologized to her many times. Then when people are in a hurry they aren’t bothered about cramming into a train or bus. He claims that people in China aren’t afraid to interact on the train even if it’s from a minor encounter or at least they won’t yell at you for something that minor.
