This week we are going to begin a unit on cause and effect essays. Can you think of one difference in the culture or the people here and in your country (excluding language). What do you think could be the cause of that difference? Explain your observations in one paragraph.
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There are many cultures and races all over the world. Most countries have their own cultures, such as language, food, life style, and gestures. I want to talk about food among them. For example, the traditional food of each country uses their local materials. Koreans have eaten the products of the sea, field, and the mountain. Furthermore, unlike foreign countries, Koreans use spoon and chopsticks. Korean families usually put their spoons into the same stew and eat together. Koreans generally believe that sharing food from one bowl makes a relationship closer. And having a meal with the elderly, wait for the elders to hold their spoon first. Then, why each country has the own cultures? It is because they lived within the limited land a long time age and didn’t try to open up their gates each other. Hence, a variety of foods could develop.
One noticeable difference is the way to spend weekend. For example, people in America usually enjoy their time doing their own hobby, playing something with their friends, or going to a picnic with family. On the other hand, most of Koreans spend their weekend to get together with their friends, not family. In my opinion, the main cause is a different life style between America and Korea. The center of American life style is family; they prefer to do whatever with family rather than friends. However, the important point of life style in Korea is a relationship of friends. For example, my friend who already married usually comes to my town and hangs out with other friends and me. Four hour later, his wife always calls him and asks him where he is. This experience is common situation in Korea. Consequently, Koreans have enjoyed free time more with their friend rather than family though Americans stay with their family.
I think the most different thing between United States and Korea is "Tip culture." In United States, if I go to restaurant, then I have to give some tip after finishing meal. It's the manners in here. However, in Korea, people don't need to give tip generally.Tip is uncommon in Korea. Therefore, when I came here, I was embarrassed about giving tip. Another cause of embarrassing is that I think it was impolite behavior. I could say “Thank you” about good services, but I felt really uncomfortable when I gave some money for waiter or waitress to thank about it. Nowadays, I accept “Tip culture in America.” I have felt that it is a reasonable thing when people give a good service for me since I came here.
According to cultural difference, each country also has a personal character as well; therefore, people should learn many different things before they move or travel to other places. In addition, there are many reasons for those differences. For instance, a climate might cause the culture of each country seemly unique; as a result, they have their own traditional clothing. Actually, people in warm climate countries, such as US and Europe, always wear the clothing made of wool; on the other hand, people in tropical zone like my country, Thailand, definitely do not wear the clothes from a kind of that. Also, we always wear the comfortable clothing for a reason of reducing a hot feeling and sweat; however, this's different from other colder countries which people need warmth from their clothes. Therefore, each country also has its special character or culture that affects the uniqueness of the people as well.
The one action usually have different in different culture, so it often usaully make misuderstandings. For a example in eating habit, that people make voice while eating have different meaning between American and Japan. In Japan, when peole eat a tasty food, they make voice to exxpress how delicious the food is. On the contrary, in America, this is a impolite movement. For this small detail in common life, we can observe the different development environment give individual meaning in everything; therefor, the same act will cause distinct feeling.
Since I have been here almost 9 months, I feel there are many difference between America and Taiwan. Because all of my roommates are American, I think people are the biggest different that I've seen so far. In America, everything is claim as independent. We have to do anything by ourselves, such as adding oil in the gas station or living area is far from stores. All of those causes are because America is too big. America is a big continent therefore it causes people to live in a more individual life. Besides, I think American is more open-minded. That reason is very simple, because there are various people came from different country. Therefore, they shared many opinions and ideas. In short, I believe every place have their special characteristics. And the reasons that cause the difference between from my country is the big continent and the various ethics.
Each culture has a unique character of people’s behavior and thinking. Undoubtedly, there are differences between the U.S and my country. One of them is how people care about other people. At first, Americans don’t care about how other people think about them. Therefore, they do what they want freely such as sitting on the street, asking others how to use a vending machine. For example, the two days later when I came here, I took a caltrain to go to San Francisco. While I was waiting for train, I could see a man lying on the platform and using his laptop. People in the platform seemed that they didn’t care what he did. Otherwise, in Korea, many people always think about how other people think about them, before they do something. Thus, they always act carefully. I think this difference resulted from environment of each culture.
I think the most difference between my country and here is modest. In my opinion, east people, especially Chinese, are more modest than west. For example, in west culture, when teacher ask some questions, students who know the answers were always glad to raise their hands to answer the questions because they want to show their abilities. However, Chinese students even though they know the answers, they just keep silent until the teacher designate someone need to answer. The first cause of become modest is Confucius’ teaching. He taught us need to modest to everyone for get good respect, and Chinese are influenced form his theory a lot indeed. In addition, Chinese are shy to show their motion in contrast with west people. As far as I know, Americans always show their enthusiastic, but Chinese are sky to do that because they didn’t be taught to show their self-confident. In brief, hence Confucius’s teaching and natural shy feature. My country’s people become more modest than Americans.
It was my sort of culture shock; that is about greeting among people. When I came to the U.S., I felt that everything was interesting and surprising for me. One of most surprising thing was happen in the bus stop. One woman asked me about what time it is, and then out conversation was sarted. It was finished after bus was coming even though we didn't meet each other, I was not good at speaking, and we didn't have similar things. Now, I know this is common situation to talk with somebody who doesn't know in the U.S.. Nevertheless, I still feel little uncomfortable about this situation because it is very strange situation in Korea. We not really talk to strange with smile. If we so, we feel uncomfortable.
Now, I please that someone talks to me speacily when I feel bored or want to talk with somebody, but it could be strange for someone who isn't used to talking with strangers.
When I came here at first, I little bit shocked by variety of race especially in Califonia because Korea has only one race for half thousand years. However, there are many kinds of races in here. For example, European Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and so on. Also, their appearances look totally different. On the other hand, they are living in same area. Actually, I felt cultural shock through this situation. In my opinion, this social race consistence comes from each nation’s history. American history is a history of immigration. After arriving Puritans, Americans have accepted many kinds of national people. As a result, today’s America could birth. In brief, America’s traditional immigration policy had an effect on diversity of race in U.S. Hence, this is a major difference of national people consistence between Korea and America.
The culture different between countries can show in so many ways, for example, language different. I not try to say the language different in each country; on the other hand I want to say the way people use their language or words that is the biggest difference. It is very interesting if you listen carefully. Something likes “how are you?” the general way to say hello to our friends. But in my country, Taiwan, we something will ask people “Have you eaten yet?” instead of “How are you?” In England, people use “How was the weather”. It’s all because different backgrounds have different way to show their feeling by words. The other example I can use to show more different in word is the idea of “eating soup” and “drinking soup”. In Taiwan, we have lighter soup and that is also way we use “drink” instead of “eat”. However, American since like thicker soup better and they use “eat” as a verb. I think the reason cause the culture different is not only language but also different life style.
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