POLITE BUT THIRSTY
Polite but Thirsty
In this essay, Polite but Thirsty the writer has explained some of the cultural variations in between Chinese and American Society. Specially, She has tried to make the Chinese Students aware about the American culture so that they could be adopted very easily in American Culture.
Usually new comer feels like a baby or an idiot in a new culture because of cultural misunderstanding. There is a severe language problem in addition to this the cultural differences make the problem even worse. Thus, it is necessary to learn the cultural differences between the Chinese and American Cultures.
a) In Chinese Classrooms the students are in proper discipline. There are certain norms and values of the classroom that they are not allowed to eat anything that in American Classrooms the students eat like in a Canteen.
As an eastern student, it was really a strange experience and a great adventure to be adopted in the American Classroom.
b) The second fundamental difference that the writer notice was the directness of the American People. They responded just in two ways: Yes or No. They never show the so-called politeness which is highly esteemed in eastern culture.
c) The American People believe in informality. They break the hierarchies and treat every individual equally. They address even the professors by their first name without adding the title Sir/ Madam.
d) The Americans never hide their feelings. When someone praises the food, the house, the clothes, etc. but rather they accept it happily which is very much rare in the eastern culture.
e) The Americans open the gifts just in front of the guests. When the gift is given to host he opens it and praises by heart but it is taken as uncivilized manner in the east. In eastern culture, gifts given usually at the end of the parties and they are opened after the departures of the guests.
f) In American Society tipping system is highly popular as well as it is taken as necessary work in a restaurants. But in eastern society, specially, in China leaving a tip is really found. The Chinese students are ashamed when they don’t leave the tip to the workers.
In this way, Yaping Tang has tried to ease the problems of Chinese students in America.
Her main Intension is to reduce the cultural misunderstandings & to enable the Chinese students to learn the American Culture before they came to America.
