Sunday, August 3, 2008

Part ONE-- The Chinese Culture and Why They Do What They Do.

SAVING FACE, GIVING FACE AND LOSING FACE

Saving face means that you don't admit your own mistakes and you don't publicly humiliate your co-Nationals by exposing their mistakes. If a Chinese National who admits to making a mistake not only shames himself, but also brings shame to his country in front of foreign visitors. Losing your temper, confronting someone, putting someone on the spot, arrogant behavior,(like many Westerners at times present themselves when visiting China) or failing to pay the proper respect to someone or something, can cause a loss of face.


IMPORTANCE OF FAVORS, CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

The biggest cultural difference between Chinese and Americans relates to the role of the individual. The Chinese place great importance on the group. For example, everyone gathers around a round table and shares their food dishes. Consensus,(not making an important decision on your own but waiting for several people to help make the decision) and outward appearance of harmony are valued.

Proper etiquette = harmony and face. Believe it or not, there is an appropriate way to receive and give a business card with two hands. The true emotions of a person do not matter as long as you maintain composure/harmony. Many foreigners visiting China wonder why Chinese people don't get over excited and show emotions such as smiling and yelling and giving each other the "finger", like we do in the US.

Confucius historical rules of behavior are still deep-rooted in the Chinese Culture and apply to family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Many times you will notice they do not apply to people that they do not know. For example-- if a Chinese person bumps into you or pulls their car in front of your car or pushes their way into the front of a line-- it is not considered rude to not offer an apology.

You notice this in everyday Chinese living as the majority of Chinese are not kind to strangers. They share no emotions. Which is not rude but just indifferent. Another perfect example is with my Chinese National fiancee who usually gets mad at me when I am kind to a stranger in China or will help a Chinese person financially that I do not know.

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