ESL 21b

Essay 1.2

Every country has its own values and assumptions, and understanding cultural

differences is an important matter for foreign visitors. In my country, Taiwan, we value

politeness, respecting elders in every aspect, and timingWChoice according to our traditional customs.

These are very important matters because people in Taiwan will follow them in daily life's

every aspect. That is, we do everything all according to these rules, and no one will have

negative thoughts about you if you follow them. Therefore, it is easy for foreign visitors to

adjust to Taiwanese life if they understand these values and assumptions.

First of all, the reason why Chinese and Taiwanese always beVTense polite is because {***}MissingWour

traditional customs. There are a lot of manners have been ruledAwkward since the first dynasty ,which

is five thousand years ago, and we have been treatedWChoice to be a polite person since we areVTense very

young. Thus, like individualism influences American's mind and behaviors, politeness

influences our mind and behaviors a lot. When you visit Taiwan, you should notice manners

when you contact with other people. For example, when you are talking with someone or

asking someone for something, you have to use the word "please" all the time, And when

the conversation end you have to say "sorry to trouble them". We do not call people's first

name unless our relationships are very close. According to the article, "Polite but Thirsty" by

Yaping Tang, Chinese people usually call people's whole name or just call people "Xiao" or

"Lao" along with people's family name. Also, eye contact is very important, if you do not

look at the person's eyes when you are talking, he may think that you are not listening to him

and you will be considered as a impolite person. In our conceptsWChoice, we can not express our

emotions and feelings in front of everyone except family members and good friends. To

show our emotions or feelings is a very impolite behavior, and our parents will be considered

uneducated. According to the article, "Polite but Thirsty" by Yaping Tang, Chinese people

are not very direct like American, when American want something they say "yes", and when

they do not want something they say "no". But Chinese people usually respond with a "no"

the first or even more times because we do not want to bother other people. Once when I

was young, my family and I wasVForm invited by someone who isCut my father's friend to his house

for dinner. The meal he prepared wereVForm very delicious but it was not enough. I complained

to my dad about this and said that I want some more for eat, then my father censured me

angrily because it was very impolite. He said even though the meal is not enough, I still had

to saidVForm it was enough and thanks for his treatAwkward because it is manners. I was confused at that

time but later I understood.

In our notion, elders are full of knowledge and experience, and we have to expectWChoice

them in every aspect. For example, whether you are eating outside or at home, you can not

start to eat and have to wait until the elders start to eat. Also, elders have a lot of powers.

Usually, elders are the one who make decisions, and we can not correct or argue with what

elders say or demand. If elders ask you to stand, you can never sit until they allow you to do

so. When you are discussing, if elders speakWChoice something wrong or make some mistakes, you

can not correct them or point out their fault directly. You have to use some examples circumlocutoryWOrder to let them know they are making mistakes and let them feel they are still

right, because prestige is very important for elders. If you do not do this, you will be

considered impolite, and it will be very hard for you to have interactions with them again.

Therefore, you just have to keep this in mind that elders are always right when you are in

Taiwan. If you do not like this, you just avoid the situation which will have to let them

make decisions. This is what I am used to doVForm.

Furthermore, we value timingWChoice like whatAwkward American do. According to the article,

"American Values and Assumptions" by Gary Althen, the ideal person is a "hard worker".

A hard worker is one who can work efficiently and complete task with high standards of

qualities. We also value hard worker, and we think that time is money, too. For example, the

workers in Taiwan can sacrifice their sleeping time, eating time, and even vacations for their

worksCount/Non-Count because they want to work efficiently and complete task with high qualities. But the

rules about being on time is different. For example, if you have an appointment with

someone at two o'clock. Punctuation ItCapitalization is ok to get there at two o'clock, but it will be better to arrive

there before two o'clock rather than get there directly at two o'clock, and you will be

considered on time. But it is important that if you are younger than the other one, you will

have to arrive there more earlier. If you arrive there later than the older one, then evenConj/Trans you

still get there before two o'clock, you will be considered late, because you can not let elder

wait for you. This is an important rule you have to follow, or you will lose your creditWChoice.

Generally speaking, be aware of cultural differences can avoid intercultural

conflicts and misunderstanding, and it is good for foreign visitors to not only understand the

culture of Taiwan but also adjust to Taiwanese life more easily. Therefore, notice that always be polite and follow the mannersAwkward when you do everything in Taiwan. Do not correct

or argue with elders, and remember that prestige is important for elders. And the tricky

rules about being on time is also important. In short, follow theAwkward manners while you do

anything, then you will have a happy life in Taiwan.