To me, American culture is like a friend that you haven't seen for ages. Probably you can recognize him, but you can't recall his name. Something sounds very familiar but actually not. That's so awkward, isn't it? Although I was born and grew up in Taiwan, sometimes I feel like I am a Chinese with American spirit. I started to watch Hollywood movies since I was very little, and I began to watch American episodes when I get older. Therefore, I think I knew American culture better than others. At least, I thought I had a brief idea about what is going on in this big country. When you think you know a culture very well, what else could surprise you? Actually, it does surprise me.
In the first couple months after I came here, my impression about the US is that Americans are so talkative! They talk a lot. They can talk with almost everybody in everywhere about anything. They talk with homeless; they talk with people who are waiting for traffic light. Unlike Americans, Taiwanese don't talk to any strangers on the street. In Taiwan, if someone comes to me and starts to chat with me, I would feel like, "What do you want for me?" Chances are, I would scared. However, after comparing with Americans, I started to realize that Taiwanese are pathetic somehow because we don't trust others. Everyone is like wearing an invisible mask, and we can't read each other's emotion.
When I go shopping, the cashier would ask me, "How's going today? Is everything okay? Is there anyone help you today? Do you need your receipt in your bag?......" At the first, it was okay. After shopping for five stores, I felt sick of doing this over and over again. The same questions! The same dialogue! I wanted to ask them, "Do you really need to ask so much questions? Could you just give me my stuff without speaking?" Please don't blame me for being rude. I grew up in a country that people don't ask too much questions and that people don't show their emotions easily. That's why I think Americans are talkative; nevertheless, now I know that they are just trying to be nice. Despite the fact that I still can't fake the "I am in the mood to talk" face, at least I try to speak with more sentences instead of only "Yes", "GOOD",or "Okay".
In the first couple months after I came here, my impression about the US is that Americans are so talkative! They talk a lot. They can talk with almost everybody in everywhere about anything. They talk with homeless; they talk with people who are waiting for traffic light. Unlike Americans, Taiwanese don't talk to any strangers on the street. In Taiwan, if someone comes to me and starts to chat with me, I would feel like, "What do you want for me?" Chances are, I would scared. However, after comparing with Americans, I started to realize that Taiwanese are pathetic somehow because we don't trust others. Everyone is like wearing an invisible mask, and we can't read each other's emotion.
When I go shopping, the cashier would ask me, "How's going today? Is everything okay? Is there anyone help you today? Do you need your receipt in your bag?......" At the first, it was okay. After shopping for five stores, I felt sick of doing this over and over again. The same questions! The same dialogue! I wanted to ask them, "Do you really need to ask so much questions? Could you just give me my stuff without speaking?" Please don't blame me for being rude. I grew up in a country that people don't ask too much questions and that people don't show their emotions easily. That's why I think Americans are talkative; nevertheless, now I know that they are just trying to be nice. Despite the fact that I still can't fake the "I am in the mood to talk" face, at least I try to speak with more sentences instead of only "Yes", "GOOD",or "Okay".
Believe it or not, I really love this kind of attitude!
Congratulations, Hsing! You finally recalled the name of your old friend. Koreans also have similar attitude toward talkativeness. However, this kind of attitude seems to loose its strength among the young people. Anyway, I think American people's friendly talk to new faces is much better than indifference or even sullen look to them.
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