Introductory Blog -- Geoffrey Gross

East Meets West:   A Perspective on Emerging Chinese Adult Culture

                Welcome to the beginning of an adventure to explore the world out east. China is our destination and Chinese emerging adults our target. Together, we will learn about the ins and outs of what it means to be a Chinese student studying in the United States. How does their way-of-life in China differ from their experiences in the United States?  Are all Chinese young adults professional Dance-Dance Revolution players?  How does the educational system compare, is it true that Chinese students are drilled by rote repetition to learn new topics?  Through answering a series of questions and interacting with a handful of representative Chinese emerging adults, we will gain an insight into the different culture of our fellow peers.

Figure 1  Sesame Chicken

My interest in the Chinese culture began early in my childhood, when I would spend hours watching movies with Chinese men showing off their Kungfu.  Chinese food is another reason for my interest in the Chinese culture; I wanted to learn the language so that I could travel there and eat some authentic Sesame Chicken.  To make this dream become a reality I tried to become familiar with the vocabulary and mechanics of the Chinese language. Sadly, I found the task to be overwhelming—Mandarin Chinese has over 40,000 symbolic characters used to pronounce words. So now, I’m presented with the opportunity to continue my learning.  The timing couldn’t have been better; a week ago, my mother moved to Beijing, the capital of China, to teach English to university students. So in a way, I will be able to learn through reporting what my mother is learning through practice.

One topic I would like to explore about the Chinese culture is how the educational system differs. I have a general knowledge that there is an emphasis in China for students to learn concepts by rote repetition. This is different than in the United States; teachers like for us to learn through application, to think about the big picture rather than spend time memorizing only a section. It might be interesting to see how their culture values learning and how their style compares to our own in terms of academic testing.

Another, more important topic, is the national identity of the Chinese emerging adults that are studying in the US. After so many years of mingling with their American peers, do they feel less Chinese and more American?  It might be interesting to learn if the concept of One-China still rings true to the emerging adults in today’s modern world.  The concept is that there is only one legitimate state called China, even though there are currently two different governments: the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC). The People’s Republic of China is what we commonly think of as China, while the Republic of China is Taiwan. Historically, the One-China concept has been the reason behind many conflicts between mainland China and Taiwan. If you would like to watch a blockbuster hit whose plot revolves around the concept I suggest “Hero”, below is a fan made video about the movie.

Figure 2  People's Republic of China (Purple) and Republic of China (Orange)

Lastly, I would like to become acquainted with how Chinese emerging adults believe they should act, look or behave. Verbal and nonverbal communication have a direct impact on what another person will think of you; is one emphasized over the other in Chinese culture?  Specifically, I would like to know how their age identity compares to mine; as well as, how both are different from each other. In classes, I have noticed that Chinese students show great respect towards the instructor. This follows well with the belief that Eastern cultures have a high regard for the elders. Through my reporting, I will try and find out if the age identity of the Chinese emerging adults changes during their stay in the US.

For my next blog, I will be reporting on how the research I have done on the Chinese emerging adults studying abroad in the United States , applies to an intercultural communication theory or concept outlined in the textbook.  For the time being, you may visit this website to learn why you shouldn’t give Chinese people four flowers as a gift.

 SPOILER ALERT

 

References:

Kwintessential. (n.d.). China - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved 02 10, 2012, from Kwintessential: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/china-country-profile.html

Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2009). Intercultural Communication in Contexts. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. 

TravelChinaGuide.com. (n.d.). Retrieved 02 10, 2012, from Travel China Guide: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/