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Report of culture clashes on story about Exchange students in France
Keywords: culture shocks,culture differences,mis-understandings, observe and adapt
Based on the story, we would like to present some of the culture shocks which happened between people who come from different culture backgrounds, especially in France, China as well as colombia.
Culture is a term which has broad contents such as religion, foods, traditions and body language, face expressions. Language is a part of the culture. If you think you have a good command in speaking a foreign language like local people that leads you to master their culture, you're completely wrong.
Culture differences really exits. Mis-understandings between different cultures can cause embarrassment and uncomfortable feeling even a bad memory about your student life. It makes the experience of studying aboard very stressful. For example, in Chinese's language, the digit number "4" sounds similiary to the chinese words "DEAD". In this case, Chinese people seldom to talk the number "4"and there don't have the floor number at 4th in the building. Meanwhile, french people would never talk about money and salary in the public. Before getting yourself completely exposed to a culture which is different from your origins, there are some tips I would like to share with you based on my own experiences.
Obeserve how local people respond and react in a social etiquette. Take the ways of greeting as an example. Chinese people used to greet with their colleagues and friends by shaking hands without kissing once or twice on the each side of face. Obviously, it is a tradition in both France and Colombia. Face expressions and body language is also a signal for helping you to grasp the meaning of what people want to tell.
Thirdly, to be open-minded with local traditions. As a foreiger, it is not surprise that you see people in your own way. Without questioning, dis-agreement occurs. Understand the traditions and the common values which is generally accepted by local people not a hell. Believe it or not, it will save your energy. To be adaped to your new life. Try to fit in the culture and don't put yourself outside as a bysider. If you have some misunderstanding by accidently, you should try your best to trying to see the problem in other's way of dealing and put yourself in other's shoes,
Last but the least,if you can,please find a good orientator. Since we're studing in a international environment, we should take good advantage of get to know each other and finding a well-informed channel to orient us.
Third, be honesty and be polite is crucial. Mistake,Sincere apology is very necessary. A apology in a written form would be a plus.
Tips for Chinese students
1. Varied attitudes towards the recongnition of privacy issues. In China, it is very rude if you ask a girl whom you just have met at the first time to go out with you, or to give you her phone number. French girl think it is very normal.
2. In France, if a friend invite you to have a dinner with him or her, it does not really mean that he/she wants to pay your bill. After the dinner or drink, both of you have to go dutch. Only, there is one situation out of concern. French people will tell you directly it's his or her treat.
3. Being 15 minutes's late for an meeting or appointment is very common in France and Colombia but Chinese people think to be punctual is very important,especially in the business environment.
Enjoy your stay at Rschool with international students, just keep it in your mind to observe, to listen, to inquire
Appendix
Story about exchange students in France
It's a Friday afternoon. After the class, I and my Chinese classmate just thought that we could have a dinner in the city center. While waiting for a bus at the station,we bumped into with a chinese girl friend Yilin and a french girl Audrey. For the first time's meet with Audrey, she was going to kiss us on ours'face however we want to shake our hands with her. At that time,both of us feel really embarrassed.
They're happy to join us for a meal. The bus didn't come. And then we met a Colombia girl who is one of my friend. I asked if she would like to join our's dinner at 10p.m. tonight. I showed her with Chinese Hand Sigal of "10". Unfortunately, the bus company had a strike, so we decided we should take a taxi to downtown. During the taxi drive, the driver asked us wether we have boyfriends in our home country and ask if we have teleephone nubmers maybe sometime we could hang out with him. That really scared my girl classmates and me. This is impossible to ask a girl to go out with you at the first meeting in China, it is not allowed to do that for a chinese boy. After we arrived, I gave the driver 500 euros. The driver was really shocked.
At 10.30pm, Maria didn't show up. I made a call to her, asked where she is. She sounds very upset and said when she asked me what time the dinner is, I have showed her a hand gesture with "X". In her home country, it means that I don't want her to come,however I was trying to tell her the diner is at 10p.m.. The hand gesture means the digit "10"is commonly used in Chinese culture
In a good restaurant, we run into Geoffrey and Dandy. Geoffrey looks very happy to meet us and invited us to join them for the diner. We all very enjoyed the meal. When the waiter ask for the bill, Geoffrey didn't want to pay the bill for all of us because he was going to do so in French's tradition.
Mario showed up at 11p.M. She explained that she had to call her mom and it is very usual of being late for an appiontment in Colombia. We're very happy to have her to join us , although the dinner was over.
Geoffrey told us there is a party and most of the students want to come except for Yilin and me, We insisted that it's bedtime at 11 clock and we really wanted to got to bed. Finally, everyone go to the party.