The Rise of Individualism in a Collective Society For those of us who have yet to venture east to China, Chinese society brings about traditional collective images such as the filial child or the sacrificing parents....
They know what time you go to work and what time you get home. They never stop phoning you or sending you texts until they see your face. They wait for you all the time. Sometimes they catch you...
It was 10:30 pm on a Friday night. I’d been walking around for 30 minutes in the streets of Shanghai’s Former French Concession. My cheerful and optimistic demeanor from a delightful night out with the girls was quickly overshadowed...
It was seven o’clock in the evening, good and dark. There should be nobody in the self-pickup station in Nanjing University. However, the light was all on and the staff were busy with their packages. “Since...
For many, Taobao has become their best friend. After all, the process cannot be any easier. On a dreary evening, you scroll through the website in your pajamas, tap a couple of buttons and voila; everything you need will...
Within the realm of the Middle Kingdom there are countless codes of culture; immovable objects if one will, that the unstoppable forces of progress glance off at best. Many, to the outsider resident in China for a short period,...
Tradition and hierarchy form the deep-rooted historical foundation of China’s cultural codes. As a result, shame and honor function as extremely powerful motivational forces in this collectivistic, interdependent nation. Because group harmony is of paramount importance, avoidance of confrontation...
Much like the Warner Brothers cartoon featuring Tweety and Sylvester upside-down in China, living here can leave one disoriented, confused and with a long-list of story worthy cross-cultural faux-pas under the belt. But, rather than noticing, discussing, and over...
