This is a test to see if I can actually post a blog via email, and also plagiarize my sister. She sent me this conversation she overheard between one of her friends and an Aussie. So if this works and you read it please comment so I'll know it worked :)
Chao - I'm looking for a job.
Anonymous lady - Have you applied in a computer shop?
Chao (looking confused) - No, I applied at McDonald's.
lady - But aren't you good at fixing computers and things?
Chao - Um, I can fix my computer when it breaks.
lady - Can't you just tell people what's wrong with their computers and things?Aren't you really tech savvy?
Chao - No, I've never had any training with that.
lady - Well it seems like there are always Asians in computer shops. You could probably get a job at a computer shop because you're Asian. Why don't you go apply at one of those?
Now, I'm aware that some things in Asian cultures seem silly and irrational to Westerners. For instance, in some cultures, when you're born, you're considered 1 year old.
For anyone who is looking to make friends with someone from an Asian culture, let me just tell you that it is at least 3 times more ridiculous to try and change 2 students' minds on the subject. They did not invent their culture's methods. So you can waste your time trying to logically prove that people aren't one year old until they've lived 12 months outside the womb, but really, what are you accomplishing?
You're succeeding in criticizing something that they can't help. You're making them feel foolish. You're probably offending them. Besides that, let's entertain the notion that it's not as ridiculous as first appearances suggest. Perhaps they start counting from conception. Perhaps they use the number as "in the first year of life" rather than "has lived one year."
I'm not an expert on cross-cultural relationships, but I know one or two ways NOT to show care.
6 comments:
It worked. Hoowa!
Got it!
No! I cant see it!
Got it. Your blog has been posted successfully. And i dont remember not seeing asians in computer shops coz i live in asia. So maybe the aussie is rt about there being an asian in every computer shop. But what exactly do ppl mean by asian. Coz whenever i come across the word online, i see chinese no indians :-| or any other nationalities....
I was pretty sure you are an expert on all things cross culturally relevant... i am now so very confused.
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