The Chinese concept of sharing

Several weeks ago, I have a french who was having her birthday celebration. She invited my friends and I to go to her place and have a birthday dinner together. That were three Chinese people and she was very into Chinese food. So we Chinese girls decided to cook a Chinese style dinner for her birthday. It was very interesting cooking Chinese food in a French friend's home. We had to bring all kinds of sources and foodstuff to her place.

We prepare like four or five dishes. Usually in a Chinese way,  we got everything prepared and all the dishes cooked and then we will start dinner. This might be a little different from western diet. She assumed that we serve the dishes one by one. So every time we had one dish ready she tried to serve it on the table for everybody to eat. And when we explained to her how we did in our own culture she seemed very surprised.

That reminded me of another story I read on some book. A Chinese girl who was studying in the U.S. was having lunch with some American friends in a Chinese restaurant. She thought each one of them will pick one food and they share. But what it came out was that everyone was only picking their own dish and eat their own.

In Chinese culture, lunches and dinners are not just for meals. Those are times that people get together to enjoy the good food together and talk about what is going on in life. Usually both in homes and in restaurants, there will be round tables with people sitting around with a bowl of rice in front of them and we share the dishes together.

In this way, each of us can try various kinds of food. Besides, as we sit at a round table, we can see each one's face which is a very friendly way for open converstations. When I am at home having dinner with my firends, we always talk about things that happen in our life to share. Chinese culture values harmony and sharing very much. We think big familes are good and big get-togethers are good all because we have a lot of people together to share the food with and to share the conversations with.

I like this side of my culture and think that it might also work well in a American context. Maybe American people can try it too.

The Chinese concept of sharing

Spectacular Chinese Government Buildings

I was googling about differences between China and the U.S. the other day and was surprised to find there were a lot of pictures comparing Chinese and American government buildings.

In China, the government is playing a very important role in the society. I have heard a comment that in China we can be oppsed to famous scientific theories but we can't be oppsed to political leaders. But in the U.S. the situation is exactly the opposite. So in China many government buildings are especially spectacular compared to thosed in America. Here are some photos.

And then take a look at some of the government buildings in the U.S.

Seems like they look just like smalls churches few blocks from home. Many people don't even pay a lot attention to them when passing by.

Spectacular Chinese Government Buildings

White skin and tanned skin

There is a very interesting phenomenon I noticed about skin color.

In Asia, especially many countires in east Aisa, people like to have very white skin color. In China, we have a saying that having a white skin is powerful enough to hide some faults.So in those countries, girls try to do a lot to have a whiter skin. We are holding unbrellas in a sunshine day with a lot of sunblock cream on. And usually in our concept, having white-colored skin is a big advantage for girls. There are all kinds of skin care or make up products in the market trying to help the girls look whiter and whiter.

Many of the opinions and phenomena might seem very unbelivable for westerners. I never see people holding umbrellas in the U.S in a sunny day. People here seem to enjoy the sunshine very much. Different from Asian girls like me who is always trying to avoid being exposed to the sun, people in the U.S. are very happy to embrace the sun and they even have something like sunbathe. As a result, very white skin is not always seen beautiful for them. I have a language partner who is originally fron Vietnan and was born and brought up in here is very in to tanned skin. She thinks that tanned skin makes her look healthy and beautiful.

I always find it very interesting to see how differently eastern people and western people view beauty.

White skin and tanned skin

Cherry Blossom in Japan

It's finally the cherry season!!

People from all over this country are rushing to DC to enjoy the beautiful sights of cherry blossom. I wish I could go!! But many people here might not konw that cherry blossom in Japan is even more beautiful!

Two years ago, when I visited Tokyo, it was in May. Very sadly, I missed the cherry blossom season. I have always wanted to visit Japan again during sakura season and enjoy some of Japan's traditions. Although this year Japan was hit by the tsunami and earthquake, sakura is still blossoming! Anyway, as I cann't go this year, I'd like to share some pictures about cherry blossom in Japan.

A map indicating when cherry will blossom in different cities

Sakura and Tokyo Tower

Cherry and the symbolic Fuji mountain

Traditional Japanese style house

Beautiful!

ゆかた traditional japanese clothes

I am really hoping that one day I can be there to see all the beautiful sights!

Do you like cherry? Have you ever been to Japan? Would you like to visit it one day to enjoy the beauty of cherry as I do?

Cherry Blossom in Japan