It warned me again when we took our international human resources management class quiz—you should show your unhappiness when you are unhappy! The question is which national people will cover up or disguise their unhappiness when you annoy them? The choices are, UK, USA, Vietnam, and Germany. When professor published the answer as Vietnam, whole class mocked. Western students can’t understand why people pretend happy when they don’t. They preferred it’s hypocrisy to consideration.
My classmates asked why I always look happy and friendly, and why I never hate other people? I know at most situations it is kind comment praising that I have a grateful heart. However, it does damage me at some circumstance. My enemy ever used this to prove that I am not really like others when I always look like friendly. She said she can’t imagine a person be fond of everybody, the only reason should be, the one just pretend to like others.
I came to Scotland and lived in multi-culture environment. I have classmates from all over the world, Indian, Germany, Scotland, England, Nigeria, Saud Arab, Portugal and so on. I experienced so many different or even opposite behaviors in just one year. I watched, I thought and I adjusted myself, from Chinese traditional way to their ways. I know learn from foreign countries is entirely different from worshipping everything foreign. In fact I cherish more Chinese traditional culture after I am aware more and more other national cultures. I even think to spread Chinese traditional culture all over the world. However we need to know others at the same time. It is said to learn their ways so that know how to face them. I tried to learn good things and reject bad ones, although I know many things I can’t just default they are correct based on my intuition or original acknowledgement.
Portugal classmate opened an art school who always complain that most local parents are rude. He said they shouted at teachers for everything, for instance, their children were not the first ones be called to sing as practice. So he said it’s better to just ignored or argued with those parents than customer care.
Nigeria show their hostility to the Germany classmate who enjoy showoff. They told him to shut up when he kept talking and talking just like he was the only student in class. Then the Germany respect Nigeria more than others.
I complained nothing when one of my Indian teammates always late for at least half hour behind agreed time; because I know it’s their habit. However when I was late one day, he challenged me and gave me a longtime serious preach. I tried to avoid explaining the reason I was late, because it’s my way to make apologize when I was late. I never like excuses or stories for late. But, this time is different, I stood up, told him, please stop. You were the person didn’t late only today, so please give yourself preach instead of others.
He surprised, with his opening mouth.
You can imagine the story afterwards, right? I won more respect from him.
So, please, show your unhappiness when you are unhappy because other’s fault. Chinese style tolerance leads to weak yourself without return in west.
