> Given the different ways silence is used in China (a listening culture) and Canada (a speaking culture) ... I observed the opposite. When I speak Chinese to

> Given the different ways silence is used in China (a listening culture) and Canada (a speaking culture) ... I observed the opposite. When I speak Chinese to Chinese people in Toronto, Canada - friends/family/business - I find that they speak faster, are more likely to interrupt or talk over me, and tend to push their viewpoints instead of waiting to hear yours. I've interacted with Chinese vs. Canadian bankers, salespeople, doctors, etc., and the contrast is noticeable for me. This isn't a statement about whether one way is better (e.g. I find the Chinese are more straightforward with their intentions, whereas Canadians leave more things implied); this is just an observation about tendencies.