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This is quite interesting to read. As a Swede I find myself 50% on the Chinese side and 50% on the american side of things. Living in Britain I see people work

This is quite interesting to read. As a Swede I find myself 50% on the Chinese side and 50% on the american side of things. Living in Britain I see people working while sick a lot more often than in Sweden, and it really annoys me. Do you find it hard to be open minded and understanding about these things?

silencio 11y ago
US perspective here, but I've seen people work while sick if only because they couldn't afford to take sick days for whatever reason. Everything from making money to pay bills/put food on the table to being unable to afford a doctor visit so they just deal with it for as long as possible. :/
switch007 11y ago
We have to contend with idiotic HR departments that force you to have a "fit to work" meeting if you're off for a single day, which contributes to presenteeism. Also, all it takes is one person to fake sickness a couple of times, and then HR implement policies that affect everyone. Though, among the proles, I've noticed intensifying hatred for people that come in sick...but also do it ourselves.
billconan 11y ago
I'm very open minded, but it is still difficult for me to adapt to the culture differences for two reasons. The first problem is lacking feedback. Nobody would correct you, if there is a difference, until you find it by yourself too late or in a nasty way. Sometimes people's disfavor is very subtle, because they want to be polite too. You will have to sense it. Many years ago, my cousin visited us in China. With her were her friends, a Filipino american family (I guess they were raised in the U.S.). They gave me a gift and I didn't open right away. They asked why? They didn't seem to be happy and accused me of being rude. Another year, I visited Germany. My family has a very good German friend. She insisted to give me money and gifts as it was during the Chinese new year. But based on my culture training I refused it. She seemed to be upset, she thought our family was refusing her. The second problem is that culture is really a habit thing. When it grows on you, it is really difficult to change. When people say "Oh, you are really good at this." The Chinese response would be "No, I'm not good at this at all!" But I would look like an idiot if I say this in the U.S. I knew it, but it really needs some mental power to correct it, because conversations happen so fast and sudden, you don't have time to think. I spent a lot of time to change it to "Really!" and finally only recently I had learnt to respond "Thank you!"
- SomeStupidPoint 11y ago
  > When people say "Oh, you are really good at this." The Chinese response would be "No, I'm not good at this at all!" But I would look like an idiot if I say this in the U.S. I knew it, but it really needs some mental power to correct it, because conversations happen so fast and sudden, you don't have time to think. I find it amusing, as I live in Seattle, and the culture here is very much (at least with people I associate with) that if someone said "Wow, you know a lot about that!" you'd respond with "I know a little bit" or "I know a reasonable amount". It seems to be a weird cultural mash-up of the ideas of accepting the compliment and of denying the praise in the compliment. > The first problem is lacking feedback. Nobody would correct you, if there is a difference, until you find it by yourself too late or in a nasty way. As someone with a lot of immigrant friends and colleagues (the uni I went to had a lot of exchange students, and I now work as a contractor to a tech company with a lot of visa workers), any tips on sensitive ways to bring such things up?
  - billconan 11y ago
    > any tips on sensitive ways to bring such things up? Sorry I don't have a good answer. I got finger pointed when I was young, they were older than me so they thought they could educate me. But I guess eventually culture differences will diminish. Americans use chopsticks, Chinese people watch NBA & Hollywood. When the younger generation rules, there will be less misunderstanding.

silencio 11y ago

US perspective here, but I've seen people work while sick if only because they couldn't afford to take sick days for whatever reason. Everything from making money to pay bills/put food on the table to being unable to afford a doctor visit so they just deal with it for as long as possible. :/

switch007 11y ago

We have to contend with idiotic HR departments that force you to have a "fit to work" meeting if you're off for a single day, which contributes to presenteeism. Also, all it takes is one person to fake sickness a couple of times, and then HR implement policies that affect everyone. Though, among the proles, I've noticed intensifying hatred for people that come in sick...but also do it ourselves.

billconan 11y ago

I'm very open minded, but it is still difficult for me to adapt to the culture differences for two reasons. The first problem is lacking feedback. Nobody would correct you, if there is a difference, until you find it by yourself too late or in a nasty way. Sometimes people's disfavor is very subtle, because they want to be polite too. You will have to sense it. Many years ago, my cousin visited us in China. With her were her friends, a Filipino american family (I guess they were raised in the U.S.). They gave me a gift and I didn't open right away. They asked why? They didn't seem to be happy and accused me of being rude. Another year, I visited Germany. My family has a very good German friend. She insisted to give me money and gifts as it was during the Chinese new year. But based on my culture training I refused it. She seemed to be upset, she thought our family was refusing her. The second problem is that culture is really a habit thing. When it grows on you, it is really difficult to change. When people say "Oh, you are really good at this." The Chinese response would be "No, I'm not good at this at all!" But I would look like an idiot if I say this in the U.S. I knew it, but it really needs some mental power to correct it, because conversations happen so fast and sudden, you don't have time to think. I spent a lot of time to change it to "Really!" and finally only recently I had learnt to respond "Thank you!"

SomeStupidPoint 11y ago
> When people say "Oh, you are really good at this." The Chinese response would be "No, I'm not good at this at all!" But I would look like an idiot if I say this in the U.S. I knew it, but it really needs some mental power to correct it, because conversations happen so fast and sudden, you don't have time to think. I find it amusing, as I live in Seattle, and the culture here is very much (at least with people I associate with) that if someone said "Wow, you know a lot about that!" you'd respond with "I know a little bit" or "I know a reasonable amount". It seems to be a weird cultural mash-up of the ideas of accepting the compliment and of denying the praise in the compliment. > The first problem is lacking feedback. Nobody would correct you, if there is a difference, until you find it by yourself too late or in a nasty way. As someone with a lot of immigrant friends and colleagues (the uni I went to had a lot of exchange students, and I now work as a contractor to a tech company with a lot of visa workers), any tips on sensitive ways to bring such things up?
- billconan 11y ago
  > any tips on sensitive ways to bring such things up? Sorry I don't have a good answer. I got finger pointed when I was young, they were older than me so they thought they could educate me. But I guess eventually culture differences will diminish. Americans use chopsticks, Chinese people watch NBA & Hollywood. When the younger generation rules, there will be less misunderstanding.