cross cultural communication
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“Waistful” Moments
At the beginning of a culture course I taught, students would turn in anonymous questions which were answered throughout the semester as appropriate. One year, a student asked, “Why do Americans always carry a large pack and stride?” Times have… Continue reading
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Circles and Spaces
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been sharing thoughts about relationship circles, reflecting on sheep and goats and toilet paper brands. After reading the first of these posts, an author from my writing support group commented: One thing that might… Continue reading
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Mutual Giggling
On my way to work in the mornings, I enjoy exchanging greetings with my neighbors. Most of them are elderly and unfamiliar with other cultures. Still, I often follow my American customs and greet them with a cheerful, “早上好,” “Good… Continue reading
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Building Bridges
In the novel Our Missing Hearts, Celeste Ng imagines an American society that labels China “our greatest long-term threat,” pulverizes Asian language books into toilet paper, and ostracizes people with Asian connections. After being locked in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, I… Continue reading
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Bundled up in Belonging
When I first moved to China in the 1990s and began teaching at a university in my Chinese home, I obviously did not belong. In my appearance, language, behavior, and worldview, I was a 外国人ℹ️ which could literally be translated… Continue reading
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Sheltered in the Heart of China
In local lore, China is shaped like a chicken, its head formed by the northeastern provinces and its tail the westernmost. To an American, the word “chicken” conjures ideas like “cowardly” or perhaps a favorite fried chicken joint, but in… Continue reading
Water for the Weary 