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I Made These Comics To Compare Chinese Culture With Western Culture Through Everyday Life
My name is Siyu. I was born and raised in Beijing, and I've spent the last ten years traveling, studying, and working abroad in the US, UK, and France. Many people that I met were curious about Chinese culture, but their impressions of China would end up with words like 'communist,' 'pollution' and 'no Facebook.' While many facts are true, the contemporary, living, and multifaceted Chinese way of life is rarely heard of.
I started "tiny eyes" webcomics a year ago in the hope of sharing cultural differences through everyday life. To me, learning about western culture has always been a fun experience, and I want to pass this feeling to people who are curious about China. In lots of my cartoon drawings, I compare Chinese culture to other cultures. Through comparison, we realize how differently we act in front of the same situation and how we tend to think in a certain way instead of another. In the end, every culture is "weird" in its way, but it's also the weirdness that makes it interesting.
I post these funny comics regularly every week, and I share slices of my personal life and experience through Instagram. I hope you enjoy it!
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
americans get misspelled chinese tattoos. chinese get misspelled english tee shirts. all in all it's still better to have a weird shirt than a bad tattoo.
I’ve experienced student dormitories in three countries: In the U.K. I have my own private room with shared public space; In the U.S. I shared my dorm with one roommate; In China, I used to live with 5 girls in the same room. This lack of privacy must be shocking for some of you, but in a country with 1.3 billion population, space is always a problem. While there are many inconvenience not having enough private space, on the bright side, sharing a room with someone also makes you learn quite a deal about communication, responsibilities and tolerance.
Maybe you have heard that Chinese eat cats. A few horrible people in some obscure places maybe, but the majority, NO!!
I have a chinese friend. She loves cats. She owns 5 cats. She has never even harmed one.
In China, people don't say anything after someone sneezes.
It’s hard for Chinese to directly express their love to their families and friends. Instead of saying love, we show care to the health of people we love, ask them if everything goes well, and buy nice things to make their life more comfortable. In history, Confucius enforced social orders by putting people in different relations/obligations, but the expression of personal feelings was never encouraged. Emotions need to be under control.
How do you show people that you care about them?
Personally, I like to make sure that the people I care about are taken care of in all aspects of life. I also will express my love/like for them verbally, emotionally and physically (within reason!). I make sure that I am a great listener as well.
It takes me sometime to get used to making constant eye contact when talking to people. Traditionally, Chinese people tend to avoid direct eye contact when talking to each other, which is a way to show respect and obedience, but in lots of western cultures, especially in English-speaking countries, avoiding eye contact signifies hesitation and dishonesty. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)
Yeah that freaked me out the first time it happened to me. I wasn't ready for that sort of behavior. Now I am all about the kissing on the cheek!
I dont think this usually happens in America either so you arent alone. XD
At least it is kissing on the cheek. Where I come from, people kiss on the lips. It freaks me out and makes me want to avoid greeting people, especially those I haven't seen in a long time. I am socially awkward as is, it is made worse with the kissing and hugging, especially the kissing. I don't know who came up with this culture and why
I get it that people become freaked out by it. Actually how I experienced it in the Netherlands and France is nearly never a real kiss, just a short touching of cheeks, most of the time barely touching and just amking a kissing noise really. I still find it still very non-intimate, so I prefer hugging. In the Netherlands if you dont want to, you can just stick out your hand and shake hands. In France the "kissing" is even more common. I can understand people feeling awkward about it when not used to it. But personally I think every culture has its own greeting rituals.
In Portugal it's 2 kisses in the cheek.A hug is special, long and with feeling, not so common. in Germany is a hand shack. I always think how long the person didn't wash the hands and if went to toilet. 🙈
Exactly the same in Greece. Hug (could be combined with kisses) only for loved ones, 2 kisses to friends, handshake to total strangers
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I'm from the west and that creeps me out, it rarely happens here anymore, but when I does I feel like running away. Why would you kiss me.
Where in the West? It's common place in Europe.
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I don't get the kissing in some European cultures. I mean, if you do it with friends, fine, it's like a hug, but STRANGERS? That's too much touching too early in the relationship.
Discomfort with touching is a common issue for those of us on the spectrum.
Load More Replies... Yeeeah, that's a thing--I don't do the cheek-kissing much (except with family and close friends), but hugging? Absolutely. I joke that I have a "personal space vacuum," because it eats other people's personal space bubbles. I'm...working on it...
In the city I live in in Mexico people do that too, even with strangers and it irks me... They actually pull you into a kiss and all and it's really really weird. x___x Where I'm from, also in Mexico, people aren't so casual and just... ugh x___x casual interactions with strangers still put me off...
in mexico now people kiss in the cheek (tradition brought by recent shout american immigrants in last 20 years) but in the past that was only a thing you do with your parents. man on man hug was a no no , now a days Mexican people are more open to said "i love you" to love ones .
I am American and I am not big on hugging let alone being kissed on the cheek. Here is my bubble people, respect the bubble.
Even after lots of years of living in Europe, it still freaks me out on the inside when people do this. I’ve just learned to supress my internal flight response.
Welcome to this typically Brazilian custom. We usually give three kisses on the cheek and say: three to get married!
Yes guys. The first time I experience this kind of behavior, it freaked me out. In some cultures, touching people without consent is disrespectful. Many (Asian) people are kissed without consent but they dont say anything cuz they respect and understand your culture >< I would be appreciate if you guys, who come from countries where kissing as greeting is normal, would be more mindful. :D I mean just looking at the facial expression and you'll know if they feel comfortable or not. It sometimes depends. Thank you guys.
This situation usually happens in Latin American culture because we like physical contact. Once I kissed a taiwanese girl and she was upset and in that moment I realized the cultural difference.
Do British kiss? I don't know. North Americans don't. I think it's more common in France, Spain, Italy and Latin America.
It's reasonably common to exchange a kiss in the cheek when meeting people socially although 2 men would shake hands instead.
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In Montana if a guy kisses another guy on the cheek, the kissed knees the kisser in the nuts. Strange tradition, but that’s how it works there.
I'm a kisser/hugger with female family and close friends, a hugger with male family and any female who puts off a very friendly vibe, a bro-hugger with guys who put off that vibe and a handshaker with the rest.
Don't touch. Don't kiss. Definitively, don't hug. No personal contact until you are really close!
In Poland we don't kiss either, only relatives and very close friends. Men never kiss other men. It was a surprise when I saw guys kissing each other's cheek in France, I thought they were gay :)
they are probably relatives or very good friends. I saw some Arabic culture men kissing cheeks too.
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Lol in Latino culture u kiss on the cheek esp when it's family gatherings even if u dnt know them but for common courtesy. But with strangers u meet outside that setting, u just say hi.
Spread...Of...Germs....Imagine several people kissing the same cheek.
Ever thought how many germs you spread with handshakes? And what did you and other peopls touch?
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Yeah, people from "kissing nations" really need to realize that this is not cool for most people!
Nah, instead let me squish my entire body up against your entire body. Yuck.
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News to me that kissing is a form of greeting in my culture. In a post Winstien era it is going to be more obscure.
She's talking about European and Latin countries. Not everything is about America, dude.
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Yeah, I still hate it. Handshakes are too personal but tolerable, just.
Most European countries. Most Latin American countries.
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We also have spoons, people!
In some youtube street food videos i often see people eating the solid food with chopsticks than drinking the soup from the bowl. Uneducated or common?
Beauty = Thin. “Gaining weight” brings absolute horror for many Chinese girls, even though most of them are already considered thin in other cultures. I’ve seen girls who eat only one apple a day and who drink special tea (which makes you go to toilet 20 times a day) in order to lose weight in a very short time. Movie stars and super models are pushing this aesthetic to its extreme through mass media. When will we be able to simple enjoy being who we are?
Chinese people love their food, they spend lots of time savouring and enjoying their meals. Food is not just “fuel” for the body, but a pleasure, an art, and a way of socialising. If you want to make friends, go eat. If you want to close a business deal, go eat. If you want to pursue a romantic relationship, go eat.
Since ancient times, food has been considered priority in Chinese culture. The government’s goal was to make sure that each person is taken care of and "has enough to eat”. From another angle, it also suggests the realistic character of Chinese: food goes before ideas, and this life is more important than after life.
So many Americans would never eat junk food !! or live to eat..... but that is certainly the stereotype and truth for far too many, here.
Chinese have trouble taking compliments from other people, because they are raised to be humble, to be self-reflective, and to not stand out from the crowd. So when someone notices you and makes a compliment, you tend to lose the inner balance and get nervous very quickly.
Can you name a classic Chinese design or a brand? Probably difficult. But have you bought anything “Made in China”? Very likely yes. Chinese products are often associated with the word “cheap” and not high quality, sadly. Many aspiring local designers have been trying to create original and valuable products, but problem such as the lack of copyright protection has complicated the process. Still a long way to go.
One day i hear in a movie that "The american dream is made in China"
There's an old American saying in the style of a bad poem: Forget your acid indigestion/"How are you"'s a greeting, not a question.
In China, it’s not rare to see young people choosing to live with their parents after getting out of college. For one thing, it’s more economical than renting a house on your own. And for another, Chinese are very family oriented, so getting support from your family it’s expected in the social norm. In the the United States, however, people value independence so much that it’s embarrassing to have things given to you while you have the ability to live on your own.
actually living with parents is becoming more and more normal in the states for much the same reasons.
eople have less trouble naming Chinese political figures than naming great Chinese artists and scientists, who have also played a great role in shaping Chinese culture. Why? They don't learn much about it in school; they don't see them in the media often; and in China we lack initiatives and channels to communicate to the outside word.
Bruce Lee, Jet Lee, Jackie Chan. Nobody cares about Mao and Confucius.
There’s a Chinese saying “三思而后行”, which means to think twice before taking actions. In history, Chinese value highly reflection and past experience, but acting cautious and staying wise didn’t save the people from the arrival of the early western explorers who sailed into the unknown and took chances at the risk of their lives. China was forced to take actions in its modern history, often times too fast in exchange for development.
While too much reflection on the past slows down the process of change and innovation, too much action without thinking results in waste of resources and irreversible consequences. It’s time for thinkers and doers to meet and learn from each other in this increasingly connected world. It’s happening.
That's true, I am Chinese myself and have been to a school like that. The uniforms were pretty much the same but in a darker blue color.
I'm an American only child (2nd generation with a 3rd generation only child) and I have gotten these same questions my entire life. My parents made the choice, not me. How can I miss having siblings if I've never had them? That question has always baffled me.
The expectation is to open in front of the giver so that they will see your reaction, whether or not you liked it. Plus people are nosey lol
In Chinese schools, smoking is strictly prohibited and any student who smoke is considered “bad”. It’s not just in the sense of “bad for health”, but also considered a symbol for moral degradation. In France, I notice that there are lots of teenagers who smoke, and it’s actually considered “cool” among their friends. There’s even peer pressure to learn how to smoke. Smoking is also a normal way of socializing so there isn’t any negative moral aspect associated with it.
In a Chinese family, a child usually takes the central position and gets all the love and attention from their parents, which could also lead to ignorance and lack of communication between the couple.
absolutely what has happened with my family. order of care now goes: Baby - totally incapable of taking care of self, too immature to understand matters Cats - partly incapable of taking care of selves, understand what they need to do (be patient, finish their dinner etc) Boyfriend - "you've got hands, don't you?"
"Beijing Bikini" is a term used by non-Chinese to describe grownup man who roll up their shirt and reveal their bellies in summer. (warning: what you see is usually bulging tummies instead of six-pack. ) Even though it's frowned upon by many people, these man are not ashamed of it at all. For them, it's just a practical way to get cooler when you don't have air conditioning, so what's the big deal?
i think the only people who freak out are those who have never lived in a hot country. Where i'm from, during the summer, most men are shirtless regardless of age or size
What really matters is not the format, but the content. In France, reading is a habit. There are bookshops everywhere, people take books with them on vacations and give each other as gifts. There’s a great variety of popular books: fiction, science-fiction, history, art, philosophy, comics…
In China, what people read mostly are news, practical books related to their professions, or “How to become the next Steve Jobs”. Of course there are also people who read extensively, but in general, reading hasn’t become a habit.
We still give books as gifts in my (English), house, I'm very proud to say......................
ne time a friend asked me, “Do you pass a lot of time writing your name? Chinese characters looks so complicated!” This made me giggle, but in a way it’s true because each Chinese character is a structure on its own and does not follow a linear movement as the alphabet.
my full name often wouldn't fit in the allocated space :'( and i'm australian
When asked this question, some of the Chinese moms tell their little kids that they were born from their armpits, or even worse, picked up from a trash can.
Americans sometimes say the cabbage patch or the stork. My favorite that I used to tell my little sister (10 years apart) is that she was hatched lol
You don't want to drive in big cities like Beijing.
Chinese rely heavily on their network in the society(what we call "关系"). The first thing you do in a foreign place is to connect with your people so that you could “take care” of each other and get necessary help. Of course it also makes you feel more comfortable. On the other hand, the general lack of adventurous spirit (lack of individualism) results in an attitude that’s more reserved in a foreign environment. While some Chinese may not be comfortable enough to “mingle”, most of them are generally kind and tolerate towards foreign cultures.
Chinese tend to wait for their turn to speak, although in a foreign culture, that turn may never come because it requires taking initiatives. From an early age, we are told to be humble, to think about others first(our position in a relationship) and hide our own opinions. (It doesn’t mean that we don’t have opinions.) That’s one of the reasons we appear to be timid in a group discussion, and are generally not good at public speaking or debate. However, this situation has also changed gradually as society put less constrains on young generations and more chance for them to communicate with the world.
I love how the Chinese student has his materials all lined up and neat while the other desks are less organized, shall we say.
This is so interesting! I find that British people can be in-between the personality of American & Chinese people. I (Brit) found it very easy to interact with Chinese people, we both did not want to offend each other, we both prefer to open gifts in private, and then later thank them privately. I also am happy for other people to speak first than wait my turn.....although perhaps I'm more reserved than the average person. The big differences I found were in relationships, my chinese friend was so unhappy with her bf but did not want to confront the issue, eventually she did and is now in a much happier relationship with someone new, but I think for a long time she was prepared to stick with him. Now she is only 26 but his family are so insistent for them to marry! But I think the opinion of marriage and women marrying later in life is changing slowly in china. I think with British relationships, you will be very quick to point out problems, which I suppose is good but sometimes bad.
That's an interesting comparison you made there! In terms of relationships, it's true that we tend to be indirect in communication and tend to avoid problems instead of confronting it. Personally I find it tiring and confusing sometimes!
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Thank you very much for posting on Bored Panda. I am looking forward to see more ilustrations to compare different cultures :)
Hey It is very much similer here too... I am from India and and can relate completely to almost everything this sweet girl writes... 👧
i found these very entertaining and informative! thank you for sharing these things with us, i will try to keep these differences in mind when dealing with my chinese neighbours. they moved to australia a few months ago and are still adjusting, but i think they are enjoying things here, for the most part. at least, i hope so!
These comics are wonderful! Respectful of each representation, super cute, and offer cultural explanations that may have been unknown to the reader. I'm very impressed and hope to see more of your work in the future!
This was a lot of great information in a format that I found fun to read. Thank you so much for sharing your culture, and personality, with all of us!
Thank you and I'm really glad that you enjoyed it :)
Load More Replies... I am an american teen who has lived in 西安 china for multiple years as well as 香港 and these rrrr sooooo truuu
As a Canadian male with a Chinese girlfriend I find these hilarious, mostly because they are so bang on true.
These are all very interesting observations. But, whenever possible, ut would be better to avoid using the term "western culture", it's so vague and generalizing. Furthermore, from the Chinese geographical perspective, while Europe stays on the west, America would be more like "the eastern world". Sure, you explained in your text about specifications, and you did good, but, please, do not think these thibgs apply to the whole "western world", rather, take it as the "USA culture", "British culture" and "French culture" respectively.
yes,you are right，from the Chinese geographical perspective ，America would be more like 'the eastern world'why we put the europe and USA are the westen world?it's beging from the history of china.before we don't know so much info about the different of the USA,British,and the French ,just like one Europe person can tell the different culture of China,Kroea,Vietam? thanks to the internet ,we become more and more close ,as you say ,more and more china will find the different culture of USA British
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That's interesting to know! like what?
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This was very enlightening. I found it very easy to form friendships with two Chinese co-workers, but I did find myself needing to "bring them out of their shells" as I got to know them. They were such pleasant, smart, interesting people.
I had the chance to live in China for 3 years and I loved all these differences :) 我想念中国啊 !
4 pages???? That is so not enough WE NEED MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved every one of them! Thank you for sharing!
for a chinese who live in French for 4 years ,you are really vivid show the puzzle i has met.thanks a lot.it's enlightenting and funny
I really enjoyed this. Interesting, informative, and non judgmental. I gotta confess though, try as I might, I'll never understand soy sauce. Sorry.
Not only in China, but majority of Asian countries too.. I think it's the umami taste in soy sauce that we're fond of. So, we also incorporate it in our cooking or marinating, aside from using it as a dipping sauce. Soy sauce is sometimes an alternative to salt when cooking.
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This is wonderful. It engenders greater understanding between some people with gentle humor. We can use all we can get of that right now.
Great job! I learned a lot about Chinese culture, like how you would open a gift and the eye contact rule. I especially related to the only child post. I'm an American only child, and I always have gotten those questions!
Brilliant. But in the one picture you say sticks for everything and some later that you use spoons, too? ^^ (I always imagined you eat the stuff in your soup with sticks and then drink the rest ^^ it's how I eat instant noodles ^^)
haha yes you found out. We do use spoons for soup as well ;)
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This is brilliant !! I'm living in Canada and trust me I've been through nearly every situation that in your comics ! Loved it!
That was so interesting! I love learning about other cultures, and this was done in an informative, yet cute and funny way.
I find so many similarities between the Chinese and Indian cultures. Eastern and Western perspective.
I'd like to know more about India too
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Thank you. A lot of new insights for me to take in. (I've been 'studying' Japanese culture for some time, but confess to knowing so little about yours.) I left a comment for you in the -receiving gifts- comic.
I am a little frustrated by these comics. I think that some, such as the vinegar and soy sauce comic and the chopsticks are great (though in most of the cities and provinces I have lived in and visited it is vinegar and chilli oil), though others seem to be stuck a little bit in the past. While the comics where you challenge the current Western perception of what is China/Chinese (the major Chinese figures, perception of eating cats and all "Asian" food as Chinese food), I think it would be great to actually the counter point such as provincial delicacies (opposed to most people assuming Guangzhou cuisine represents all of Chinese cooking), significant figures as taught in Chinese classrooms contrasting with the Western classrooms you have experienced and etc. But then again, "我是傻老外在中国“ Good stuff, looking forward to more :)
"I Made These Comics To Compare Chinese Culture With Western Culture Through Everyday Life" ...did you?
I agree fully with the last post! All posts are relevant, but the last post speak out the most: Initiative is very important in Western societies. I once went for a work interview that was done in groups, and the interviewer asks questions and expects all of us to answer one by one. Me, being new to the whole Western culture, let everyone else take their turns to answer the question while I remained at the last, 'cause we're suppose to let others talk first since it's only polite right? Turns out that I never got the job, but I'm kinda glad I didn't because it would have interfered with my studies at some point. Moral of the story: Adapting to local cultures wherever you go is really important!
I enjoyed your cartoons and it is good to see what makes us unique. It would be a very dull world if we were all the same.
lol I've been asked a lot about that, but time has changed and it's very rare nowadays. (At least in Beijing)
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It's a nice way to portray some differences.But I'm British but lived in Asia 23 years mostly China HK SG and these differences break down over time. When I've been very openly affectionate, it was a surprise at first but it's now normal and my local family responds in a western way with me and like it.
I felt that I didn't saw enough. I want more. They were very nice.
Gosh, we share a lot of common things (I'm Indonesian)... If I write similar comic about Indonesia, I would have added Me: "Do you know where is Indonesia?" Random foreigner: "Where is that? I have no idea" Me: "You know Bali, right?" Random foreigner: "Absolutely! My friend went there and gorgeous!" Me: "Well, Bali is in Indonesia" *exhale deeply*
This feels like minimal effort was put into it. Or something a white dude would write in the 90's. "Chinese people use chopsticks." "White people think you eat cats." I don't even know where to start with this.
This is so interesting! I find that British people can be in-between the personality of American & Chinese people. I (Brit) found it very easy to interact with Chinese people, we both did not want to offend each other, we both prefer to open gifts in private, and then later thank them privately. I also am happy for other people to speak first than wait my turn.....although perhaps I'm more reserved than the average person. The big differences I found were in relationships, my chinese friend was so unhappy with her bf but did not want to confront the issue, eventually she did and is now in a much happier relationship with someone new, but I think for a long time she was prepared to stick with him. Now she is only 26 but his family are so insistent for them to marry! But I think the opinion of marriage and women marrying later in life is changing slowly in china. I think with British relationships, you will be very quick to point out problems, which I suppose is good but sometimes bad.
That's an interesting comparison you made there! In terms of relationships, it's true that we tend to be indirect in communication and tend to avoid problems instead of confronting it. Personally I find it tiring and confusing sometimes!
Load More Replies... Thank you very much for posting on Bored Panda. I am looking forward to see more ilustrations to compare different cultures :)
Hey It is very much similer here too... I am from India and and can relate completely to almost everything this sweet girl writes... 👧
i found these very entertaining and informative! thank you for sharing these things with us, i will try to keep these differences in mind when dealing with my chinese neighbours. they moved to australia a few months ago and are still adjusting, but i think they are enjoying things here, for the most part. at least, i hope so!
These comics are wonderful! Respectful of each representation, super cute, and offer cultural explanations that may have been unknown to the reader. I'm very impressed and hope to see more of your work in the future!
This was a lot of great information in a format that I found fun to read. Thank you so much for sharing your culture, and personality, with all of us!
Thank you and I'm really glad that you enjoyed it :)
Load More Replies... I am an american teen who has lived in 西安 china for multiple years as well as 香港 and these rrrr sooooo truuu
As a Canadian male with a Chinese girlfriend I find these hilarious, mostly because they are so bang on true.
These are all very interesting observations. But, whenever possible, ut would be better to avoid using the term "western culture", it's so vague and generalizing. Furthermore, from the Chinese geographical perspective, while Europe stays on the west, America would be more like "the eastern world". Sure, you explained in your text about specifications, and you did good, but, please, do not think these thibgs apply to the whole "western world", rather, take it as the "USA culture", "British culture" and "French culture" respectively.
yes,you are right，from the Chinese geographical perspective ，America would be more like 'the eastern world'why we put the europe and USA are the westen world?it's beging from the history of china.before we don't know so much info about the different of the USA,British,and the French ,just like one Europe person can tell the different culture of China,Kroea,Vietam? thanks to the internet ,we become more and more close ,as you say ,more and more china will find the different culture of USA British
Load More Replies... That's interesting to know! like what?
Load More Replies... This was very enlightening. I found it very easy to form friendships with two Chinese co-workers, but I did find myself needing to "bring them out of their shells" as I got to know them. They were such pleasant, smart, interesting people.
I had the chance to live in China for 3 years and I loved all these differences :) 我想念中国啊 !
4 pages???? That is so not enough WE NEED MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved every one of them! Thank you for sharing!
for a chinese who live in French for 4 years ,you are really vivid show the puzzle i has met.thanks a lot.it's enlightenting and funny
I really enjoyed this. Interesting, informative, and non judgmental. I gotta confess though, try as I might, I'll never understand soy sauce. Sorry.
Not only in China, but majority of Asian countries too.. I think it's the umami taste in soy sauce that we're fond of. So, we also incorporate it in our cooking or marinating, aside from using it as a dipping sauce. Soy sauce is sometimes an alternative to salt when cooking.
Load More Replies... This is wonderful. It engenders greater understanding between some people with gentle humor. We can use all we can get of that right now.
Great job! I learned a lot about Chinese culture, like how you would open a gift and the eye contact rule. I especially related to the only child post. I'm an American only child, and I always have gotten those questions!
Brilliant. But in the one picture you say sticks for everything and some later that you use spoons, too? ^^ (I always imagined you eat the stuff in your soup with sticks and then drink the rest ^^ it's how I eat instant noodles ^^)
haha yes you found out. We do use spoons for soup as well ;)
Load More Replies... This is brilliant !! I'm living in Canada and trust me I've been through nearly every situation that in your comics ! Loved it!
That was so interesting! I love learning about other cultures, and this was done in an informative, yet cute and funny way.
I find so many similarities between the Chinese and Indian cultures. Eastern and Western perspective.
I'd like to know more about India too
Load More Replies... Thank you. A lot of new insights for me to take in. (I've been 'studying' Japanese culture for some time, but confess to knowing so little about yours.) I left a comment for you in the -receiving gifts- comic.
I am a little frustrated by these comics. I think that some, such as the vinegar and soy sauce comic and the chopsticks are great (though in most of the cities and provinces I have lived in and visited it is vinegar and chilli oil), though others seem to be stuck a little bit in the past. While the comics where you challenge the current Western perception of what is China/Chinese (the major Chinese figures, perception of eating cats and all "Asian" food as Chinese food), I think it would be great to actually the counter point such as provincial delicacies (opposed to most people assuming Guangzhou cuisine represents all of Chinese cooking), significant figures as taught in Chinese classrooms contrasting with the Western classrooms you have experienced and etc. But then again, "我是傻老外在中国“ Good stuff, looking forward to more :)
"I Made These Comics To Compare Chinese Culture With Western Culture Through Everyday Life" ...did you?
I agree fully with the last post! All posts are relevant, but the last post speak out the most: Initiative is very important in Western societies. I once went for a work interview that was done in groups, and the interviewer asks questions and expects all of us to answer one by one. Me, being new to the whole Western culture, let everyone else take their turns to answer the question while I remained at the last, 'cause we're suppose to let others talk first since it's only polite right? Turns out that I never got the job, but I'm kinda glad I didn't because it would have interfered with my studies at some point. Moral of the story: Adapting to local cultures wherever you go is really important!
I enjoyed your cartoons and it is good to see what makes us unique. It would be a very dull world if we were all the same.
lol I've been asked a lot about that, but time has changed and it's very rare nowadays. (At least in Beijing)
Load More Replies... It's a nice way to portray some differences.But I'm British but lived in Asia 23 years mostly China HK SG and these differences break down over time. When I've been very openly affectionate, it was a surprise at first but it's now normal and my local family responds in a western way with me and like it.
I felt that I didn't saw enough. I want more. They were very nice.
Gosh, we share a lot of common things (I'm Indonesian)... If I write similar comic about Indonesia, I would have added Me: "Do you know where is Indonesia?" Random foreigner: "Where is that? I have no idea" Me: "You know Bali, right?" Random foreigner: "Absolutely! My friend went there and gorgeous!" Me: "Well, Bali is in Indonesia" *exhale deeply*
This feels like minimal effort was put into it. Or something a white dude would write in the 90's. "Chinese people use chopsticks." "White people think you eat cats." I don't even know where to start with this.
