People always think there are a great much differences between western and Chinese. However, I may disagree. I had a short training in China before our team came here. The training course mainly introduced Canadian culture to make sure we can fit in promptly when we come here. I felt there were lots of similarity essentially in culture between Canada and China even though there are a great deal of differences. I have been here for almost 2 months, and now I could write down some feelings about these similarities and differences.
The instinct of people , no matter where they come from, is same. Chinese are famous for our hospitality. When you go to China, especially in Beijing, you can feel that kind of passion which Chinese have to treat friends from other countries, sometimes we Chinese think we have overreacted with hospitality when we make friends with foreigner in China, anyway that is character which nobody or some individuals can not change in short time. During these days in Calgary, I have received the similar treat by Canadian. For instance, one day I forgot to take my Upass with me, thus I have to buy one ticket when I was going to take C-train, but I did not take coins, then I asked for help from some strangers who are typically Canadian from their face look, unfortunately they did not have any coins too, but they can use their credit card. Finally one of them used his credit card to buy a ticket for me and without charge anything from me. I was surprised, before that I thought just only Chinese can do these so called silly hospital kind things, I totally changed my mind after that day. Any coin has two sides, I also encounter some unfriend people in Calgary, the same situation has to go for China. Hence, we can not judge the whole country quality by some bad behavior individuals, we should contemplate on majority of one country.
whereas, there are some differences which I strongly felt exists between Canadian culture and Chinese. The ordinary rhythm for working or studying in Calgary is obviously faster than my city, even Beijing. Beijing is one of cities which have most fast working rhythm in China. Even that, people who work in Beijing still have one and half hour to have their launch in restaurant or canteen in company, nobody takes box launch to work. Things have very different sides here. I can see that nearly everybody takes food to workplace or school as their launch. Maybe this phenomenon happens in company rarely, one reason for what I saw may be that we are in university, and we can not get used to local food quickly. The other one thing which impressed me is taking bus and C-train with same tickets. In China, you are always supposed to buy different tickets for different transportation tools even they are runned by same company.
Anyway, I prone to find the similarity between two countries, so it helps me to adjust myself to local culture. If you have been to lots of countries , you will find that people who live in any where is almost common in their inner personality, just have some customs, such as staple food, greeting ways, working rhythm, in different.
