As cultures are merging due to globalization, people started to recognize their inconvenient or not understandable culture that they are repeating in daily life. Some try to fix those and apply the new culture into their culture and behavior. But would it be possible?
Few days ago, one of my European friends told me that she met one Asian married woman in hotel. She just moved in to the country few weeks ago. While they were talking, she found out that the Asian girls had not really got out of the hotel, claiming she neither have any friends nor speaks the language. My European friend criticized that that Asian girl should go out, explore the county, and find new friends. It sounds very logic but as Asian, that process can be little more difficult and bit hesitates to act on.
For Asian, many people find hard for them to do activities alone. They tend to think that, It is more fun to travel, eat, party and discover new things together. By sharing experiences and emotions, the groups become more intimate and individuals starts to feel security from the groups. For instance it is not very strange to see Asian girls always walks in pairs with folded arms (sometimes boys as well) and even goes to toilet together. (Especially during middle-high school age) In addition, even in corporate word, if you do not have your ‘buddy’ it would be difficult to settle down in new environment. Therefore, the first task that Asian people do when they employed is to find their new ‘buddy’ within the company.
On the other hands, many of European do not mind being alone. Many times, they have “courage” to go to club, sports, entertainment field alone as long as they have firm information that they can enjoy. While Asian would think, “we are going to have fun because it is much fun that way.” European would think, “I deserve to have some fun, since I need it” therefore, in a group activity, when one or some member cannot join in the last minute, it is rather Asian group than European group that the activity would be more likely canceled. Asian group would give effort to reschedule the activity for all the members to join, but European group would most likely precede the activity once the time has set.
In my personal opinion, culture of individualism and collectivism would be the one of very distinctive culture between Asian and European. Of course, it can be vary from each personality. However, from my observation, this one causes different thinking patterns between some cultures. The possibility that individualistic person to become as collectivistic person (fundamentally) remains questionable.
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