Like Fire and Ice

As I stay here longer, I begin to note a distinct difference between Asians and Westerners.

 

Asians have a popular saying,  "It's God's will" in many different languages. When anything bad happens, we have a tendency to shrug our shoulders and say, "Oh, well! It's fate!" When good things happen, we say, "Oh! This must be my destiny!"

 

Speak to a Westerner, and you'll immediately notice that these vocabulary rarely appear in a conversation. It's almost non-existent. When a Westerner encounters adversities, they'll ask, "Why?!" When happy events occur, they'll say, "You deserve it!"

 

Asians also have high perseverance. Throw us a challenge and we will grit our teeth, persevere, and tell ourselves, "Patience! Patience! A little sacrifice goes a long, long way." Westerners will express instant dissatisfaction, reasserting themselves, saying "This is my right! Justify your decisions."

 

Both parties also possess different approaches when solving problems. Throw a Westerner and an Asian in the same room to solve a puzzle. You'll see the Asian sitting and thinking silently, working out all the equations and visualizations in his head. The minute the Westerner sees the puzzle, he will begin talking non-stop and thinking aloud.

 

The Westerner looks at the Asian and thinks, "He's so silent, I don't think he knows anything." The Asian peeks at the Westerner and thinks, "He's talking too much, like an empty vessel."

 

In terms of child-rearing, it differs vastly too. Asians are over-protective. Parents loom over their children forever, from the day they start crying, up to the days their children have their own grandchildren. They precide over their child's every decision, even their marriage date and the names of their children's children. In Asian culture, children will always be seen as babies, no matter how old you are.

 

Westerners are less over-bearing. They equip their children with life-long survival skills from Day-1. By the time they reach 18, they drop them down from the top of the tallest tree on the mountains by the sea, and tell them, "Flap your wings and fly! You're an adult now! Go out and carve a nest for yourself!"

 

Hereby, lays the distinction which divides the Asian and the Westerner like the Berlin wall. In most cases: the Asian may feel helpless and leave it all up to the heavens; the Westerner thinks he owns the world, flying anywhere he likes without any apprehensions and considerations.

 

As a result, when it comes to hospitality, Asians tend to slip into the shoes of their visitors and cater to their every whim and fancy. The sense of accountability for those who reside under their roofs is exceedingly high. Westerners on the other hand organize a free and easy tour for their visitors, saying, "I'll provide you food and lodging, and for the rest of the day, you may venture out and discover the world from your own eyes."

 

Who's to say then, which is good or bad?

 

Fire warms us up in winter, ice cools us down in summer.

 

Both methods works most effectively in different seasons. Blending both approaches will bring out the best of both worlds.