After give______________ a presentation to a group in San Francisco, I read _____________ the feedback sheets. One person write_______________, "Last year, I be _____________in France for vacation. I find_____________ French people be _______________ extremely rude."
After speak_____________ about a program on U.S. culture in New York, someone in the audience tell_____________ me that Asian shopkeepers not smile_______________ .
I remember______________ when I study_____________ at university, my friends used to say___________, "Why be _______ you so sad? Be______________ everything OK back home?" I wear___________ my regular facial expressions but to my friends, I appear______________ very sad.
What go on _______________here? These examples point to___________ a special cultural difference. Most Americans value_______________ informality where most of other cultures value________________formality.
Recently, I speak______________ to a group of engineers from Asian countries (i.e., Taiwan, China, India and Pakistan). A second speaker also present_____________ part of the program. Afterwards, the second speaker come__________ to me and ask___________, " _____I do _______something wrong? The audience not laugh______________ at my funny lines." One possible reason that he not get _____________his expected response from the audience might be ____________that Asians come__________ from a formal culture. Even though Asians live___________________ here for many years, they seem to be_______________ more reserved and discreet about smile_____________ and laugh___________ (i.e., show___________ their emotions) in front of strangers. They may go_____________ home and laugh ____________their heads off. Such behavior from Asian Americans may not be ___________at a conscious level; know_______________ differences on an intellectual level may not be ____________enough. It take____________ a long time change________________ our life-long conditioning. However, we can not stereotype______________ all Asian Americans as being formal. It really depend__________________ on how easily the individual adjust_____________to our mainstream U.S. culture.
When I first arrive_______________ in the U.S., I be____________ amazed to see that there was_____________ no visible barriers between people. Anyone can start______________ a conversation with another person regardless of age, class, gender or status differences. People smile and laugh_______________ during their first meeting with others. It seem________________ that they know________________ each other for a long time. People show___________ pictures of their wives and children in their offices. To my surprise, many people carry ____________ pictures of their loved ones with them all the time. They be___________ eager share _____________those pictures even with a person they just meet___________________. This cultural value of informality reflect______________ in clothing (i.e., wear__________ jeans with holes) and by address____________ someone older by use_____________ his first name without any formal (Mr., Mrs., uncle or aunt) titles. The English language support_______________ that informality by have_________ just one word, "you" to address another person. The Spanish language have___________ 2 words, Urdu have___________ 3 words and the Thai language have___________ 12 words for "you." These different types of "you" be____________ the foundation of formality.
Informality reflect___________________ a value of mainstream U.S. culture. In many other cultures, formality value_______________. The Mexican, Chinese, Asian Indian, South American, and Arab cultures be________ more formal. Mainstream Americans share______________ several cultural values with Europeans, but when it come to___________ the value of informality, the U.S. be_____________ not continental. People from France, Germany and England also value_____________ formality.
For many years, I not have________ enough courage display__________ pictures of my wife and children in my office. It feel________ strange. It not mean______________ that I not love____________ my family. Now I have____________ a family portrait in my office. The other day someone ask_________ me show__________ pictures of my children. The person expect___________ me open____________ my wallet and take out _________________the pictures. Even though I live_______________ here for thirteen years, I still feel_____________ strange carry_________ my children's pictures in my wallet.
My mother who just visit________ the U.S. be_________ very surprised see _______________people so open in show
____________ their emotions and smile ___________ all the time. "These people enjoy______________ life and they not have____________ any worries," she comment_______________.
OK so what? Now I know_____________ that the mainstream U.S. culture is more informal than many other cultures. Well, as a first step, we can use___________________ this knowledge to our advantage by become______________ better communicators. Now we have______________ a new tool in our communication skills tool kit. This knowledge can give ________________ us an edge in our interactions with others who may not share______________ our value of informality. Sometimes we become_______________ frustrated and upset that these people just not have____________ any manners. To us, they appear___________ to be very rude. By realizing that our interpretations may be______________ culturally based, we may be_______________ better able to keep our blood pressure down.
We need recognize____________ that many other cultural differences also exist. We need learn ____________ hold ____________our judgment and try avoid___________ make___________
false assumptions. All of us need to do that no matter what culture we think we represent.