assignment 4

Assignment 4

My aim for coming to china was to learn the local language which is Chinese. I am able to understand basic Chinese and able to communicate slightly in Chinese. For example, on the plane back to Singapore, i was sitting beside Kang Liang and air stewardess came and asked questions in Chinese. Kang Liang was wondering what she was talking about but i knew and understood what she was asking and i answered her back in Chinese. To me, that was an achievement and it motivates me to learn and study Chinese more. I have friends who helped me to understand and learn Chinese for example Nicholas who scores A1 in Chinese for his O level. There was a few times when i was very blur and my friends who were Chinese too didn’t understand what the locals were saying. That was an obstacle which we together overcome by first asking the locals to speak slowly as they were talking at top speed.

My focus for this trip would be the food and culture in china. As i had previously mentioned the duck neck and fishball soup in my assignment; the duck neck was nice but rather spicy and the soup which was supposedly to serve 3people was enough to serve 9 hungry people which were amazing. The fishballs are very soft and not springy like the ones in Singapore and once, there was bones found in the fishballs. The culture in china about the hygiene and the way they speak were very true. There was once in the bus the bus conductor and the passengers would argue with each other as the passenger had wanted to alight a stop earlier than intended but was not allowed by the conductor. It was rather strange to me as it was the passenger’s choice to alight where but was stopped by the bus conductor and both of them were shouting at the top of their voice but no one came to stop them from fighting but after a few minutes, both of them stop fighting and the atmosphere in bus seems like the fight never even happen in the first place. I realised it was custom to see people fighting and people are so accustomed to it and it doesn’t matter as these verbal fights happen everywhere. Even after the fight, people tend to forgive and forget unlike those in Singapore where fight cases would usually end in court. In my opinion, Singaporeans have a lot to learn from the China locals.

How do china people communicate or even stand each other when they talk loudly and rudely?

It is their custom to speak out loud and make sure they are heard and even so, no offense is taken as this is how they live.

Why is it that the government does nothing to help the environment to at least be appropriate for people to live in as the places in china is mostly infested by pests caused by people dumping rubbish everywhere?

China is a big country and the government is not big enough to help every one of them and the issue of hygiene has been around for quite some time. There are a lot of cleaners seen at the road. There was once is aw a group of cleaners sweeping the floor at a park and there is this truck which washes the road daily. There has been help given and the government is planning more to solve the issue of hygiene.

How come china people are allowed to drive freely with no law or regulation to stop them such as driving in the opposite lane?

Even so without any law or even license, since i was in china there was not even a time where i seen an accident happens. Even with any law or regulations, the china locals drive very carefully even though fast and immediately brake if there was any obstacles. It is a common sight and the drivers in china are fine with this as everyone does it and they have become accustomed to it.

What are the few delicacies in china and what are the foods usually eaten by the locals?

A few delicacies and food eaten by the locals are the deck necks, dumplings, fishballs and mostly vegetables which are either steamed or fried. The foods there are full of spices and very hot.

Why are they a lot of pickpocket incidents happening in china?

China is a place where poverty is found everywhere. To survive in this world, people do anything to survive thus pick pocketing becomes an issue in china and the government does nothing much to help overcome the poverty in china.

Global skills

1. I would like to learn Chinese and speak in that language more fluently as employers in Singapore nowadays are looking for Chinese speaking people. If I have an extra language in hand, I would have an edge against others and perhaps would be able to secure a better job in the future.

My Chinese is much better and i am able to understand and speak in Chinese a little. I would like to learn more about the language so that i am able to upgrade myself.

2. I would like to learn the business etiquettes and strategies done here in china as I heard there are a lot of opportunities here and china might be even the next hot places for business in the near future.

I learn some skills and tips for business etiquettes such as never be late for meetings, know your host and things that cannot be placed on the eating table. The small details that wll help me to close a business deal.

3. I would like to learn independently and living with strangers without depending on others. If I would have to go for overseas trip again in the future, I would be able to take care of myself and be able to handle things well.

I have been living independently for the past 6weeks i was in china. Eating instant noodles, washing my clothes and doing the groceries are the things that i have experienced living independently with no one to lend a helping help.

My understanding of cross-cultural issues has improved greatly. Things that seem right in Singapore might be something not approved in china. To live in a foreign country, you would have to learn and live the way of the locals there. Only by doing that, you can truly understand other countries customs and way of living.