Navigating the Cultural Identity Journey

Blog Entries

The Impact of Buddhism

Even When It Is More Cultural than Belief

In Asian culture, often anyone who is born in a Buddhist country is considered a Buddhist. It’s not uncommon for people with a strong family identity to consider their family and religion together.

Blog Entries

Saving Face

In Chinese culture the concept of face is a very important part of social interaction and is specific to the group or family to which the person belongs.

Blog Entries

Reciprocity—Goes Both Ways and Keeps on Going

Building relationships through sharing resources.

Blog Entries

Guanxi

Or, Do I Have to Give Them Something to Make Friends?

When we lived in Asia, I was constantly asked for things and especially for money. Being a typical American, I was offended with their constant asking. I discovered later that asking for favors was a means of developing relationships.

Blog Entries

The Importance of Filial Piety

Especially at a Distance

Our friends in Asia suspected that we did not want to take care of our family members, our parents in particular, and so we came to their country. They couldn’t understand that we had come for any other reason.

Blog Entries

Chinese vs American Family

Don’t Tell Me What to Do!

I didn’t understand that by disagreeing with my parents and older people that I was not showing them respect and returning the care they had given me.

Blog Entries

Cultural Identity—East vs West

Or Why They Cause Me Stress

In Asia I experienced a lot of cultural stress but didn’t know why. Not only was I trying to adjust to a different culture, but I was also dealing with unconscious American and Japanese cultural values.