Asian vs Western Cultures - A Pictorial

A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS

Given the number of years that I've spent working and living in Asia, combined with the fact that my wife was born in Shanghai, this is not the first time that I've written about the differences between Asian and Western cultures (as I've experienced them)... it is actually quite difficult to explain to others the depth of the differences, and the impact this has on everyday life. This is especially true when the person to whom you are explaining has only experienced this for themselves at a very 'high level'... ie, from vacationing or travelling to a foreign country or by being exposed to the ways of friends that hail from a different country.

I have said on more than one occassion, that I personally find the 'breaking down of barriers' and the joining of our cultures (at the macro level) to be challenging, but at the same time extremely joyful and exciting. It is all too much for words, so I'm very glad that I recently found a communication that I received some time ago which highlights many of the differences pictorially. These images to me, are very powerful, and anyone who lives in a mixed relationship (Asian / Western) I'm sure will be able to associate immediately with most of them (they may even bring a smile to your face or a giggle to your lips, as they did for me). Note that the blue coloured picture represents Westerners, the red represents Asians.

DISCLAIMER: The english description of each picture is not necessarily a direct translation of the Chinese characters - I have taken a little bit of license to better get the meaning across to my readers who do not speak or read Chinese.

HERE WE GO - ENJOY!!

一日三餐 (Three Meals):




人际关系 (Personal Relationships):




心情和天气 (Weather and Mood):




生活方式 (Lifestyle):




交通工具 (Transport):




老人的生活 (Old Man's Life):




自我 (Self - Ego):




周末街景 (Street View on the Weekend):




孩子 (Children):




美丽的标准 (What is Pretty?):




胃痛时的饮品 (What to drink when you have a stomach ache):




准时 (Punctuality):




旅游 (Travel Sightseeing):




排队 (Queueing):




淋浴 (Showering):




理想中的对方 (Finding a Partner):




意见 (Opinion):




聚会 (Parties):




餐厅分贝 (Volume in a Restaurant):




处理问题 (Problem Solving):




对待新的事物 (Acceptance of Change):




对待愤怒 (Anger):




时尚 (Fashion):




领导 (Boss):



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