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5.
Staying Calm
It's common for Asian travel guides to warn visitors never to show
anger - "Orientals never get angry in public, and are deeply offended
if you do." This, of course, is mythological. East Asians have the
same full range of emotions as everyone else. When involved in a
fender-bender or political debate, they will more than likely get
hot under the collar, just like you.
But it is important to remind travelers, especially first-time visitors
to Asia, that the feelings of anger or frustration you might experience
probably arise from your own unfamiliarity with the environment.
You're bound to encounter jostling crowds, disorderly queues, confusing
bureaucracy, and all manner of signs with crucial information that
is only written in Chinese. Frustration is inevitable, especially
in a crowded city. So don't flip your wig! It's normal.
You may find that people make a fuss when you enter the room, as
if you're from a different planet, instead of a different continent.
More often than not, they're just trying to make sure you feel at
home.
When they first meet you, Taiwanese people tend to like to ask a
lot of questions, many of which might seem a little personal by
the standards of your home culture. They may touch on your salary,
the prices of your possessions, various details concerning members
of your family, your age, your zodiac sign, your blood type and
much more. Get used to the interrogation - it's viewed as a way
of being friendly. And feel free to ask plenty of questions yourself.
One aspect of Chinese culture that often upsets visitors is the
social context of laughter. Chinese people laugh when embarrassed.
If someone drops a book on your toe, the first thing they will probably
do is laugh. Don't leap to the conclusion that they've done it on
purpose and are having a good chuckle at your expense. They're most
likely sincerely sorry, and only wish to lighten an awkward situation.
Anger is usually a sure sign of culture shock. So don't take umbrage
- take five. And remember that with a serious language barrier,
even simple tasks will probably take longer to accomplish than they
would back home. So don't pack your schedule too tight. Set aside
extra slack time for getting lost, getting confused, and having
fun.
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