In today's globalized world, cultural differences and misunderstandings are often talked about. Many foreigners have various impressions of China. What kind of people are we in their eyes?
Not long ago, a Korean colleague came to China on a business trip. We took him to taste Chaoshan beef hot pot. He looked at the prices on the menu, stunned. Originally, he thought that beef hot pot was comparable to high-end Korean barbecue. As a result, the affordable price made him exclaim that China is good and cheap.
In a different scenario, an exchange student has just arrived in China. He has his own understanding of China's geographical size. He thought that Beijing to Shanghai was as walkable as visiting a park. We used a map to do a little bit, and he was amazed at the vastness of China.
Chinese square dancing is quite mysterious in the eyes of foreigners. A foreign teacher thought that sword dancing was martial arts training. In fact, this is nothing more than a daily leisure exercise for the elderly. He was amazed by the cultural differences, but also fascinated by the charm of square dancing.
China's mode of transportation often makes foreign customers curious. When a customer arrived, he was looking forward to riding a camel through the city. He is full of curiosity about modern China's motorcycles, automobiles, and high-speed rail. In contrast to his expectations, he was amazed by China's modern transportation.
Misunderstandings over food are just as interesting. Some foreign friends saw the pot for the first time. He mistook it for kangaroo meat, an Australian specialty. When we told the truth, he laughed and laughed at his ignorance.
A foreign teacher misunderstood the purpose of military training in a military training class in China. He considered it a preparation for war. In fact, this is an education that enhances students' spirit of collectivism and discipline. After learning about it, he gained a new understanding of China's education system.
Foreigners are often surprised by China's geography beyond our imagination. Some foreigners think that Beijing to Shanghai is as close as London to Paris. As soon as they learned about the true distance, they were amazed by the vastness and fast transportation of China.
Misunderstandings caused by cultural differences are often the beginning of dialogue and exchange. Through these short stories, we see the curiosity and misunderstanding of China by foreigners. These misunderstandings not only add to the interest of each other, but also the process of deepening knowledge and understanding.