Culture Differences
As a sophomore student in UCSB, of course, I have seen numbers of culture differences between the U.S and my country, China. Among all, one significant that leaves me deep impression is the way of making friends.
In China, the most popular way to make friend is via social media. For instance, WeChat is one of the most well-known social media in Chinese, no matter young or old, students or officers. When I was a high school student, first walking into the classroom, I didn’t know anyone else, and I felt really nervous at that time. I didn’t know how to start a new topic, because I didn’t know the characters of them. And then after the first class, I ask them for WeChat accounts. When back home, I browsed their “ friends circle”(more like instagram), and know more about themselves, what they like, what they did before, etc. What’s more, If I had problems in my homework, I was able to set up a Wechat groupchat (more like groupwork), and invited my classmates into such group that we can discuss the problem in homework together, without coming to the library at expected time. More convenient, isn’t it? We can share our daily life in “friend circle”, including the good weather, the yummy lunch, the grade in the last exam, the beautiful sights during travel, etc. We can also chat freely with our friend, our family members, and even strangers on Internet, sharing what happened every day, constructing groupchat for more people to join in the same topic, and so on. In conclusion, Wechat therefore become the most popular way in China to make friends because of its convenience and freedom.
And in America, the way of social is totally different. Americans usually use their social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, as platforms to share their daily life, often putting some pictures followed by some comments, rather than have personal chat with others. They would prefer having a party or joining a club than chatting hourly in internet. Activities held by people, call as many people as possible to hold party, join the club are what they like. Americans are more outgoing, they don’t feel much shy in new environment, and they really welcome every person to join in. The first time I made friend with a lot of Americans was in a birthday party. My roommate, who is also an international student but from Italy invited me and he encourage me not to be afraid to socialize with others and he would introduce his friends to me which is the easiest way to start a new friendship. I was impressive at that time, because my roommate is also an international student, and he really have courage to make new friend. Not like me, the different social way once really embarrassed me a lot. After joining an America social group, to my surprise, they are all really kind, and willing to make friends with me. It is cheerful to meet a lot of different people during such social activities.
In the end, I feel, It is difficult to define which way of making friends is better, and I think both ways are good. In the different environment I have to choose different social way, and make myself adapted to it. Overall, no matter what cultural difference makes the social difference, I deeply need the courage to face every challenge.
