Communication between different cultures
As a scholar from China, this is the first time I stepped into a different culture. Knowing very little about the culture of Singapore, I encountered a lot of embarrassments and difficulties. Some of those situations made strong impressions on me and I wanted to explore more about them. Eventually, I learned a lot from my explorations, including doing research, conducting interviews and doing self-study. Among those, what intrigued me most is the experience related to the special relationship.
When the local befrienders first brought us to play games, I intended to hold a male-senioræ¯ hand as we always do in China to show our friendliness to him. To my surprise, that senior became a little angry with me and he walked quicker trying to let go of my hands. What he did shocked me and I asked other local friend for reason. They answered because it destroyed their personal comforting zone. Having gone through this, I began to contemplate and did some research on it.
What is personal comforting zone and how do different cultures view different concept of communication space? How can a Chinese intelligentsia like me communicate better in such a 21st century multicultural university with other students from different culture?
Therefore, this essay will focus more on the essence of communication than its mechanism.
I found from my previous experiences that I am from a different culture and we have different ways of communication. However, as a reprehensive of my country, I need to find the common ground of our communication. This is exactly the meaning of university, which is union in a community, unity in diversity. This is first lesson I have to, I want to, and I must learn during my journey in NUS. Even if I get into USP and graduate with first class honor without mastering this, I still fail in my university life.
I am convinced that it is the essence of communication that gives quality, meaning, value, life and illumination to our social intercourse. For instance, if what I have experienced when I first stepped into a different culture made me feel depressed and not willing to be with them again, of course I will fail to communicate with people from different cultures. What I need is the perseverance in my adjustment to this spatial communication.
When a person just listens to you with all his attention, you will be willing to talk to him no matter which culture he is from. This kind of sincerity imbues quality to communication with its purity of attention to your communications.
When a person has a sense of humor when he is talking to somebody, you will think the conversation with him is very funny and you will become pleasant instead of bored in your discussions. It is humility that brings the life to communication.
Moreover, when a person tells you the true feeling, true experience or true news, you will be sure to participate in your communication willingly and also learn some significant edification. This shows the truth imbues illumination to conversation.
All the perseverance, sincerity, humility, and truth are the common ground of our social communication, no matter where you are from.
These are my ways of learning and exploring from my own experience. Even if I cannot get into USP, I will still stick to this kind of thinking and learning, and I hope the professors can agree with the common ground in our communication and hope this can help all the people communicate better.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
SM3 Selection
On Friday, we usually have Mathematics and C-Programming lessons. However, this Friday, according to the schedule, we will not have C-Programming lesson, because Professor Tay will go to China to select the new batch of SM2 scholars. This reminds me of the scene when I competed with others to get a chance to study in Singapore.
I can still remember that during our military training, the cultivation held by my university began at the main campus every night. At that time, we were told that the examination was so difficult that we had to accept some training ahead of schedule. Therefore, every night, I had to ask for leave from my drillmaster and teachers, and then went to the main campus which was several kilometers away. Sometimes I even had no time to have dinner. I was really busy at that time.
Time passed very quickly. Soon, it was time for our examination. During that period of time, all of us who were going to take part in the examination were asked to live together in a hotel, because it was easier for the information to spread. We first attended the Mathematics test and the ability test. To my surprise, these two tests were not as difficult as we had heard from our seniors. It was somehow like our college entrance examination. Then, after these two tests, the interview came, which was considered as the most important part of the whole examination. Actually, what I had been worrying about was just the interview, for that was my first formal interview. I did not know how to behave well in an interview.
After doing a lot of preparation, I went into the office to start the first interview in my life. As I saw the five interviewers, two professors separately from NUS and NTU, and three officials from MOE, much pressure unexpectedly came to me. I tried to calm down and concentrate on the questions but it was really difficult. The whole period lasted nearly 20 minutes and I could not remember how many questions I had answered. After the interview, when I recalled what I said, I thought I could do much better if I felt unflappable enough. Anyway, the result satisfied me and the interviewers were also satisfied with what I had done.
Now, I am in Singapore, leading a new life with more challenges. The experience of the examination and the interview has become a part of my wonderful memory. I really cherish it.
I can still remember that during our military training, the cultivation held by my university began at the main campus every night. At that time, we were told that the examination was so difficult that we had to accept some training ahead of schedule. Therefore, every night, I had to ask for leave from my drillmaster and teachers, and then went to the main campus which was several kilometers away. Sometimes I even had no time to have dinner. I was really busy at that time.
Time passed very quickly. Soon, it was time for our examination. During that period of time, all of us who were going to take part in the examination were asked to live together in a hotel, because it was easier for the information to spread. We first attended the Mathematics test and the ability test. To my surprise, these two tests were not as difficult as we had heard from our seniors. It was somehow like our college entrance examination. Then, after these two tests, the interview came, which was considered as the most important part of the whole examination. Actually, what I had been worrying about was just the interview, for that was my first formal interview. I did not know how to behave well in an interview.
After doing a lot of preparation, I went into the office to start the first interview in my life. As I saw the five interviewers, two professors separately from NUS and NTU, and three officials from MOE, much pressure unexpectedly came to me. I tried to calm down and concentrate on the questions but it was really difficult. The whole period lasted nearly 20 minutes and I could not remember how many questions I had answered. After the interview, when I recalled what I said, I thought I could do much better if I felt unflappable enough. Anyway, the result satisfied me and the interviewers were also satisfied with what I had done.
Now, I am in Singapore, leading a new life with more challenges. The experience of the examination and the interview has become a part of my wonderful memory. I really cherish it.
Monday, May 30, 2011
College Life, I Am Ready!
It is almost the end of our bridging course now. I still remember that when I came here last year in December, I thought 6 months was going to be quite a long time. However, now more than 5 months have passed. The time left is still decreasing little by little. What seemed long and far away now seems short and around the corner and our last math class in bridging course was even finished. We are going to be separated in to different majors and halls, after which we may not see each other so often, which means that we are going to make new friends in a new world of life. To be honest, I did not quite cherish this opportunity to make more friends here at the beginning for I think this is just a short phase between me and the real college life; but now I found that I really made some good friends here and I already began to feel depressed because we may not have the chance to stay closely like now for we have determined to major in different fields in university. The faces of whom I am going to meet every day may be very unfamiliar when the new life starts. We have been accustomed to stay together but we all have our own dreams, which is the reason why we need to say goodbye to each other in a few days. Although it is not easy for me to do such things, I think I could adjust myself well from the past. One always needs to be mature for himself if he wants to be strong enough to be a grown-up. And I am already a adult according to the laws in China, so all the fears and untutored behaviors from the past will be eliminated and replaced by what a reasonable and qualified adult should possess. This is going to be my second time to enter a university and my first time to study in an oversea university. I often dreamed of studying abroad so I grabbed the chance half of a year ago. now my dream is to win myself a big success in my college life and then support my parents as well as my own family in the future. Ten years seems a long time now, but it will be just as short as one day when it passes. Moreover, to make the most of this period, I have determined to make a plan and stick to it no matter what happens to me. College life, I am ready!
Divorce?
Divorce?
Nowadays, divorce has become a controversial problem. It used to be unacceptable due to its serious influence. However, as the divorce rate climbing up, more and more people consider whether it is a reasonable way to solve an unsuccessful marriage. Though most people think divorce can have a serious impact on children, there are still some think it is better for them to have a new family, instead of suffering quarrels every day. Is divorce the best choice when there is problem?
This makes me remember a story written by a woman who met problem in her marriage and finally overcame it. She wrote, when it came to the fifth year of her marriage, things went wrong. There was no big problem, but life was just boring. She said both of them felt tired and even did not want to talk to each other. There was once a time they thought about divorce. But they tried other ways to solve the problem. They asked for a vacation and went to the places they used to go; they found out the photos they took and recalled their happy memories together. Things became better and better and, finally, they saved their marriage.
When divorce becomes more and more popular, people do not try to solve the problem but just give it up. Some people may think divorce has some benefit to some extent. But the problem is whether the circumstances are serious enough to break up. In ancient China, people’s marriages are decided by their parents and they even did not know each other before their wedding, but they can live together for their whole life. This does not mean they all lived a happy life, but because they did not have such a concept, divorce, in their mind. They tried to solve the problem instead of just giving it up.
Therefore, people should think twice before they get married. Once they decide, they’d better think out the proper ways to solve problems in the future. The result is more about the attitude, instead of the circumstances. There are many other ways to solve the problem, as long as you want to have a try, and divorce is the least good choice to consider.
Nowadays, divorce has become a controversial problem. It used to be unacceptable due to its serious influence. However, as the divorce rate climbing up, more and more people consider whether it is a reasonable way to solve an unsuccessful marriage. Though most people think divorce can have a serious impact on children, there are still some think it is better for them to have a new family, instead of suffering quarrels every day. Is divorce the best choice when there is problem?
This makes me remember a story written by a woman who met problem in her marriage and finally overcame it. She wrote, when it came to the fifth year of her marriage, things went wrong. There was no big problem, but life was just boring. She said both of them felt tired and even did not want to talk to each other. There was once a time they thought about divorce. But they tried other ways to solve the problem. They asked for a vacation and went to the places they used to go; they found out the photos they took and recalled their happy memories together. Things became better and better and, finally, they saved their marriage.
When divorce becomes more and more popular, people do not try to solve the problem but just give it up. Some people may think divorce has some benefit to some extent. But the problem is whether the circumstances are serious enough to break up. In ancient China, people’s marriages are decided by their parents and they even did not know each other before their wedding, but they can live together for their whole life. This does not mean they all lived a happy life, but because they did not have such a concept, divorce, in their mind. They tried to solve the problem instead of just giving it up.
Therefore, people should think twice before they get married. Once they decide, they’d better think out the proper ways to solve problems in the future. The result is more about the attitude, instead of the circumstances. There are many other ways to solve the problem, as long as you want to have a try, and divorce is the least good choice to consider.
Arts and affliction
Arts and affliction
This Wednesday, we had a visit to the Arts Museum of Singapore. I have to admit I could not understand most of them. I think the arts in China emphasize more on beauty, the visual enjoyment. However, the arts in Singapore, like those of western countries, pay more attention to the meaning. The works seem less pleasing, and people may not understand it at the first sight.
One thing about the works which left the deepest impression on me is same, that they are all relating to suffering. The ones shocked me most are several status of human figure which are stabbed by different kinds of sharp tools. Their struggling gesture and the painful expression really astonished me. The second is a piece of work drawn by Wu Guanzhong. The picture is about a painful, naked woman, who deeply buried her head down. The other one is a piece of video about something I did not understand but was very scary.
I think it is the same with life. Those painful experiences usually leave a deeper impression on us. It is also during these painful moments that we can develop. For instance, poets are always relating to suffering, so there are few poets come from modern, comfortable life. It is the same with the God. When Jesus was crucified on the crucifix, the god’s power was the highest. No pain, no gain. Affliction can be a great motivation, making us develop.
This Wednesday, we had a visit to the Arts Museum of Singapore. I have to admit I could not understand most of them. I think the arts in China emphasize more on beauty, the visual enjoyment. However, the arts in Singapore, like those of western countries, pay more attention to the meaning. The works seem less pleasing, and people may not understand it at the first sight.
One thing about the works which left the deepest impression on me is same, that they are all relating to suffering. The ones shocked me most are several status of human figure which are stabbed by different kinds of sharp tools. Their struggling gesture and the painful expression really astonished me. The second is a piece of work drawn by Wu Guanzhong. The picture is about a painful, naked woman, who deeply buried her head down. The other one is a piece of video about something I did not understand but was very scary.
I think it is the same with life. Those painful experiences usually leave a deeper impression on us. It is also during these painful moments that we can develop. For instance, poets are always relating to suffering, so there are few poets come from modern, comfortable life. It is the same with the God. When Jesus was crucified on the crucifix, the god’s power was the highest. No pain, no gain. Affliction can be a great motivation, making us develop.
Time to say goodbye
Time to say goodbye
Time flies. When I looked at our schedule, I suddenly realized we had almost finished our bridging course. A sense of sadness arose from the bottom of my heart, and the end of the oral presentation also strengthened my emptiness. The course is coming to an end. There was happiness, regret as well as expectation; anyway, it is almost the time to say goodbye.
When I looked at the photos of our group, memories came flooding back: our first Chinese new year in Singapore, our picnic attacked by monkeys as well as the oral presentation. I found out the letters you gave me on Valentines’ Day, and they really made me feel warm and happy. I am sorry for I could not reply to all of you, and I really want to say thank you. I feel lucky to be the monitor, for it gives me the chance to know all my classmates better. Though I know, we have few very touching activities together, and perhaps we are not the best friends, I still feel happy and content to be with you.
I remembered the first lesson of Ms. Wong. She suggested us learn three new words every day and she said we can see progress after three months if we carry on. It sounds quite simple. However, like many others, I feel guilty that I failed to continue. Perhaps most of us will feel a little bit disappointed when the bridging cause comes to an end, for we may not have learnt as much as we expected. To comfort myself, I think at least I have learnt the style of academic writing and the process of doing research.
As for the research, it really brings me a lot, not only about the technique, but also about my mind. Perhaps a person is stronger than he could imagine. Before the presentation, we spent a lot of time preparing the research that I even dare not to think about failure. But after that, I am glad I recovered soon enough. I think at least I know there is much for me to learn and how can I do better in the future. I am sorry about what I have done wrongly in my group and I am really grateful for the experience. I love one sentence: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” And it is important to do our best and learn as much as possible during the process. Only in this way, can we face the result calmly.
The bridging course almost comes to an end. There was happiness, regret as well as expectation; anyway, it is time to say goodbye. What we can do now is to treasure the left time being together and reduce the emptiness to the least. We can change the regret to the motivation for the future. Tomorrow is waiting for us. Best wishes for all of you, my dear classmates…
Time flies. When I looked at our schedule, I suddenly realized we had almost finished our bridging course. A sense of sadness arose from the bottom of my heart, and the end of the oral presentation also strengthened my emptiness. The course is coming to an end. There was happiness, regret as well as expectation; anyway, it is almost the time to say goodbye.
When I looked at the photos of our group, memories came flooding back: our first Chinese new year in Singapore, our picnic attacked by monkeys as well as the oral presentation. I found out the letters you gave me on Valentines’ Day, and they really made me feel warm and happy. I am sorry for I could not reply to all of you, and I really want to say thank you. I feel lucky to be the monitor, for it gives me the chance to know all my classmates better. Though I know, we have few very touching activities together, and perhaps we are not the best friends, I still feel happy and content to be with you.
I remembered the first lesson of Ms. Wong. She suggested us learn three new words every day and she said we can see progress after three months if we carry on. It sounds quite simple. However, like many others, I feel guilty that I failed to continue. Perhaps most of us will feel a little bit disappointed when the bridging cause comes to an end, for we may not have learnt as much as we expected. To comfort myself, I think at least I have learnt the style of academic writing and the process of doing research.
As for the research, it really brings me a lot, not only about the technique, but also about my mind. Perhaps a person is stronger than he could imagine. Before the presentation, we spent a lot of time preparing the research that I even dare not to think about failure. But after that, I am glad I recovered soon enough. I think at least I know there is much for me to learn and how can I do better in the future. I am sorry about what I have done wrongly in my group and I am really grateful for the experience. I love one sentence: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” And it is important to do our best and learn as much as possible during the process. Only in this way, can we face the result calmly.
The bridging course almost comes to an end. There was happiness, regret as well as expectation; anyway, it is time to say goodbye. What we can do now is to treasure the left time being together and reduce the emptiness to the least. We can change the regret to the motivation for the future. Tomorrow is waiting for us. Best wishes for all of you, my dear classmates…
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Precious experiences in the intensive English course
It might be my last chance to write my blog in the intensive English course. I have learnt a lot in this English course. There are 18 students in our group 7, so we can communicate with each other and make friends more easily. During the past few months, we sat in the same classroom and studied together. We also chatted and made jokes happily together. We discussed with each other about questions, from which we gained a lot of experience. I believe the friendship in our group 7 will last forever. Apart from the friendship, I also learnt to write standard academic essays and speak English more fluently. Thank to our tutors, we learnt a lot about Singapore as well.
I can’t forget my experiences of doing research project in group peace. In this group, I made three lovely friends. As the leader of our group, I feel lucky and honorable to be able to contribute my abilities. We worked together hardly, chatted together happily and got better understandings of each other. I believe we did a good job in our research project since all my group members worked hard for it and our mentor helped us a lot. I’m quite proud of all my members who devote themselves so much to the project. Though we had argument sometimes, I know everyone is trying to make everything better. The most important thing is that we have become intimate friends and the experiences and friendship will definitely help us to be successful in the future.
The intensive English course is quite a gift for me. I feel grateful and happy to gain much from it.
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