Communication & Culture Shock

Having came back from New Zealand (and Australia) after 10 years of being there, I found it a pretty large culture shock upon arrival.  

 People in Asia.. well, very different from people in NZ & Australia (which, eventhough they will never really admit it, are actually extremely similar) 

Upon arriving, the first thing that came to my mind was that I have to leave this place asap.. so for the first year of my life, I refused to make new friends and refused to get too fully involved in my job.  I just wanted to go "home".  A place where I can be accepted for who I am and not be chastised for whom I chose to be with.  However, as the first year passed, I realized my mother was getting old and really required me to be around. While I might have been infused with western culture, I held traditional Chinese values and believed that children must be filial.  As such, I finally settled my heart back in Asia and started to open myself up.  

Upon such revelation, I started to get to know A LOT of good friends, most of them are PLU or definitely PLU friendly.  Eventhough I am Chinese, my mandarin / cantonese was barely passeable. These friends taught me rigorously and I finally am able to converse without having too many people laughing at me nowadays. 

Once that barrier of language was eliminated, I find myself getting closer with my friends, some will even tell me their deepest darkest secrets and I them.  Such information only made us closer and the friendship grew.  

Communication is such an important tool, people talked about it, read about it, blogged about it but actual communications are rare.  It doesn't mean one must have the Communication "gene" to be able to communicate, sometimes due to language barrier or inability to express oneself, communication just break down. 

After being back in Asia for almost 10 years, I am now used to the colloquialism and language style here, infact it actually brought be such warmth and joy when people utter the lahs and bahs and kahs so prominently in our part of the world.  Sometimes though.. I do miss speaking with someone who can understand deeper understanding of English language.   Recently, I found her.  A friend whom I had known for 12 years but didn't keep in contact until now.  We conversed regularly, sharing thoughts, ideas, stories, anecdotes, if she had been in the same vicinity as I, perhaps there is even a chance between us.  But being so bloody far, it is just good to be able to have someone where I could express myself infinitely. 

I love Asia now, it offers varieties, people, cosmopolitan and history.  I don't think I will ever thought about going back "home" to New Zealand now.. as I have found my home. 

K