Our Role in Deteriorating US-China Relations
According to recent surveys, 66% of Americans have an unfavorable view of China while 61% of Chinese have an unfavorable view of the U.S.A. As someone who loves China and loves to build friendships between China and the U.S., this grieves me. Many of my friends are global citizens and share my grief. As relations.. read more →
Being Chinese in America
Bruce Lee said, “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”.. read more →
It’s About More Than Baggy Shorts vs Speedos
When many foreigners come to visit the USA in the summer, you can often identify them by what they wear to the beach. American males wear baggy swim shorts. Many Asian and European males wear speedos. Each summer, when students come to the USA as part of our Passages Program (https://www.ascend-international.com/programs/university/), I coach males in.. read more →
What Does it Take to be Likable in the USA?
It is not surprising to any of us that people from different areas of your country or even the world, can communicate in the same language, but still miss appropriate cultural means of communicating. When I was very little, my parents taught me that when I needed to go to the bathroom, rather than say.. read more →
Don’t Try This in America!! (Chinese and American Differences)
Don’t Try This in America! If you are an American who has traveled in China or Chinese who has traveled in the USA, you will notice a big difference in driving habits in these different cultures. The list of “driving differences” is too many to mention here, but let me note one you may keenly.. read more →
National Holiday Celebrations in China (Oct. 1) and in America (July 4)- Dr. Allan Tuan, guest blog
I am Chinese-American. I have experienced thirty-six of the National Holiday (July 4th) celebrations in America, but none in China. Recently, I had separate conversations about China’s National Holiday (Oct. 1) with one of my American friends who lives in China and with one of my Chinese friends (of course, also living in China). I.. read more →