| Difference in Handling 'Mobility" between Chinese and Americans | |
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| Sep 20, 2007 23:06 |   |
 | Different from the Westerners( typically Americans), Chinese people prefer immobility. In America, mobiltity is the theme of life. I have met quite a lot of foreign friends who consistently tellls me that they prefer moving from one place to another. In particularly, when they are young, they seldom consider settling down somewhere. It is quite common to see that a family of three generations has inhabited in several places: Grandparents might have ever lived in New York; the father's generation might live in California; while the grandsons' generation might live in Florida. Americans' preference of mobility might have sth to do with the origin of the nation. In essence, America is a country of immigrants. Since the settlement era, the puritans came to the new land to escape political and religious persecution. Gradually, mobility became part of their lives, which was rooted in the hearts of later generations of Americans. Wheras, Chinese people did value immobility and stability. In traditional Chinese people's minds, migrating is viewed as a kind of failure to maintain a living. Migrating workers are usuall forced to migrate to some ailien places. In China, it is common to see that in a gathered town, most of people had settled there for several generations or even several centuries. The different attitudes toward migration or mobility mirror the fundamental difference in the two people's mentality. One is untraveled heart, the other is adventurous. |
| Sep 21, 2007 00:54 | #1 |
| I would have prefered to still be living in Somerset rather than London but I wanted to be closer to my daughter who moved to London with her mother when my marraige broke up, also the work situation is not so good in Somerset and I'm not one who likes to be unemployed for very long. |
| Sep 21, 2007 05:06 | #2 |
| Chinese also like mobility. My grandparents and my parents have moved a lot. One has untraveled heart. Who? Chinese prefer traveling and exploring. |
| Sep 21, 2007 10:23 | #3 |
| I must confess to tremendous "wanderlust." My next move is to China for a few years. |
| Sep 25, 2007 01:14 | #4 |
| " In traditional Chinese people's minds, migrating is viewed as a kind of failure to maintain a living." Then, I must admit that I failed miserably -haha! My next move: China...in 5 days from now; I can't wait to fail a little more!!! ;-P Interesting post ICEBLUE; it's really nice to read such East-West comparisons. I would add that it will be hard for me to soon leave my car behind for at least a year.... I guess that I'm a real Westener!! ..but I don't mind trading my mobility for more adventure... hehe! |
| Sep 25, 2007 01:40 | #5 |
| AL32, thanks for your words. My post does not intend to offend any migrants. My point is that Chinese people value stabilty instead of mobility. Well, perhaps, the old mindset has gone, but it is a the old doctrine still has its strong influence on Chinese people's mind. It is really hard to abandoned the heritage. Maybe, I should narrow may statement. Migrating is viewed as a kind of failure to maintain a living, which is usuallly meant to the in-border migration, not for the cross-border migrating workers. Well, there do exist some migrating worker who failed to maintain a living in their countries, but to be forced to migrate abroad. Most of this group people don't have received a good education. Certainly, you do not belong to this group. You have some grand dream to realize. Welcome to China. It is reallly a pleasure to exchanging ideas with you, a witty man. |
| Sep 25, 2007 02:41 | #6 |
| Np ICEBLUE, No worries; I understood your point the first time, and I'm sure you did not want to offend anyone. At the same time, some Chinese migrations have been of great importance in the past. Even people participating in them with no education showed great courage and determination: I'm refering to the mass migrations when Chinese proudly united against the Japenese invasion. I watched a documentary about this Chinese war just a few days ago and I was very moved by that part of Chinese history. Chinese people should be proud of what they did and of their old doctrines. I'd also say: just like we need laws and regulations just in order to be able to break them, we need old doctrines to see if the way we evolve in life make sense. Thanks for your welcoming words; it is much appreciated. Also a pleasure to exchange with you...and I learn new words!!: witty..nice!! OK time 4 me to sleep...!! ;-) |
| Sep 25, 2007 23:05 | #7 |
| Well, can we compare migrating workers with migratory birds? Migration can be interpreted both positively and negatively. On one hand, migration mirrors the vulnerable adaptability of "migratory birds". They can not survive in a moderately harsh environment. On the other hand, migration reflects that the migratory birds are smart and flexible. They want the surroundings to suit them rather than adapt themselves to the outside environment. So, which kind of "migratory birds" do you belong to ? |
| Oct 13, 2007 22:52 | #8 |
| Very interesting post. Zoey, a fine analogy. "Migratory workers ' to migratory birds". I agree with you on that migration can be interpreted both positively and negatively." Anyway, Chinese people do value 'stability" instead of "mobility". While, Americans do value "mobility". |
| Oct 22, 2007 05:07 | #9 |
| Americans prefer mobility is their national charateristic inherited from their forefathers, which can be traced back to the Puritan era. They moved from the distant European continent to the new continent. Constant migration gradually became a habit. |
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