There is one thing I really wish the US would adopt from Chinese culture. I noticed this on the bus on the way to our BBQ with some of the Nankai students. There seems to be a common courtesy towards others, especially elders that you would naturally give up your seat to someone of older age status. How is it that something done naturally and logically isn't adopted universally? I think I can relate this to the lecture today when professor Liu Jianhua talked about group mentality. I think it's embedded in Chinese culture that they are all a collective group and even if they are not family or sworn brothers (sisters too?) that they are all Chinese and should work together. Also a lot of emphasis is placed on age and authority. I can see there is definitely a power distance even between people of different ages.
The point of this remark is to emphasize the importance of collectivism. I've seen many people in Duluth just sit around on their seat, even take two seats while there are people in probably their late 50's or older standing. I wish the US had a more collectivism view in its culture.
This sight also made me evaluate myself in how I go about my Chinese heritage. I always knew about this gesture, but it made me aware and I gladly gave up my seat on the way back to a lady older than I.
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