How Do Our Cultural Backgrounds Shape Our Interactions?
Understanding our own cultural identity is the first step in building meaningful connections with others. It helps us recognize our biases, values, and communication styles before exploring cultural differences. Just as we discussed questions like "What kind of things do you mention when introducing yourself to others?" in class, we first reflected on ourselves based on our cultural background, and then we got to know other's opinions by listening. Naturally, this kind of communication made culture flow. When meeting others for the first time, introductory topics such as sharing one's name, hometown, and hobbies are similar in both my home country, China, and in Japan. Since these two countries are both located in East Asia, I believe they have some shared traits in emphasizing politeness and maintaining respectful distance. Behaviors like hugging or being overly expressive may be considered inappropriate and rude in both cultures. Similarly, the Japanese practice of...