2025 Manxuan’s Blog

Welcome back, my friends! 💜 This week, we explored the nature of conversations and discussions around us. The questions raised were quite typical, yet revealing. I was particularly surprised to find that one of us enjoys talking about politics. I had assumed our generation was largely indifferent to such topics. It turns out, that's my own stereotype. 💧In my culture, politics is more seen as something discussed by older men–who speak as if they know everything, even when they don't. Personally, I tend to reserve abstract discussions for close friends.  I enjoy meaningful exchanges, but only when I feel a strong sense of familiarity and trust. That’s why I found one guy’s comment especially intriguing–he said he often talks about deep topics with people he barely knows, as a way to “test” whether they’re worth forming a deeper connection with. His idea is really constructive and thought-provoking. After all, it's lucky to meet someone with whom you share a kind of soul ...

As a Chinese student, life was basically a countdown to the gaokao. School meant discipline, long days, endless homework, and the belief that hard work = a better future. Club activities? Not really a thing. Every minute counted. My impression of Japanese school life, though? That c oming  from anime and the internet , looked   totally different from what I was living. There were cherry blossoms, cute uniforms, and bukatsu . They had love stories,   free time , and colorful school memories . I honestly thought, “Wow, school in Japan must be so much better.” But then I learned there’s more to it. Japanese students also go to juku   and   yobiko (cram schools) , worry about university entrance exams, and face quiet pressure to succeed. The idea that education leads to a bright future? It's just as strong in Japan as in China. University life isn’t all freedom either.  Zemi  is challenging—deep discussions, presentations, even research, an...

In this week's class, I had the chance to reflect on how cultural backgrounds shape our values in the workplace. One of the most engaging discussions centered on what factors we prioritize when choosing a job. For me, company culture and values matter a lot. I want a workplace where being myself is accepted. In China, though, visible self-expression—such as dyed hair or piercings—is often discouraged, and wearing uniforms is commonly required. I shared my thoughts hoping someone would relate—but surprisingly, a girl from Western cultures said it’s totally fine in her country. That moment reminded me there's such a strong premium placed on norms in Asian workplace culture.  On the other hand, Western companies often emphasize open discussion and debate, where everyone—regardless of title or age—can share ideas without much fear of judgment or career risk. I admire this model because I believe real progress happens when people feel safe to share ideas, challenge each other, and ...

Sleep is universal, but how we perceive and manage it varies greatly across cultures.  It's widely known that sleep is closely linked to health. Interestingly, although most Japanese sleep less than eight hours a night, Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. This raises questions about how much sleep we truly need and how we define quality rest.  Take Japan's "inemuri", for example– the act of dozing off in public . It's not uncommon to spot people napping on trains or even in offices; some even master the art of standing naps! I was quite surprised to learn that it's unusual in Europe, because in my home country, our Chinese also take snaps during the day.  Besides, traditional views emphasize sufficient rest for a long life, yet the rise of modern lifestyles means many people (myself included) go to bed at 2 a.m. This probably explains the growing reliance on energy drinks and excessive caffeine intake. But between sleep deprivation and...

      As I mentioned in my last blog, diverse cultures require open-mindedness and mutual respect. Embracing people's different ways of living, working, and  interacting  helps us connect more deeply, no matter where we come from.      In my culture,  we use eye contact mainly to recognize someone we know, not as a way to greet strangers.   N odding and smiling, two warm gestures, are generally reserved for friends or people we are familiar with. When passing someone I don’t know, I always find myself looking at my phone, which masks the awkwardness of not knowing how to react. T his seems quite normal in my home country, but now I am getting used to smiling at others instead of hiding behind my screen. If it's such a nice way to show kindness, why not do it?      Last week's class discussion also made me realize that i t’s hard to fully show our personality in another language.  I arrived in Japan one month ago, and ...