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Time for more 'opening up'
Updated: 2010-02-26 17:42
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On 'Can laowai make 'real' friends?'
Time for more 'opening up'
This question has haunted me for a long time and I did not figure out a way of finding real friendships here, which is kind-of strange for me, being from a Latin country where we usually establish good friendships easily. We surely need to understand and respect the cultural differences. We need to understand that the speed that things are changing creates a spirit of competition.
However, I would really like to see more people getting together for common causes and sharing experiences, instead of people having a fear of opening themselves up to others. I hope the Chinese people will learn fast to care more about others around them and drop the selfishness that prevails today because this would make them a very happy and much richer nation.
Felipe
Forget you are alaowai
It's normal, and it's all about culture. Making friends in another country is very hard for everyone - I, a Chinese, live in another country and have the same feeling as you guys have. My suggestion is to be part of them. Forget that you are alaowai, then they will treat you as a friend. Don't expect they will follow your way, just follow their way - learn about Chinese culture, show your love of Chinese culture, then you will find real Chinese friends in China. Good luck!
LaoPeng
