Friends

Western Vs Asians

Key:
Blue --> Westerners
Red –> Asians

(1) Opinion

Westerners: Talk to the point.
Asians: Talk around the circle, especially if opinions are different.

(2) Way of Life

Westerners: Individualism, think of himself or herself.
Asians: Enjoy gathering with family and friends, solving their problems, and know each other's business.

(3) Punctuality

Westerners: On time.
Asians: In time.

(4) Contacts

Westerners: Contact to related person only.
Asians: Contact everyone everywhere, business very successful.

(5) Anger

Westerners: Show that I am angry.
Asians: I am angry, but still smiling... (Beware!)

(6) Queue when Waiting

Westerners: Queuing in an orderly manner.
Asians: Queuing?! What's that?

(7) Sundays on the Road

Westerners: Enjoy weekend relaxing peacefully.
Asians: Enjoy weekend in crowded places, like going to the mall.

(8) Party

Westerners: Only gather with their own group.
Asians: All focus on the one activity that is hosted by the CEO.

(9) In the restaurant

Westerners: Talk softly and gently in the restaurant.
Asians: Talk and laugh loudly like they own the restaurant.

(10) Travelling

Westerners: Love sightseeing and enjoy the scenery.
Asians: Taking picture is the most important; scenery is just for the background.

(11) Handling of Problems

Westerners: Take any steps to solve the problems.
Asians: Try to avoid conflicts, and if can, don't leave any trail.

(12) Three meals a day

Westerners: Good meal for once a day is sufficed.
Asians: At least 3 good meals a day.

(13) Transportation

Westerners: Before drove cars, now cycling for environmental protection.
Asians: Before no money and rode a bike, now got money and drive a car.

(14) Elderly in day-to-day life

Westerners: When old, there is snoopy for companionship.
Asians: When old, guarantee will not be lonely, as long as willing to babysit grandkids.

(15) Moods and Weather

Westerners: The logic is rain is pain.
Asians: More rain, more prosperity.

(16) The Boss

Westerners: The boss is part of the team.
Asians: The boss is a fierce god.

(17) What's Trendy

Westerners: Eat healthy Asian cuisine.
Asians: Eat expensive Western cuisine.

(18) The Child

Westerners: The kid is going to be independent and make his/her own living.
Asians: Slog whole life for the kids, the centre of your life.

Goodbye Mum

A young man shopping in a supermarket noticed a little old lady following him around. If he stopped, she stopped. Furthermore she kept staring at him.

She finally overtook him at the checkout, and she turned to him and said, "I hope I haven't made you feel ill at ease; it's just that you look so much like my late son."

He answered, "That's okay." "I know it's silly, but if you'd call out "Good bye, Mum" as I leave the store, it would make me feel so happy."

She then went through the checkout, and as she was on her way out of the store, the man called out, "Goodbye, Mum."

The little old lady waved, and smiled back at him. Pleased that he had brought a little sunshine into someone's day, he went to pay for his groceries. "That comes to $121.85," said the operator. "How come so much .... I only bought 5 items.." The operator replied, "Yeah, but your Mother said you'd be paying for her things, too."

The Barber & God

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Breathing Therapy

The nose has a left and a right side; we use both to inhale and exhale. Actually they are different.

The right side represents the sun, left side represents the moon. During a headache, try to close your right nose and use your left nose to breathe.

If you feel tired, just reverse, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose. After a while, you will feel your mind is refreshed.

Right side belongs to 'hot', so it gets heated up easily. Left side belongs to 'cold'. Most females breathe with their left noses, so they get "cooled off" faster. Most of the guys breathe with their right noses, they get worked up.

Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left or right? If left is faster, you will feel tired. So, close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refreshed quickly.

Source: Unknown

Have faith in Him

Ongoing Self Reflection

Just went through an informal meeting for MAP progress with J. Don’t know why I have an uneasy feeling after the meeting. Many doubts run through my mind.

Have I asked too many questions?

Have I asked questions that I’m not suppose to ask?

Have I been too aggressive in giving feedbacks?

Have I used the wrong vocabulary in my sentence structure?

Have I accidentally provoked or hurt anyone’s feeling during the meeting?

Have I said something that I’m not suppose to say?

Without realizing it, I became more sensitive than usual after having bad experiences with some friends in the past. I admit that certain characteristics of mine are dislikeable by others. However, I understand that I cannot please everyone in my life because I’m only a normal human being. Only those friends who know me well would accept me for being who I am.

I have done my best to always improve myself by getting feedbacks from friends. I always try to fit into everyone but yet I’m being hold back by my own fear. The fear of accidentally hurting someone’s feeling without my knowing when I talk. This is my biggest concern when interacting with people.

Sometimes I really admire those girls with innocent-looking face because indirectly they have won the hearts of many. However, I was born with this cool-looking face which I think sometimes it has frighten people away thinking that I’m not approachable.

I always try to treat everyone politely but somehow it leads to people thinking that I’m either too formal or not friendly enough and that I’m cautious in my words and actions which created a barrier between us.

My friends always say that I’m too naive because I still see the world as a beautiful place which sometimes in reality it’s not that way.

My straight forward attitude is my biggest concern too because being too straight forward might lead to blunt words. But if you really know me well, be rest assured that I am sincere when I treat you as friends because I know how it feels when we’re not being treated sincerely.

First Impression

Life – As You See It

Friend: How’s life treating you?

Me: Life has been treating me with sweet, sour, bitter and spicy taste. It was harsh to me for a certain period but giving wonderful journey along the way! =)

How you feel in life very much depends on how you perceive and interpret it. Different people might feel differently giving the same situation to them. So before you start changing your life, change the way you think.

It’s November

It has been a long time since I last updated my blog. Work life definitely not as free as study life. The amount of free time I have is getting lesser. I guess that’s one of the reason for not updating my blog for so long. Well, of course I do have some time for personal life as well which is fully utilised for family and friends. Transition period is always the hardest to adjust the time. But one thing for sure, life is getting better with new working environment and new friends found. =)

To my dearest otto: I know for the past 5 months things have been tough for you. I know the situation has been harsh on you. I know it was difficult for you to endure. Hopefully, you can get over with it soon. After every stormy rain, there will always be a bright sun. May you start a brand new you with passion in your life’s journey!