Culture Difference

On a wall of my room is a blessed line-drawing picture of a rose with two sentences, “Thank you for being my friend. I’ll miss you.” That card is not only a memory of a friendship but also an experience of culture difference.

It reminded me of that summer I went to a summer camp at Ojai Valley School near Los Angeles. Carmen was my dormmate.  Although we did not join the same program, the time we spent together was very nice. I liked her because she was friendly and amicable, and she liked me for the same reason. However our good relationship didn’t last long since I had never recognized the differences between us.

One afternoon, we were supposed to clean up the dorm. I brought the broom and proposed that I would sweep the floor of the whole room, instead of just my half, and she would do the mopping. However, she sat on the bed and continued working. She seemed to be annoyed by me. “You could do that,” she said. I felt the atmosphere was a little awkward, but since I thought my proposal was a good and efficient cooperation, I ignored my discomfort and started sweeping. When I finished, I gave her the mop. Now it is your turn to mop the floor,” I told her and laid down on my bed. Suddenly, she stood up, saying, “Why should I help you mop the floor?” she stirred at me. Smiling and thinking she was joking, I replied, “Because I helped you sweep your part and now it’s your turn to help mop my part.” Then she got angry and only mopped her part of the floor, declaring “When you help someone, you’re not supposed to expect a return. That’s not the right attitude.” I was shocked and confused. I tried to explain to her, but both us were too furious and emotional to listen to each other.