I am a Chinese student who has been studying abroad for two years. When I first arrived, I was filled with a sense of freshness and curiosity about everything here. However, over time, I became aware of the cultural differences between me and the local residents.
In my interactions with the locals, I developed a strong friendship with a classmate named Li Wanghua. He not only gave me a lot of guidance on local customs and culture, but also gave me a deeper understanding of the local people.
At one point, however, one of his things shocked me.
One weekend evening, I visited Li Wanghua's mansion. His home is located in a small villa on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by tranquility and pleasantness, making it an ideal place to live.
It was winter, and the weather was bitterly cold. We chatted in the living room for a while, and suddenly heard Wang Hua's mother crying silently. It turned out that her grandson, a five-month-old baby, died in the hospital because of a rare disease.
I was also very saddened to hear this news, and at the same time could not understand their family traditions and cultural Xi.
Wang Hua's father also returned home because of the news of the baby's death, he walked into the child's room, hugged the baby's body, and said that he wanted to accompany the baby for one night. I was shocked and puzzled by this scene.
In my hometown, this practice is very rare, and it is common to cremate and bury deceased relatives as soon as possible. I originally thought that Wang Hua's father would make the same decision, but the reality was very different.
The next morning, I woke up from the sofa in the living room and walked straight into the child's room. Wang Hua's father stood at the door, his face pale, and there were tears in the corners of his eyes.
I knew he must not have slept well last night, but I didn't expect him to choose to keep vigil in the child's room. On his shoulder, Wang Hua's mother sat weakly, tears streaming down.
I am deeply saddened and sympathetic for the misfortune that has befallen this family.
Li Ming, will they still do this?I asked in a low voice. "Of course, it's our family tradition that parents stay with their children all night after they pass away.
This is a kind of respect for the deceased, and it is also a kind of comfort for the child's heart. Li Ming replied softly. I nodded silently, and although I didn't fully understand this Xi, at this moment, I chose to remain silent.
Here, I gradually realized the weight of life and death in people's hearts, and the difference between different cultures. Perhaps, there is a unique and profound meaning hidden behind each culture.
Li Ming, Wang Hua's elder brother, walked into the child's room. He looked at the corpse of his father holding the child in his arms, and there was an indescribable look on his face. Li Ming has lived abroad for many years and has a significant generation gap with his father.
He felt that this practice was not only contrary to the views of modern medicine, but also an unhealthy Xi. "Dad, it's not good for you physically and mentally to go on like this, the child is gone, you should also have a good rest.
Li Ming persuaded with concern.
Wang Hua's father remained silent, just hugging the child tightly. Wang Hua's mother also stood up and said angrily to Li Ming: "You person who doesn't know anything about traditional culture, don't talk nonsense here!."
This is our family affair, and it has nothing to do with you!All of a sudden, the atmosphere became tense. I stood aside and felt a little embarrassed. In my hometown, the culture of filial piety is also highly respected, but in the face of such a huge cultural difference, I really don't know how to reconcile.
Li Ming stared at his parents, his eyes revealing confusion and entanglement. He took a deep breath, tried to calm his emotions, and then said, "Mom and Dad, I understand your feelings, but this incident has hit us hard enough.
We should respect everyone's ideas, but also take into account everyone's emotions. Dad, you've had a hard night's work, and now, please put down your children and get some rest.
Wang Hua's father listened to Li Ming's words, slowly put down the child, stood up and left the room. Wang Hua's mother also followed, with a hint of helplessness and pain in her eyes.
This family conflict gave me a deep experience of the conflicts and challenges caused by cultural differences. At home, the collision of old ideas and new ideas often leads to conflicts and distress.
Everyone's thoughts and lifestyles are influenced by a variety of factors such as culture, environment, etc., and under this influence, family relationships can easily get tangled. However, understanding and respect between family members are also key to resolving conflicts.
Although we live overseas and are in a foreign country, we need to learn to appreciate and respect the differences of each culture. For our family, we bring our own culture and Xi, a unique tradition that, although sometimes confusing me, is deeply precious to me and deserves my understanding and respect.
Therefore, I decided to take the time to learn about the culture and Xi of the place and be more cautious and considerate when communicating with the locals. Perhaps, only through mutual understanding and respect can we better handle family relationships and make the collision between different cultures more harmonious.
I responded quietly, and although I was unfamiliar with this traditional Xi, it was not appropriate to comment at this moment. Here, I gradually realized the value of life and death for people, and the differences between different cultures.
Perhaps, there is a unique and far-reaching meaning behind each culture. As time passed, Wang Hua's family gradually recovered from the death of their son. However, the grief did not dissipate there.
Whenever I visit his house, I always feel a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. Wang Hua's parents have never been able to extricate themselves from the pain of losing their child, especially Wang Hua's mother, who often cries all night long.
I stepped into Wang Hua's house again, and as before, Wang Hua's mother was sitting in the living room, and although the tears had just stopped, they were flooding in her eyes. I thought for a moment, walked over to her, and whispered comfort.
She wiped away her tears and said to me gratefully, "Wang Hua's friend is so good. At this time, Wang Hua's father walked out of the room with a somewhat solemn expression.
Wang Hua said to his mother seriously: "Mom, I want to discuss something with you. The mother looked at him curiously, waiting for his next step. "What would your father think if he were to remarry?
Wang Hua asked cautiously. "Remarriage?The mother's face suddenly turned pale, "When are you going to remarry?""No, that's not what I meant.
Wang Hua hurriedly explained, "I just want to hear your opinion. "Remarriage?Is my son so bad?He hasn't completely left, and you're thinking about finding me a stepmother?
The mother burst into tears.
I need to make it clear to you!"Wang Hua looked very anxious. Seeing this, I immediately walked up, hoping to ease the atmosphere. I was very surprised and troubled by this scene.
I understand that in Wang Hua's family, both Wang Hua and his parents have their own troubles and conflicts. Perhaps, in the midst of the grief of the family, they will also encounter some neglected problems and feelings.
These contradictions may arise in every corner of the family.
Witnessing this scene of Wang Hua's family, I was deeply shocked. This clash of cultures has left me with a lot of thoughts. I began to reflect on my own family. Although we also have some family traditions, they are very different from the Wang Hua family.
I think of my parents who were far away, who were always open and accepting to new things I was exposed to. That night, Wang Hua's parents stayed in the child's room, unable to extricate themselves from their grief.
It also made me realize more deeply the impermanence of life and the differences between people. In the following time, Wang Hua and I delved into many topics about family, life and cultural differences.
I began to understand their way of life better and tried to understand different cultural concepts from my perspective.
Gradually, I realized that the intersection and integration of cultures is inevitable and that everyone has their own unique values and lifestyles. It made me reflect on my life in a foreign country.
I've learned that it's essential to embrace and respect different cultures. I still remember one day, I invited Wang Hua to come to my house to cook Chinese food together. I taught him how to make dumplings, and he taught me how to make traditional local food.
In this interaction, we have a deeper understanding of each other's cultures, which also strengthens our friendship.
Time has passed, and I have lived in a foreign country for several years. Whenever I look back on this journey of life, I deeply realize that the conflicts and contradictions in life are inescapable realities, but it is these contradictions and disputes that give life a richer connotation and diversity.
I will continue to strive to accept and respect different cultures, and I hope that I can be a bridge for cultural exchange.
Perhaps, every culture contains its charm and admiration, and it is these charms that enrich human civilization and allow us to progress in the integration of various cultures.
The conflicts and strife in our lives are not barriers between us, but rather the propulsion of our progress. May we build a better future together in the process of accepting and respecting others.