Journal of Intercultural Discussions

My name: Bingling Cai

Date: 2010-07-22 - 29

Journal entry number: 1

Topic of the online discussion: Cultural excursion

Discussion partners: Ji Hae Park and Danielle Nicklaus

From the discussion, I learned the noon means 12 o'clock in America, which is the same in China. But 12 o'clock at noon should be 12:00 p.m., which I made a mistake for 12:00 a.m. Because in China, 12 o'clock at noon actually counts in the forenoon, a.m., which is different in America. Honestly, when I saw Danielle told me that 12 o'clock at noon is actually 12:00 p.m. but not 12:00 a.m. in the email, I laughed in front of my computer. And every time when I thought I asked Danielle, "Shall we meet at 12:00 a.m.?" in my email, I felt funny for myself and cannot help laughing. (Imagine we will meet at the mid-night to visit a museum.) But after that, I felt a little embarrassed that I had been in America for almost one year, but still did not have no idea about what time the noon is. I think Danielle would feel surprised and interesting for my question first, and then a little funny. But I believe she would definitely enjoyed the interesting experience about exchanging the different senses of time between American and Chinese culture. So I would like to find out more about the differences about the meal time, working time, schooling time and relaxing time in America and China.

And I also learned that both Asian and American people like to get together with many friends. And I think the other group members were all very excited about planning the cultural excursion. But when Danielle asked our opinions about the cultural excursion, I felt a little hesitated to express my willing, because I was afraid that if I gave some opinion conflicting with other group members', it would be not polite. And I think Danielle was also very ambivalent to give her decision. On one side, she might want to tell us her ideas; on the other side, she might be afraid that her suggestion would interfere with our thinking. So I wonder how to avoid or overcome this unnecessary worry in the cross-cultural communication. Anyway, Danielle did a great job in deciding the destination of the cultural excursion. On one hand, she clearly expressed her ideas; on the other hand, she asked for and adopted our opinions.