The Direct and Indirect -Shirley's 248th Friendly Greeting -April 5,2010

Hi,Dear Friends

Happy Easter & Chinese Tomb-Sweep Day!

I am smiling when I write this letter to you, for what? For the coincidence once more -- when most of Western people are celebrating the Easter, Chinese people are celebrating the Tomb-sweeping Day. When you are enjoying your Easter holiday, we are enjoying our Tomb-sweeping vacation. When you are in memory of Jesus鈥� Re-birth, we are in memory of people鈥檚 death鈥�

I am thinking that maybe just the difference or similar in the Western and Eastern world are complementary and supporting each other, to build a whole of the world?

So, if we would like to work together for the same goal to keep peace, friendship and progress of human society, we will have to learn the others鈥� cultures continuously. Do you think so?

When I write here, something that I have met in my work this week jumps into my mind.

I am working between the top management of an American company and our company. I do find that the two highest leaders are similar and different. Both of them have foresights, wide chests, very smart business views, creative spirit, open and quick responding minds, they are quick well to care for their employees鈥� future and pay more attention to their social responsibilities鈥�

Anyway, they are totally different, too. The biggest difference in work field is American direct and Chinese indirect. As the managers that I have met in the US, the CEO of the American company responds me and anyone who has written to him directly; the general manager of our company corrects my work letters in person, taught me something patiently, but, all of the work letters are sent to the other company by me or the others.

Therefore, if you are going to work with a Chinese company first time, you cannot find an email address or a telephone number of its highest leader via Internet, you鈥檇 better to work with his/her underling at the first.

As one of important Chinese cultural phenomena, the Indirect not only exists in the management field, but also in many other fields. The most interesting is in the feeling field. Most of Chinese people do not express their feeling directly. People pay more attention to what you do instead of what you say. Most of Chinese people seldom speak 鈥淚 love you鈥� directly; they hide their love in what they have done for the others, to express their loving feelings via something they do. About this, I have explained it times in my music and poem explanations and hope it is helpful.

Have you had any international working or communication experience? What is your idea about direct and indirect? Do you agree with me that Western Style is more direct and Eastern Style is more indirect?

I am just a learner on art of painting, music and English, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate your understanding, directions, supports and hope to get your friendly direction and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirley004@yahoo.com, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sun.,April 5, 2010