After immigrating to the U.S. and living or studying in the United States, you will often be asked various questions when interacting with American classmates and professors. Many of these are polite, social pleasantries typical of initial acquaintances, such as: "Where are you from in China?", "What is the climate like there?", "Are you used to American food?", "Why did you choose this university?", "What subjects are taught in Chinese high schools?", and so on. We believe most international students can answer these questions with ease. However, given the significant differences between China and the U.S. in many aspects, international students may often encounter misunderstandings or biases regarding Chinese culture from their American peers. In many cases, they are very willing to hear you share interesting stories and the true situation of your country. Handling and answering these questions well can, on the other hand, strengthen communication, make you more popular, and accelerate your adaptation to life abroad.
So, when interacting with American classmates and teachers, what reasonable communication skills should international students master for those questions that might be difficult to answer?
1. In social situations where you are meeting for the first time, it is better to discuss light and casual topics. You should not only learn to respond easily but also learn to ask questions about topics that interest both you and the other person, such as asking about their hometown and customs. This makes the conversation two-way, smooth, and sustainable.
2. Sensitive topics such as politics and religion are generally not suitable for casual acquaintances. When asked about a topic you are uncomfortable with, it is perfectly fine to express that you are not interested.
3. When chatting with classmates you are becoming more familiar with, you can appropriately display your sense of humor, such as self-deprecation or even light-hearted self-mockery.
However, the boundaries and communication styles for certain topics differ from those used when talking to your fellow countrymen. For example, it has become a norm for Chinese people to complain about various things around them, such as the frequently mentioned smog or gutter oil. But if you complain about these things to Americans who are not familiar with China's national conditions, they will neither be interested nor resonate with you. If you are not careful, they might take the phenomena you describe as universal, turning them into biases about the entire country or all Chinese people.
Moreover, a person who loves to complain will not be popular in the long run. Just think, who likes to be surrounded by negative energy during a conversation?
Additionally, before immigrating to the U.S. for studies, you might want to brush up on your knowledge of Chinese culture and history, especially by converting this information into English in your mind. When you confidently and fluently explain the culture and history of your motherland to your American classmates, the feeling will be truly wonderful.
