West VS East
Many many times in my current MCP term, 'east' clashes 'west'. When I say clash, they didn't clash, but were very very different.
Last night, we were having dinner at Leon (my successor)'s parents' place. His parents, also my parents, and many other Asian AIESECers' parents, don't agree their kids continue AIESEC after graduation or delay their graduation for AIESEC.
After dinner, they asked those int'ls what do their parents think of them coming to China. To our surprise, most of the answers were like this - "I didn't need the approval of my parents. But they trust my decision making and support me." It is of course, quite shocking for me, Leon and his parents to know.
It suddenly reminded me that, when I was a bit younger, my parents always told me that I was not independent enough by giving me examples of how western kids can live on themselves since 16. Well...quite a few of them start working parttimely even younger than that. So...what's wrong with Asian kids?
Maybe we shall ask what's wrong with Asian parents first of all. They might need to learn more about 'empowering' instead of controlling. In all my previous experiences in AIESEC, and especially the MCP term, I've always found how important it is when I trust someone's ability and willingness of taking responsibility and achieving something. And it is also quite interesting to compare different kids treated by different parents, brought up in different socieities. Thus, the societies are certainly different.
Last night, we were having dinner at Leon (my successor)'s parents' place. His parents, also my parents, and many other Asian AIESECers' parents, don't agree their kids continue AIESEC after graduation or delay their graduation for AIESEC.
After dinner, they asked those int'ls what do their parents think of them coming to China. To our surprise, most of the answers were like this - "I didn't need the approval of my parents. But they trust my decision making and support me." It is of course, quite shocking for me, Leon and his parents to know.
It suddenly reminded me that, when I was a bit younger, my parents always told me that I was not independent enough by giving me examples of how western kids can live on themselves since 16. Well...quite a few of them start working parttimely even younger than that. So...what's wrong with Asian kids?
Maybe we shall ask what's wrong with Asian parents first of all. They might need to learn more about 'empowering' instead of controlling. In all my previous experiences in AIESEC, and especially the MCP term, I've always found how important it is when I trust someone's ability and willingness of taking responsibility and achieving something. And it is also quite interesting to compare different kids treated by different parents, brought up in different socieities. Thus, the societies are certainly different.
posted by Jingwei @ 5:34 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
welcome Chris to nomad!:)
Chinese parents are all right, I think we just need to prove ourselves more - i mean the whole generation, of being able to do sth on our own. Cuz I remember my parents telling me what they were able to do when they were 16 and they are still proud of that...
cheers and see you in Europe soon
if chinese kids become independent, then who takes care of their parents?
perhaps the one child rule encourages today's young people to become independent since they can no longer trust to have children to take care of them in their senescence
Hi Chris!
Long time no talk - missed you!!!
Anyway, I think part of the reason why Chinese parents are so controlling is because they do not want their kids to go through the hardships that most of them went through growing up. Thus, the safest way to guarantee a safe and successful future for their kid is to have them do things that are not quite so risky.
Plus, Asian culture is conservative anyways. :-)
hey Chrissy!
I can so relate to that being Indian...hmmn...and i think you will always find this happening, its what chinese parents think is right because of the way they were brought up... its part of our culture....like Wing said, its about the generation proving themselves......your generation will probably be very different as parents...
Chris!!!! Its been long, I know :)
Just getting up to date with all the people I forgot to update with :)
Don't worry, its not a parent problem.... and its not an asian problem. You will find the same way of thought in practically every corner of the world.
Don't need to change your parents and the way they raise you... as Wing and Jesse said... it all has its pros and cons and we all have to deal with ourselves.
At least we have an identity and our values are aligned in a way that we still respect those who raised us (at some point)...
What we need is kids to stand up and make things for themselves and showing parents their education and how they raised us is still there... in a different way, at a different time.
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