This culture clash with German expectations around hard rules, politeness, clear right and wrong and stranger/friend divide is absolutely something that can lead to misunderstandings within Europe too.
In Scotland, the typical interpersonal approach is (genuinely) friendly AND disagreeable. Can quite happily switch from welcoming and joking to heated argument and back again. This applies to both strangers and close friends. Both Germans and Americans can really get upset by this for opposite reasons. I definitely toned down the argumentativeness while in Taiwan. The general agreeableness takes a bit of getting used to. But as you say, better apadpt a little if you want to make friends.
Thanks Nathan! I am learning myself and believe me...there’s a lot to it, both for businesses AND just living here as a person. One bonus one. If you do noisy construction in your apartment, give your neighbors something small like a basket of fruit. It’s not about the fruit, it’s to show that you are aware that you have inconvenienced them.
Despite having (previously) lived in Taiwan for three years, I didn't know about Pua̍h-kám-tsîng (跋感情)... I guess that's the cost of not learning Taiwanese, but though I didn't know that term I recognize the sentiment. I wonder if it has an equivalent in Hakka? (I lived in Taoyuan). I remember all the vegetable/fruit gardens, even a rice paddy in the middle of the city. Any unpaved open space other than an official park sprouted food plants. I eventually learned that one could approach the local land registry office (is that the right term?) about any abandoned open space and request to be put in contact with the owner to negotiate rights to plant a vegetable garden. If the government is the owner, I think the rights are usually granted for free (not sure, never tried it myself). That's another example of small scale Taiwanese scrappiness--there's open land in a convenient location, let's get some fresh fruits and vegetables!
Even within the United States, there are distinctions on the peach-to-coconut continuum. Many people from the northeastern states who have moved to the San Francisco Bay Area have told me that people here seem really friendly on the outside but then later turn out to be flaky or even deceptive, whereas in places like NYC people are much more rude but when push comes to shove they are more trustworthy.
You are very correct, Sara, about the peach-coconut continuum within the states! In Taiwan too, there are complexities within the complexities. But I’m happy that this take resonated with most readers.
i've never heard the phrase "peach" or "coconut" culture before! correct me if i'm wrong, but is it more or less equivalent to generations being described as 榴槤族 and 草莓族?
Teddy bear with a shiv, love it!
This culture clash with German expectations around hard rules, politeness, clear right and wrong and stranger/friend divide is absolutely something that can lead to misunderstandings within Europe too.
In Scotland, the typical interpersonal approach is (genuinely) friendly AND disagreeable. Can quite happily switch from welcoming and joking to heated argument and back again. This applies to both strangers and close friends. Both Germans and Americans can really get upset by this for opposite reasons. I definitely toned down the argumentativeness while in Taiwan. The general agreeableness takes a bit of getting used to. But as you say, better apadpt a little if you want to make friends.
Would love more posts like this!
Thanks Nathan! I am learning myself and believe me...there’s a lot to it, both for businesses AND just living here as a person. One bonus one. If you do noisy construction in your apartment, give your neighbors something small like a basket of fruit. It’s not about the fruit, it’s to show that you are aware that you have inconvenienced them.
Despite having (previously) lived in Taiwan for three years, I didn't know about Pua̍h-kám-tsîng (跋感情)... I guess that's the cost of not learning Taiwanese, but though I didn't know that term I recognize the sentiment. I wonder if it has an equivalent in Hakka? (I lived in Taoyuan). I remember all the vegetable/fruit gardens, even a rice paddy in the middle of the city. Any unpaved open space other than an official park sprouted food plants. I eventually learned that one could approach the local land registry office (is that the right term?) about any abandoned open space and request to be put in contact with the owner to negotiate rights to plant a vegetable garden. If the government is the owner, I think the rights are usually granted for free (not sure, never tried it myself). That's another example of small scale Taiwanese scrappiness--there's open land in a convenient location, let's get some fresh fruits and vegetables!
Even within the United States, there are distinctions on the peach-to-coconut continuum. Many people from the northeastern states who have moved to the San Francisco Bay Area have told me that people here seem really friendly on the outside but then later turn out to be flaky or even deceptive, whereas in places like NYC people are much more rude but when push comes to shove they are more trustworthy.
You are very correct, Sara, about the peach-coconut continuum within the states! In Taiwan too, there are complexities within the complexities. But I’m happy that this take resonated with most readers.
This was really well written, helps put some interesting context for me after living here a long while.
i've never heard the phrase "peach" or "coconut" culture before! correct me if i'm wrong, but is it more or less equivalent to generations being described as 榴槤族 and 草莓族?