Unfortunately, there is no world culture forum, so I'm putting this in the Canadian culture forum for lack of a better place.
Today I came across the following statement from a Chinese EFL newspaper for middle school students:
"Chinese like putting their hands into their pockets when talking to Americans. Americans will think they are hiding guns or something like that in their hands."
No I have a few issues with this statement:
1. Honestly, I haven't noticed that many Chinese who put thie rhands in their pockets out of habbit, and those who do do it whenever, not specifically when speaking to Americans.
2. I have a hard time believing that the gun situation in the US is so bad that it's become a Pavlovian reflex across US culture to immediately assume that a person with his hands in his pockets must have a gun on him! Now I know the US is indeed overrun with firearms, but I cannot for the likfe of me immagine it's THAT bad. Please tell me the article is wrong.
Today I came across the following statement from a Chinese EFL newspaper for middle school students:
"Chinese like putting their hands into their pockets when talking to Americans. Americans will think they are hiding guns or something like that in their hands."
No I have a few issues with this statement:
1. Honestly, I haven't noticed that many Chinese who put thie rhands in their pockets out of habbit, and those who do do it whenever, not specifically when speaking to Americans.
2. I have a hard time believing that the gun situation in the US is so bad that it's become a Pavlovian reflex across US culture to immediately assume that a person with his hands in his pockets must have a gun on him! Now I know the US is indeed overrun with firearms, but I cannot for the likfe of me immagine it's THAT bad. Please tell me the article is wrong.