Asia has long tradition of tea-drinking. And China is no exception.

However, lately more and more Chinese people are turning to a different drink. Coffee has become an increasingly popular choice of Chinese people living abroad and in the country’s huge cities. It is also a popular crop among those living in the mountains of southern Yunnan Province.

In big cities such as Beijing, coffee shops seem to be on nearly every major street corner. These shops are not just selling drinks from Starbucks, the world-famous coffee company. Coffee businesses from South Korea, Taiwan, HongKong and Britain are also operating in China.

Tea-drinking is steeped in the culture and traditions of many countries, like China and Japan. But is that changing? Are young people from Asia now choosing a cup of coffee instead of tea?

BeiBei Su is from China. She has been living in the United States for the past eight years. Before that, she lived in Italy for two years. Ms. Su says she likes tea better than coffee. But she adds that may not be true among the young generation in China. Many young Chinese people drink coffee socially ---when meeting with friends. Yang Lin lives in the U.S. but comes from an area in China famous for growing tea. She used to only drink tea while in China. But now, she says, she drinks both and for different reasons.

Yang Lin says that drinking coffee for her is a social event. She and her co-workers like to sit in a cafe and talk over a cup of coffee. Voyo is another Chinese woman who now lives in Washington, D.C. She says that after moving to the U.S. her tastes changed. We would call her a coffee convert, someone who now chooses to drink coffee.

With more people drinking coffee, many see an economic(经济的）opportunity for Chinese-grown beans. China-grown coffee could be a money-maker even if most of the coffee on sale in China is imported(进口的).

The US Surgeon General released a report on Tuesday calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness and lack of connection in the United States.【小题1】

It highlights that a lack of social connection can present significant health risks, as loneliness can increase risk of premature death by 26% and social isolation(孤立)by 29%. Insufficient social connection has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, loneliness was reported among the primary motivations of self-harm.

【小题2】 The report lays out a framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection, which provides recommendations for individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations that aim to increase social connection and improve overall health.【小题3】

The recommendations include changes of public facilities, such as developing parks and libraries. The framework also includes training for healthcare providers to allow for intervention if a patient is at risk for loneliness and its significant health consequences.【小题4】 Particularly, attention should be paid to how online interactions can potentially hold back meaningful connections. Lastly, the recommendations call for the cultivation of a culture of connection, stating that the informal interaction s of everyday life can significantly influence social connection.

There are some immediate steps you can take to reduce loneliness and increase social connection, such as reaching out to a friend or family member.【小题5】Actually it brings people together and strengthens the existing relationship.

Chinese culture values family bonds (纽带) very much. Family members don’t just gather during the holidays, in fact they often live under one roof all year round.

Different cultures have different family values. 【小题1】

In most East Asian cultures, extended families (大家庭) are common. 【小题2】 According to the Atlantic, 90 percent of children in Shanghai and 70 percent of children in Beijing were cared for by their grandparents. Chinese people believe that “a grandparent is a treasure to their family”.

In many Western countries, most families are nuclear families (小家庭). These are only made up of children and their parents.

Additionally, the duties parents have toward their children can also differ.

【小题3】 It’s normal for parents to pay for their children’s college, help them find a job, or buy them an apartment. Chinese adults also follow their parents’ opinions when making major life decisions, more often than not.

In most Western countries, however, kids usually move out of the house after they turn 18. 【小题4】 Also, if they choose to keep living with their parents after becoming an adult, it can be seen by some as a failure on their part.

While the East cares more about close family bonds, the West values privacy and independence. 【小题5】 Families will always be a source of love, warmth, and care for people around the world.