At the end the year, it’s time to start thinking about everyone’s favorite topic: gifts! More specifically (确切地), the giving of gifts and the culture surrounding them. Coming from the US, I have found gift-giving to be quite different in China compared to my home country. One example is the timing of when to open a gift. In the US, the person who gives the gift (let’s call them the “gifter”) will often want to see the person who gets the gift (the “giftee”) open the present as soon as they get it. They want to see their reaction (反应) of excitement and joy. In China, however, it’s more polite to thank the gifter for the gift and open it later in the privacy (私密).

Another aspect (方面) I found different was the openness and directness (直接) of giving money. Although people in the US might give money to their children, it is usually done very secretly with the money put in a card and not discussed out loud. In China, money will be put in a flashy (显眼的) red envelope and given to giftees an open and direct way.

Finally, the monetary value (金钱的价值) of the gift can play a big role in China in ways that are different from the US. An expensive gift in the US is usually greeted with great excitement. But in China, it can make the giftee feel awkward (尴尬的). Besides, they will also get a sense of having to return the favor (恩惠) in the future to the gifter.

So, the next time you give a gift to somebody, remember that culture and meaning are part of every action we take.

When someone does something for us or gives us something, saying “thank you” is good manners. When we hurt someone, saying “I’m sorry” is also good manners. It’s good manners to say “excuse me” if we need to get another person’s attention. However, good manners are not only words but also actions. When we give someone else our seats on a crowded(拥挤的) bus, when we hold the door open for another person to walk through, when we knock before opening the closed door of a room, those things show good manners. When we meet someone for the first time, it’s good manners to smile and say “hello” and give our name. When people come to our house, it’s good manners to greet them with a smile, and say something like “thank you for coming” when they go home.

Sometimes, good manners be the things we don’t do. When we don’t talk with a full mouth or cut into the line, that is showing good manners. When we don’t try to get the attention of someone on the telephone, that’s good manners, too.

People often feel “not quite right”. Bad weather, a stressful(紧张的) day, and sickness can make people upset easily. But when we use good manners, we can make people feel more comfortable.