When I invite people in my home, I welcome people who do not use my stuff without asking, who do not come at too early morning or too late evening, and who do not enter my ‘private space’ without notice. First of all, I would like you to feel comfortable in my house. If you use my stuff without notice and broke it, you feel responsibility. However, if you ask me before use it, you have no responsibility, because I allow you to use it. In this case, I have responsibility. Therefore, it is important for you to ask me before use my stuff. Second, I may consider that people who come my home at too early morning or too late evening are senseless. The reason is that I cannot ready to invite you at that time. I have private time. I usually sleep at that time. Therefore, if you have to come my home at too early morning or too late evening, I would like you to inform me before you come. Third, you should ask me as well as the first rule, before enter my ‘private space’. I have ‘public spaces’ (living room and bathroom) and ‘private space’ (bedroom) in my home because I do not like that someone sees all of my living area. Although I welcome you to use ‘public spaces’, I would like you to tell when you want to enter my ‘private space’. If you follow my easy three rules, I will really welcome you.
There are similarities and differences about these rules between Canadians and me. From my experience, both Canadians and me do not want to show their ‘private space’. In addition, they hate that someone come their house in senseless time. These are similarities between Canadians and me. However, I think Canadians let gests be freer than me. For example, my Canadian host family lets me be free to use their stuff. This is difference between Canadians and me.
However, it is not a matter of difference between Canadian and me. I consider my boundaries in these regards not to be primary cultural, but personal. The reason is that I think many people usually have these rules regardless of culture. Japanese is also hate to show their ‘private space’ and visitation in senseless time. Therefore, my boundaries are personal.
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