6)+Partner+Paper

=__Paper based on interaction with Xiaofeng__= Around The World

For this assignment, to branch out from what we are accustomed to in our every day life and learn a little something about people on different longitudes and latitudes on this planet was very eye opening for me. My new friend whom I met through this project was born and raised in China, but now has come to Hawaii to study at UH Manoa. We discussed some cultural differences and similarities and I was curious to have learned about Chinese lifestyles, especially since we were looking at some Chinese philosophies in class. My partner, Xiaofeng, sent me a symbol of what is called a "bagua". The Bagua is in close relation with the yin and yang philosophy, which in Chinese culture is extremely relative and is practiced as a lifestyle. The yin and yang are derived from Taoist philosophy and they represent balance in all aspects of life. The Yin yang represents balance through complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system. Xiofeng explained to me that the yin and yang theory is not something that is necessarily thought about and focused on, but a lifestyle one learns to live by and practice habitually. The bagua specifically are eight diagrams used to represent the fundamental principles of reality, seen as a range of eight interrelated concepts; these are Heaven, Sky /Lake, Marsh /Fire /Thunder /Wind /Water /Mountain/Earth. The literature my partner provided was a very traditional Chinese song called Mo Li Hua, which is sung about beautiful Jasmine flowers. This song holds much tradition and dates back to the period of the Qing Dynasty. The song's focus a traditional flower of Chinese culture, the Jasmine that is associated attachment, sensuality, modesty, grace and elegance. The sign I sent back to my partner was a gesture commonly used here in Hawaii, that I think represents a big part of what Hawaii is and why it is such a special place. I sent Xiaofeng a picture of a "shaka". He was actually surprised because he has been living in Hawaii now for two years but never really thought about what it means, more than just hello. The shaka could embody terms like “hang loose” or “right on”, but really the shaka is a constant reminder that in Hawaii, it is not the norm to worry or rush. The shaka represents the island style that we live by here in Hawaii. By using a shaka one can be saying, hello, goodbye, sorry, thank you, or many other things but overall the shaka is spreading Aloha. For people who come from around the world they would have to learn that Hawaii is part of America but it is very different. Not just for the obvious reasons like its beauty but the Aloha lifestyle that dictates the tempo and emotions of our lives. By spreading aloha you are spreading the love and one way to do this that everyone understand is by throwing a shaka. Chinese culture and culture in Hawaii have an area where they overlap. Culture here in Hawaii cannot be labeled by just one culture because it is influenced by many cultures including many Asian practices. In Hawaii you can find many signs of culture originating from China. Xiaofend was surprised by how much Chinese influence he was surrounded by when coming to Hawaii. Though it was not the same by any means, he would find pockets of home in many places throughout Hawaii. Some things he found to be common through both home and Hawaii were the sincerity of the people, tradition, and respect. Xiaofeng is enjoying the sort of "hybrid" culture here in Hawaii and he also stated that yin and yang, and this balance of lifestyle seemed very relevant in our society. Xiaofeng was pleased to find that even though his life was changed by coming here he could still keep Chinese traditions, and even while branching out and living a new life he could have a taste of home still in his mouth. Why does the idea of balance in life hold so much significance in Chinese culture? Xiaofeng stressed the idea of yin and yang; this idea of balance embedded in Chinese life. In Chinese life they know one thing will not serve to the answer of anything and can distort the true meaning of what one should get out of life. In this culture they strive to find yin in yang, and yang in yin. This is a reality of life. In life, you hardly find a situation that is pure yin or pure yang. There are seeds of sadness in happiness and opportunities in every risk. A challenge in life is to balance the yin and yang in things we do. The better we are in finding the equilibrium, the more effective we can be. Since we had studied Lao Tzu I found a relevant passage that uses yin and yang in a way to portray how life should be approached. “The Sage who is Forthright but not hurting; Sharp but not wounding, Candid but not being crude; Shining but not dazzling." The gift that China gives to this World is that of tranquility, hard work, balance, and connection with one's surroundings. Currently in the world, China is on the rise in becoming one of the most important countries in the world. Their scholars are excelling, technology is advancing, and they buy us out of debt every year. They are establishing themselves as one of the most elite. I think this is no coincidence, from what I learned from my partner and through doing this project, about the people. The people of this country are brought up and are quickly taught traditions and how one should go about in this world. Just as Xiaofeng has traveled here to Hawaii with ambitious goals to become a professor and learn as much as he can in everything he does, the people in China are taught to be ambitious and this idea of yin and yang is stressed in education so not only are the people eager to learn all they can through teachings, they apply these teachings to life and build on that for a deeper understanding. I am happy to have learned about culture outside of my own life and though my new understanding of Chinese life may be small, I have seen that by the Taoist philosophies that many aspects of the Chinese life is influenced, the Chinese are dedicated, ambitious, and well balanced.