Cultural Differences

Living in another culture generally tends to open one's eyes to the differences of your birth culture with the culture in which you are currently residing.  Most of us know these differences exist, but until you are exposed to them day and night, twenty-four seven, this reality simply is head knowledge.

Some of these cultural differences are big while some are small.

Some I understand.

Some I do not.

But that's ok.

There is one cultural difference that makes me sad.

I love watching my children play sports. I can't tell you how many hours I have witnessed Nick, Ben, Abbi, and Jacob engage in one sport or another. 

Football, baseball, softball, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, track, swimming, volleyball.

Some I enjoyed. Some I did not. 

But that really didn't matter. What did matter was supporting and encouraging my children in the activities they chose in which to participate. 

I am not alone.

Thursday evening we watched Abbi compete in a swim meet. We traveled  to Taipei Saturday to attend Jacob's middle school volleyball tournament. 

Looking around the spectators of these and other similar events, one of those cultural differences became evident. We westerners like, no better yet, love watching our children in sporting events.

This is not so with most Asian parents. While I know a few who come on a regular basis to games, to meets, most do not.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am simply making an observation. 

I am neither smart enough, wise enough, or have the authority to evaluate.

It just makes me sad, because I so greatly enjoy it and I think the parents of the students competing would probably, too. It just simply isn't part of their background knowledge. 

While Asian parents support and greatly encourage their children in other areas, sports simply are not a high priority. 

So with all this said, please excuse me for adding some  pictures and videos from a few of these sporting events. Do not feel obligated to watch.

As stated in an earlier blog, I post these videos so my mom and Carl's dad, and all the aunts and uncles, can share a little part of my kids' lives, even when they live so far away.

Once again, thank you for being a part of our lives!