Waves:

Diary of Chinese International Students in New

Zealand
Cultural norms
According to Anderson et. al (2009) norms are
the specific cultural expectations for how to
behave in a given situation. They are the
agreed-upon expectations and rules by which
the members of a culture behave. Norms is
different from culture to culture.
One type of norms is folkways. Folkways are
often referred to as "customs." They are
standards of behavior that are socially
approved but not morally significant.
For example: The culture norms for most family in
China is; most year 13 students have to use their
time to study for exam preparation. For example,
when in New Zealand High School, Lin is supposed
to spend her time doing revision not going outside
for fun.
Cultural Sensitivity vs Cultural
Awareness
Cultural Sensitivity to know that there are
distinctions and similarities of two or more cultures
without assigning values, i.e., better or worse, right
or wrong, to those cultural differences (National
Maternal and Child Health Center on Cultural
Competency, 1997).
Cultural Awareness developing sensitivity and
understanding of another ethnic group. This
usually involves internal changes in terms of
attitudes and values. (Diane, Adams, 1995).


For example; Rose Economic teacher is not
cultural sensitive where she does not know the
difference cultural norms practiced in China.
Therefore the teacher does not show cultural
awareness (no internal change; attitudes)
towards Rose culture back ground where he
just simply asks Rose to sit which has ended up
Rose sitting in the teachers seat. In China, most
students will do things as asked and shown by
their teachers without questioning them why do
they have to follow such directions.
Cultural Identity
O Collier and Thomas (1988) states that
cultural identity as when we perceived
acceptance into a group that has a shared
system of symbols and meanings as well
as norms for conduct.
O Chinese Students in Hutt Valley High
school preserve their cultural identity
because in certain context they want
themselves to be known as Chinese. For
example, they use their native language
when they communicate with other
Chinese friends. During the cultural day,
those students demonstrate their cultural
identity by singing a Chinese songs called
waves to represent the uniqueness of
their cultures.
Individuality
O The quality or character of a particular
person or thing that distinguishes them
from others of the same
kind.(freedicitionary.com)
For example, Rose emphasises that she
is unable to represent her own
individuality because in China they are
forced to take subjects which the dont
have interest to study. Therefore, she is
unable to have her own interest to convey
her personality.
Culture Clash
O A scenario where in the differing outlooks,
values, thoughts, or transition of two
cultures are subcultures, not similar to one
another, are divulged. (Psychology
Dictionary.org, 2014)
O Rose states that in China most students
study hard and obey all their parents
wishes. However in New Zealand high
school she has to embrace different
cultures where students are more
energetic because they are allowed to
take sports and other creative subjects.
Rose feels it is hard for her to deals with
the new environment. The clash between
these two cultures makes Rose confused
and having low self-esteem.
Cultural Intelligence
O Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is a persons
capability to function effectively in
situations characterized by cultural
diversity (Ang, Van Dyne, & Koh, 2005;
Earley & Ang, 2003; Earley &
Mosakowski, 2005).

O Ken is a Chinese students which has
been able to demonstrate his cultural
intelligence by making effort to adapt
himself with a new cultural setting. As in
New Zealand they are celebrating
Fathers Day. Therefore, he makes efforts
to show his cultural understanding by
buying presents for his homestay father.
Cultural Reproduction
O Cultural reproduction is the transmission of
existing cultural values and norms from
generation to generation. (Bourdieu, Pierre
and Jean Claude Passeron, 1990)
According to Sullivan (2001)
1) parental cultural capital is inherited by
children.
2) childrens cultural capital is converted into
educational credentials.
3) educational credentials are a major
mechanism of social reproduction in advanced
capitalist societies.
O Lin in the documentary is portrayed as a child
which has inherited a set of cultural
parameters from her parents where she is
worried to tell her mother about her plan to go
to school ball and buy a new dress. Usually
children are supposed to obtain their parents
permission before making any decisions.
Having a parents permission is crucial and it
is transmitted and reproduced from a
generation to another because for them
parents are the agent who create norms of
the family.
Cultural Jet Lag
O Cultural jet lag refers to the feeling of
disconnect that Third Culture Kids (TCKs),
as they have now become known,
experience in relation to any culture,
including the ones from which they stem
(Mark Perraud)
O In Hutt Valley High school, Rose mentions
that she is able to do many things which are
prohibited to be done by a student like her in
China. She feels that ever since she is in New
Zealand she has changed a lot. She is more
happy and confident because she can make
up her mind by herself. This means she has
slightly disconnected from her native culture
where she is not free from making her own
decision to represent herself.
Stereotype
O A person or thing that conforms to a widely held
but oversimplified image of the class or type
which they belong (Oxforddictionary.com, 2014)
O In Hutt Valley High School learning is student-
centric. Therefore, Rose is able to choose any
subject of her interest. She like sewing very much
after attending that class. She comes to realise
that now she can develop her sewing skills.
However, she is worried and she made a
stereotypical` statement that their friends in China
will tease her as a housewife.
References

O Diane L. Adams (Ed.). (1995). Health issues for women of
color: A cultural diversity perspective. Thousand Oaks:
SAGE Publications.
O Texas Department of Health, National Maternal and Child
Health Resource Center on Cultural Competency. (1997).
Journey towards cultural competency: Lessons learned.
Vienna, VA: Maternal and Children's Health Bureau
Clearinghouse.

O Bourdieu,Pierre and Jean Claude Passeron, (1990)
Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture, Sage
Publications Inc, ISBN 0-8039-8320-4.
O Oxforddictionary.com, 2014
O Freedicitionary.com 2014