Flowers - universal expression of happiness

Yellow Orchid
I love flowers! Flowers make me happy, especially brightly coloured ones. I enjoy going to gardens while on holiday, especially in the spring and summer when all the flowers are in full bloom. There is just something about looking at flowers that relaxes me and lifts my spirits. I walk away with a smile on my face always.

As I walked past a florist earlier, I started thinking about flowers as a universal way of expressing our happy feelings: love, friendship, celebration of a significant event, cheering someone up, ... when we want to show someone we care, we give flowers. No wonder there are so many books and articles written on the meanings of different flowers (roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, etc) and their meanings. Flowers must be a language all of their own.

I don't speak the language of flowers, unfortunately. I'm just happy to look at them, and maybe on a rare occasion receive some. At least I know that when I visit someone from another culture, I can bring them some flowers. However, before you get too excited about this simple gift, first find out from a local if there are any flowers that are taboo or used for certain purposes (e.g. as an offering to their gods) or colours that are taboo in that culture (e.g. white flowers are used for funerals). Maybe there's a whole lot more to this universal language than we know!

Whatever the case, it is best to be student of another culture before we plunge headlong and realise that we're the fools for not asking questions first.

Go cross-cultural today and enrich your life!

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Universal culture of eating

Singaporeans are foodies. We love to eat. We will drive miles and hours just to eat a good meal, then drive home after that. We will search out the best stall or restaurant for a particular dish. We may be eating breakfast, but we're already talking about what to eat for dinner, or tomorrow's meal. What's Singaporean culture? Food, if you ask me.

So, here's Ms Audra Ang, a Singaporean journalist, who covered current affairs in China. When her stint was over, she was asked what she got out of her few years in China. Instead of an editorial, she wrote a book on, what else? Food, of course! Chinese culture through the food of different locations.

I think food is a uniting factor across cultures and languages. As much as we may not want to admit, I've found that all my blog posts about food get the highest number of views! So, we may be so different culturally. We may not even speak the same language! But, we have one uniting factor - we all eat! Haha!

I'm no expert on food, even though I do enjoy a good meal and like to cook occasionally. But, if you want to visit China or do business there, I can offer you a book or two for that. Learn some Mandarin today. Open the door to China.

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