Culture Talk! 01

Each month at Goalist, we have a meeting called Tell Me! meeting scheduled. This meeting is organized as part of a form of support for international staff members while we assimilate living and working in Japan. It also functions as a way to understand how to improve and provide for international staffs better as we continue to grow more globally as a team.

At the moment we have staff members from India, Vietnam, China, Norway, Korea, Malaysia (me!), facilitated by our Japanese colleagues. 

During the monthly meeting, we raise questions and issues faced while living in Japan, seek advice and recommendations, and share cultural differences. 

In the December session, as the New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations draw close, we chatted about Lunar New Year, giving red packets, school years as well as customs of treating and being treated.

1. Lunar New Year

Korean Lunar New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Which is quite similar to Chinese and Vietnamese lunar calendar, although it seems like the date differs a little. From the sound of it Korea seems to celebrate it much earlier than Chinese and Vietnamese.

According to the Chinese and Vietnamese lunar calendar, Lunar New Year this year falls on 25 January 2020. I'm looking forward to going back since it's been probably more than 2 years since I celebrated with family back home.

Photo by Humphrey Muleba

2. Red packets

In typical Chinese tradition, "Hong bao" (Mandarin) or "Ang pao" (Hokkien dialect) is money packed in red envelope, given to children and younger relatives who are not yet married. These red packets 🧧, are a little similar to otoshidama お年玉（おとしだま）in Japan.

Apparently in Japan, relatives would discuss among themselves regarding how much they'll give each others' children beforehand. While in Vietnam and Malaysia, we would give the red packets without discussing, the amount given is at one's own preference, or sometimes depending on the amount given the previous year.  

This in Vietnam however, sometimes results in children opening right at the spot and being disappointed at the amount ヾ(;´▽｀) T-san, our Vietnamese colleague said "Kids are sooo smart these days!" haha.

K-san, our Korean colleague recalls receiving otoshidama / red packets a lot of fun, but being on the giving side, it isn't so fun and he doesn't look forward to it very much...indeed parting with one's money is very hard...。゜゜(´□｀｡)°゜。

Photo by Dennis

3. Treating & being treated (to meals)

In Japan, when going out with friends and colleagues, the Japanese would usually split the bill at the cashier or when making payment at the shop. V-san, our Indian colleague thinks that is actually quite a good idea because everyone pays on the spot and makes it less difficult to ask for money in return later on if someone owes you one. When going out with someone more senior or your boss/supervisor, it isn't uncommon to be treated by them as well, since the concept of seniors having to look after their juniors or those under their care, is rather common in Japan.

Apparently in Korea, if being treated a meal by one's boss/superior or someone of seniority, it is considered rude to offer to return the payment, or the gesture of it even, is thought to be as if the person treating is insincere. 

It's pretty surprising to learn that, because back home in Malaysia where I was brought up, we would often 'fight' over who pays for the bill, as it is a sign of generosity and hospitality to treat family, friends or those you care about. It's kind of funny sometimes when we would stack over each other's hands with the cash at the cashier or to make the cashier staff resist from accepting the other party's payment so we could treat them to the meal. And personally, sometimes that commotion can cause quite an embarrassment.

It does seem like in Vietnam and Malaysia, when going out among friends in a group, it is common for one person to pay the total bill at the cashier and then the others would individually return their own share to the person later on after leaving the shop. There are no strict rules whatsoever, and sometimes it depends on the relationship and situation. For example, sometimes someone offers to pay this time, then the next time would be on someone else's treat, and we would unofficially take turns to do so, although the amount of money that flows out and in will then become a blurred line, and the case of some would lose a little, and some would gain a little more, would happen (≧▽≦) 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez

4. ATMs during New Year in Japan

Something that was pretty shocking to hear was that during New Year holidays, there may be restrictions or issues withdrawing money from the ATM or when making transactions with debit cards.

While I learnt to know that most shops and services close during New Years period in Japan, it was quite a shock to hear ATMs and debit cards that are meant to be automated services may have interruptions as well. Thankfully our Japanese colleagues gave us a heads up and advised to withdraw a considerable sum before the long holidays. Phewh! ;( ;´꒳`;):

Photo by Kolar.io

5. School Year

In Japan, people here often associate themselves among peers to their school year (学年 - gakunen), similar to Japan's fiscal year which generally begins from April and ends in March of the following year.

Whereas in Korea, fiscal year and school year generally begins March and ends in February of the following year. In Vietnam and Malaysia however, fiscal year and school year generally begins in January and ends in December. It's amusing how differently each country perceives their fiscal year even though we're within the same continent.

Photo from Japan Times

It's always fun to exchange cultural experiences and hearing stories from different cultures around the globe. Till the next time! ☆彡

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Photo by Evgeny Tchebotarev
Design by Yi Thying