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Since we can travel around the world and visit different countries, people noticed cultural differences that are here to this day. That is what makes traveling fun, to change your usual setting with something new and unexplored. 

Yang Liu a young artist from Beijing currently living in Germany illustrates the social and cultural differences between her Eastern and Western worlds in her project “Ost trifft West,” or “East Meets West,” which conveys a strong message on the differences she personally experienced.

"Ost trifft West" is a series of infographic posters that compare German and Chinese people in accurate and humorous ways. The infographics highlight important human elements such as self-perception, opinion expression, and mood.

So without further ado, we invite you to explore the differences captured by this incredibly observant artist.

More info: yangliudesign.com | amazon.com

#1

The Boss

The Boss

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If you wonder how Yang Liu gathered information, such as whether she used interviews, research, or theories, her reply is this: “The fact is that every single illustration is my very personal experience in the past 13-17 years, and this work was made as a documentation of my own life,” she said. As an artist who was raised in multiple cultures, she doesn’t feel like she belongs to any of them: “I am feeling myself more as a person who belongs to all the places I have been,” says Liu.

#3

Expressing Opinion

Expressing Opinion

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Alexander
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a german I can deeply relate. Whats the thing about Smalltalk or talking around the bush in soooo many countries? If you have to say something then do it and not let me guess what you really mean.......why wasting time? *sight*

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Sure, we are all aware of cultural differences around the world, such as social norms, family structure, religion, cuisine, and the more day-to-day ones that Liu has depicted in her illustrations. Historical, geographic, economic, and social factors are just some of the ones that form differences in the way we perceive and interact with the world around us.

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#4

Standing In A Line

Standing In A Line

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Vaa10
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Chinese line look like the line in my former school cafeteria

Enamelcamel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... I have heard that Chinese tourists have to take classes before they're allowed to travel because their queueing behavior is so different from the western type. I was literally SHOVED OUT OF THE WAY by adult Chinese tourists in Europe (men, mostly) so they could reach the head of the line faster.

Domi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Chinese version has me in a state of anxiety.🙈

BlueEyesWhiteDragon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But how do you know who's next? I feel bad for the cashier/ticket taker, etc.

S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cashier is supposed to mentally track the 5-10 faces in front of them. This method of queueing is to maximize efficiency and not allow for one unprepared idiot to hold up the entire line and waste time. Think of it more like a hawker's stall...which, there are gazillions of in Asia. In the US say you have a person who gets to nearly the front of the line, and still has no idea wtf they want, or maybe they are reading their cellphone to check what their friends ordered....that is 30seconds or 5 minutes wasted...and the whole line wastes that time. That time-waste is cumulative. By the time you reach the front of the line, as a customer yourself, you've personally already lost maybe 15minutes from inefficient customers. The increased customer-surface-interface allows the vendor to skip the person still trying to decide, and circle back to them later, rather than wait. There are 4, maybe 5, or even 10 people that are ready with their orders, waiting on the person with the goods.

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Gionanna
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Italy (and other places in Southern Europe) are the red one

Penny Brueggemann
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Greece as well. Little old ladies still dressed on funeral black will elbow your kidney to get in front of you in an airplane queu with their assigned seat ticket in their hand…

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Angela
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're visiting the west, walk on the right. Don't walk on the left and bully your way through and refuse to move for oncoming walkers. It's considered rude.

D,,
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And France. Waiting for a bus there: everyone shuffling around nonchalantly, de-clustering. Bus arrives: able-bodied men push to the front; women and children trampled--this is, after all, France, not the Titanic.

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Janet Graham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the US, we are trained our entire lives to cue up in straight lines. Not so much in some other countries. I have heard that when they built Disneyland in Paris, it was a confusing mess on opening day because the French do not cue. The park had to revamp how to let folks onto rides.

HogHedge
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in China many times. They know how to stand in a line. I've been in India many times. Line? What line?

Jude Laskowski
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Chinese line looks like the queue for the #30 Stockton bus in San Francisco. Don't try to be polite and let the little old ladies on ahead of you; they will elbow you aside and step on you. Just get on the bus!

Andrei Marentette
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's funny. Germany is the line for "I have a secret to tell you" and China is "I just got an email from (insert famous person)"

Demosthenes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lived in South Korea for a while. Can confirm that this line rule applies to auto intersections as well. See a stop light? Grab a position on the starting line and wait for the race to begin to see whose car is fastest to squeeze into the single lane of traffic on the other side of the intersection.

Penny Brueggemann
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Drive in Manila but never put as much as your pinky finger outside the window. No blinks and it’s gone!

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Janet Howe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why amusement parks make me angry. Or waiting for the bus. We all have to go thru the same door, folks.

Matt Harrell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every line in America turns into the red one as soon as they see a sign saying "limited availability."

Helena V. H.
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blue straight line is the Only way to go in Sweden. If there is no line when queuing, for example where you sit and wait, we still remember who came before you and would Never cut ahead. Red cluster, pushing eachother, trying to get ahead, wouldn't happen even in a crisis...

Idiot Sandwich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. People tend to get worried about things running out before they get to the end of the line. In populous countries, the lines tend to be so long that if you don't get there fast enough, the bus may leave without you, or you won't get a seat, or the food will be over etc. And that shortage-anxiety often extends to other situations like airports - where you know you have a seat reserved on the plane, but you still feel the need to rush.

Kira Maloy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I encountered the Chinese version often at the truck stop where I worked. A customer would push their way to the sales counter, dump all their purchases, & ask "How much?" before I even had a chance to ring up their purchase. On the whole, very pushy & rude!

The Veil of Fire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love a good British queue. They have to be grand champions of all those who queue after they long lines to pay respect to the beloved late Queen.

Yvonne Barnes
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

West Indians abroad. They queue up for buses etc when they're home they crowd.

Zac T
Community Member
10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol this is spot on. I am UK born but Pakistani heritage and my partner was born in afghanistan, he cannot queue up! He gets really agitated (plus add adhd to the mix!) You get the picture 🤣

JessieJ&LilyLovebug
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How the pharmacy I work for used to be until we got the rope lane things like at the bank.

Lindy Mac
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's really hard to get off the bus when people are crowed like the red side.

Petra Schaap
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Elderly Belgians like to jump the line as well. Its easy because the average Belgian will just mumble something but never speak out loud. Thats where the Dutch people come in. "oh i didnt see you!" sure, you just literally pushed me aside?!

Lyyyy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The german word for queue is apparently ”wait snake”?

ASoto
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m pretty sure this is Brits in blue and Americans in red. BET. I mean, come on. Google ANY pic of a train station right now literally anywhere in the world vs England for instance. Count the pics showing people lined up vs not and tell me England doesn’t win by like a gazillion.

Leesa Anderson
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American here, line up individually or as couples, with family members in a loose line next to each other.

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DJ Doena
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But not if a second checkout opens at ALDI. Then everyone gets out their Zweihänder and it's Battle Royale!

Ruth F
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's how we used to wait for a bus in Leeds, England. And everyone knew their position in the queue.

Ruth F
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's how we always waited for a bus in Leeds, England. And everyone knew their position in the queue.

Irish woman abroad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one on the right is definitely Spain, no need to go to Asia to see this!

Jane W.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are Euro cultures that stand in line like the red side, too.

Sandra Llewelyn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I totally disagree with this - the queues in Japan are very orderly

Baali Venomax
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if the blue was the UK, that line would be ramrod straight with bigger gaps inbetween.

Meyer Caline
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No way, the line should have drawn in East . Just have a look how people behave in Japan.

Meyer Caline
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

no way ! the line should have been drawn in the East. Have a look in Japan.

Юлия Габулян
Community Member
1 year ago

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Mantas Nėnius
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so wrong. Germans have no understanding of how to form an old stand in an orderly line. Believe me, I've lived in Frankfurt for 12 months.

Penny Brueggemann
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany? People waiting to board politely wait for the ones to get out the door! But there is no line for trains

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Vaisheshika Mishra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true, Indians are always like pushing each other to get to the front of the line. Me:”What’s the hurry?”

Hadi AlAli
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the East ppl tend to give themselves the rights to go first/be first. In the West, it’s simply who arrived first.

Amy Stone-Chandler
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In elementary schools here(Canada) we were always taught to walk on the right side of the hall. Single file. Only time people cluster like the right side is when there isn't room in a public area to single file

Full Name
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called the crowd system. At my school if you thought you were in a line, you missed all the food.

censorshipsucks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same in Africa, but more complicated. You do lines where there are middle class people present or lining up to get on a bus, as the western habit is followed. However in a bar, sports event or club etc., not so much, then it's a free for all.

Glynis Buller
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not like the Germans I came across, crowded to the front and pushed my 3 year old aside. But not for long x

devotedtodreams
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cluster is an accurate representation for Swiss behavior on boarding trains/buses, too! :(

Chris Nendick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Beijing, someone pushed in front of the person who had pushed in front of me at the ticket window.

any rei
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The uk line is the most superior though. Cuz at the bus station our german "line" also looks like the picture on the right

Philosophy of Iron “鉄の哲学”
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I came back to Japan from China, I was bustling to get in the train like people at right, and then realized I'm in a whole different world

Mr Old School Cool
Community Member
1 year ago

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Trebor Erebut
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At the end, everybody got what they went there for, at almost the same time. Total waiting time is the same.

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When moving to a new country, no matter how close or far from your home, the beginning can be quite challenging and time-consuming. In order to adapt might require some adjusting to a new culture and adopting its values, beliefs, customs, and behaviors. Building new relationships and keeping an open mind is the right way to start.

In Liu’s illustrations’ on one side, we might recognize ourselves more than on the other one, and it might raise questions: what else is different? How does that affect our mental health? Could I maybe learn new things and include them in my life to make it easier? 

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What do you, Pandas, think when seeing Liu’s depiction? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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#10

Noise Level At The Restaurant

Noise Level At The Restaurant

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Headless Roach
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*noise level everywhere in China. Chinese cities are full of sounds coming out of absolutely everywhere.

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#13

Self Perception

Self Perception

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Hannah M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People, this isn't saying that Chinese have low self-esteem or don't value themselves. It's comparing the individualism of the West to the collective mindset of the East. To a westerner the self is the primary consideration; in the east the self is a small part of the wider community

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#14

Cultural Perceptions: Germans vs. Chinese

Cultural Perceptions: Germans vs. Chinese

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#15

At A Party

At A Party

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BlueEyesWhiteDragon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm one of the little lonely dots on the German side. I would say I wish I lived on the circle side, but I would probably get overwhelmed by my nearest dots and try to leave early.

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#17

Three Meals A Day

Three Meals A Day

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Lyone Fein
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More variety in Germany? Oh no, I get it. Cold and hot meals. Ok.

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#18

Contacts And Connections

Contacts And Connections

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#19

Cure For Stomach Ache

Cure For Stomach Ache

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#21

Lifestyle: Independent vs. Dependent

Lifestyle: Independent vs. Dependent

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Autistic McWolferson the Forth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So basically "disappoint your family in any way and be disowned" in China. No real chance to develop your own genuine personality in a world like that

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#22

Ideal Of Beauty

Ideal Of Beauty

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Ian Reynolds
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this to do with skin colour or tone? Germans prefer darker skin and Chinese prefer lighter skin tones? If it is not, I don’t get it.

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