Cultural Translation

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” I have always known this phrase’s meaning since I was a little girl, thinking that I would have nothing to do with this expression. I never thought that its meaning would have something to do with me later. Going to different countries, cities, or even just going around our local neighborhood, we can find many different people and cultures. I have encountered many difficulties, surprises, and embarrasing situation since I came to The United States. Everything seemed so different to me when I arrived here, and I did not know how to express things in the right way. As time goes by, I have learned a lot of things about this country, because I am living and communicating with people from a totally different culture.


Cultural differences made me confused and surprised at the same time when I first arrived in the U.S. My first interaction with another culture was when I first landed at LAX airport. The officers and the staff at the airport had a great sense of humor and they seemed happy with their job. People helped me with my luggage and questions. Until that time, I had never seen an atmosphere like this in any kind of service in Mongolia. Also, I found out that the Americans smile, greet and talk a lot. I see them smiling stiff lipped, and I was not very comfortable with it at first. They greet strangers they pass by everyday, or maybe in every pass they make, which would be considered a silly thing in my country. If I greet one of my male classmates first, he and other people will think that I like him, which is even sillier. Finally I realized that Americans have a unique culture that should be taught in many Asian countries.


In addition, I used to have a hard time dealing with people who did not know anything about Mongolian culture. In my country if someone touches another’s foot accidentally, they have to shake hands. Unfortunately, this untold law does not really apply in many countries, especially in United States. We believe that it is a bad luck not to follow this custom. In other words, if we do not shake hands, we will become enemies. I have touched a lot of stranger’s hands automatically since I came here, in trains and buses and on streets. I remember once I shook one man’s hand on the train without any chance of explaining what I was doing to him because we were both listening to an i-pod. I did not look back at him. I am very happy that my automatic reflection is decreasing nowadays, except for the last time I shook my classmate Alawiya’s hand. Luckily this time, I had a chance to explain the custom to her.


Furthermore, Americans tend to see life in a easier way, which has been good experience for my view of world. I am a very pessimistic person, but now I am glad that America is influencing and changing me in a good way. Many Americans exaggerate a lot to express things, which is so wonderful to be heard, even if it’s fake. They praise a lot, instead of just saying “it is good”, but then I found out that it is a good thing to interact with people and give them hope and inspirons. I started to think more brightly than ever with those beautiful words they say. I remember once a stranger told me “Smile, you are beautiful”. Even a stranger cares for me? Isn’t it great?


Knowing each other and sharing things always makes life more interesting and meaningful. Differences make adjusting to a new life difficult at first, and then people will understand that being different is not a problem at all, as long as can we make others understand us. I have faced many problems with my culture that were completely different from American cutoms though now I have accepted some of them in my everyday life. I have already started to feel more comfortable with what I have learned since arriving in this new land.