A friend recently observed that while people of other nationalities seem to love and enjoy their own cultures, most Chinese people think of their culture mostly in terms of a burden or set of restraints and obligations, and not as something very enjoyable at all. 

In fact, even the word culture doesn't really translate well, because it means quite different things in the two languages.

For example, if you were to ask me about the most important parts of Canadian culture, I'd probably highlight the importance of getting together with friends on the weekend over food and drinks, ideally on a cottage or a boat, or in the winter after snowmobiling or skiing.

I'd talk about the importance of music and humor to people, and the disproportionate amount of success Canadians have had in the music and entertainment industries.

If pressed, I might mention that Canadians are generally very "nice" or considerate, and that is reflected in its government policies and equitable society as a whole. 

If you were to ask a Chinese person to explain their culture, I expect you would get a different kind of answer altogether. They might start off by noting how old their culture is. They claim that China has 5,000 years of culture, which is based on the beginning of the Chinese writing system, found on scraps of bones. Writing has always been key to the concept of Chinese culture, to the point that calligraphy perhaps holds the central place in Chinese art.  

And as everyone who has studied Chinese knows, writing Chinese characters, while refined and sublime, is not exactly enjoyable in the way joining a band or cracking jokes is. It takes a lot of discipline.

A Chinese person might name filial piety, perhaps the central Chinese virtue, as a key part of the culture. They might also note the layers of social obligations people must honor, whether they want to or not. Even the most enjoyable part of Chinese culture, banquets, is overlaid with a sense of obligation and rituals. 

One of my favorite Chinese friends lived in the United States for five years and came back with a disdain for the country. Her biggest complaint - no culture.

This is hard to make sense of at first, because, first of all, American culture has evolved from the ideas of the Greeks and Romans, dating as far back in time as Confucius. Second, American culture in the form of music, film and television shows is dominant around the world, even in China. Yet to her, I suppose, these things don't really count as culture, but fluff, because they come too easily. Culture, in the Chinese mind, seems to be activities linked with discipline and sacrifice.

When I visit Jamaica, France, the United States, or Thailand, people seem to love living their own culture, and share it effortlessly - Have some red wine! Dance to this wonderful music! Enjoy nature! Talk about politics and the meaning of life!

Of course, sitting on a plastic stool on a hot summer night eating barbecue lamb is a wonderful experience, and for me is one of the best parts of the local culture. But I think in the framework of the way Chinese people look at things, preparing for the national entrance examination test might best exemplify their culture. It involves working hard to make your parents proud and ensure you can support them as they get older. It involves mastering the language and a body of handed-down wisdom. It involves lots of discipline and sacrifice. Beer and barbecue - that's what you do when you take a break from culture.