As the oldest and most complex culture in the world, Chinese culture is deeply rooted in China’s long history. Culture difference between China and Ireland appears in many aspects such as family value, education, food and so on. As i worked part time in a nursing home, i saw many elder who are lack of familiy’s care, i would like to share some thoughts on culture difference in relation to family value.
Families in China operates in a different fashion to Ireland. Because of one-child policy, Chinese parents are willing to give everything to their children. Parents will spend a fortune to fund their children to study abroad, or buying a home for them. Meanwhile, parents share a significant pary in children’s lives. Many parent live with their children when children get married and parents will look after their grandsons or granddaughters as well. In China, parents are having much closer link with their children than western countries. In Ireland, however, each generation tends to be more independent than China. Parents in Ireland normally support their children up tp 18 years old. Also parents live independently with their children. They do not need children to fund their lives as they normally have pension or retirement benefits. Once they are not able to look after themselves, they probably will choose to live in nursing home.
