"This is my neighbor. She only speaks Mandarin, so we've never had a conversation. But she's brought me a handful of candy every day for 20 years."
I got this pic and statement from a Facebook page called 'Humans of New York'.
This is a very typical behaviour. The chinese think giving is an important part of life. If they are able to, they give. It always makes the receiver happy. No communication necessary, they give and it makes everybody happy. the happier the Chinese person is, the more they give. It is their culture. It is the way they say Thank you very very much. No words, just a present. It is impossible to mis understand the action. It is not only a Chinese culture trait. The Japanese go 10 steps further by giving incessantly. It is a science: a really appreciated present comes beautifully presented, carefully selected, the less is more, the presentation just as important as how it is given. It is almost why fruits are so expensive and are on top of the food table. They have square watermelons so the receiver can be in awe and appreciation in complete honesty.
Doctors are always in receipt of these thankful gifts. Their profession is selfless and always helpful, the patient having been cured is thankful for life. I have seen the appreciation that can be given. Nothing says an honest thankful than a gift. So in being honestly thankful all the time for everything and nothing, for just being a neighbour who is naturally quiet and pleasant, she gets a handful of candy everyday for 20 years.
So you wonder how this beautiful honest gesture has been twisted? With every thanks given in a business transaction that should include all the thanks in the price, the 'gift' in celebrating a successful contract has now become 'corruption'. The small thanks of a bottle of whiskey is looked as a bribe. Because the cost of the bottle of whiskey has to come out of the profit of the contract. It has been years since the cost of the bottle of whiskey is a separate line item in the contract, so the person awarding the contract already knows what he is getting for the success of the contract signing. The line item has become bigger and bigger as the understanding of 'how money goes round' replaces the value of money.
Corruption. Bribes.
