Losing Face

             Everyone has experienced losing face. I can remember as a kid, being caught in a lie and
             trying desperately to weasel my way out without looking stupid. There were times as an
             adult, I would deny having problems at my job, too worried of loosing creditability. In Mark
             Salzman's book "Iron and Silk", he shows the Chinese culture and how important it is to
             keep face in front of a foreigner.
             Early in the book, Mark is introduced to Pan a marital arts expert. During he first encounter
             the reader can see that Pan is a strong and domineering instructor. The students follow
             every word he says. Mark can see their skill level is far beyond his. After doing a short
             routine, Mark is pulled aside by Pan. Pan tells Mark he can fix his wushu but if he fails it
             will be Pan who looses face. People will loose respect for the greatest martial arts expert
             who couldn't teach a foreigner.
             During one of the class discussions Mark had with his students, the topic of kissing was
             brought up. Mark wanted to know why public sighs of affection were so rare in China.
             Mark said the only time he had seen two Chinese people kissing was when a mother
             kissed her infant child. Children any older than five should not be kissed. The students
             explained that showing affection was just not done, it wasn't normal. At the end of class
             one student stayed, he confessed that he still kissed his children. Every night after they
             have gone to sleep he sneaks into their room to kiss them. The student could not admit to
             the entire class that he was different. Not only did Mark meet plenty of people who were
             ...

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