Really enjoyed reading this. Since I was younger most of my close friends have been from China and the Philippines. Later on I realized that culturally they didn't perceive my shyness in a negative light like ppl in the States tend to and I remember realizing this made me feel very seen.
It definitely is a different kind of relationship. There is definitely no space for that in certain cultures. It's perceived as a threat, like you're hiding something, or emotional immaturity, no in between. It was nice being reminded of these friendships and getting to see the larger context.
Thank you so much! It’s interesting how, in many Western contexts, shyness is often interpreted as a lack of confidence or even distrust, rather than the innocent, genuine way of being that it can actually be. I’ve always found it deeply endearing; there’s a kind of quiet sincerity and softness to it that feels rare.
Really enjoyed reading this. Since I was younger most of my close friends have been from China and the Philippines. Later on I realized that culturally they didn't perceive my shyness in a negative light like ppl in the States tend to and I remember realizing this made me feel very seen.
It definitely is a different kind of relationship. There is definitely no space for that in certain cultures. It's perceived as a threat, like you're hiding something, or emotional immaturity, no in between. It was nice being reminded of these friendships and getting to see the larger context.
Thank you so much! It’s interesting how, in many Western contexts, shyness is often interpreted as a lack of confidence or even distrust, rather than the innocent, genuine way of being that it can actually be. I’ve always found it deeply endearing; there’s a kind of quiet sincerity and softness to it that feels rare.
Yes, exactly :))
this is beautifully written—thank you so much for writing it
Of course! 🥹🥹 I'm so glad you loved it!!