Are westerners really open...?

Question

Im a chinese. I jus started work in a Jap Co. in Asia. I hv a male colleague from London which i find him smhow very special. He is the only Caucasian in our Co. He doesn't talk to our colleagues unnecessarily, unless related to work, n at times just simply greet gd morning to his dept colleagues. He seldom goes for lunch with our co. collegues and always eat alone unless he meet up with some caucasian friends outside. I am really very curious abt him but i dare not talk to him cos he speaks with a very strong accent. We hv not talk to each other ever before even many times we took the same lift (only the two of us in the lift). I also did not take the initiative to speak to him cos i wasn't sure how to begin the conversation. And also whenever i look at him he will quickly look away. Why is this so? i always thought that westerners are very open? in the sense very open to making friends etc. How come he is not? I really wonder how westerners behave cos i nv had a caucasian friend b4.

Prehaps i need a caucasian to answer my qn. haha. thx

I remember there's once he smile to me when i walk pass his desk. But i did not react fast enough to return a smile. I simply look at him cos i was shock that he would smile to me ! haha I feel that he might thought im don't wanna befriend him. Until now, i still hvn't got the chance to just simply smile to him. haha. i feel that there is something weird/strange between us. But i have to admit im smhow interested in him. hohohoh =X

Answer 1

Westerners or caucasians vary like everyone else. Some are very open, some are very shy. Some are friendly, some do not want to get to know anyone else.

It sounds to me that this person is a bit shy, and doesn't feel comfortable talking with people he doesn't know. Or perhaps he thinks his knowledge of your language is too poor to carry on a conversation without sounding unintelligent.

If you want to talk to him in the hall or lift, you probably will not offend him if you start the conversation. I do not know what someone in your culture would say to start out, but here we would probably start with "Hello, how are you?", and then ask a general question or two about something you both have in common. Perhaps you both work on the same project or at the same job. Or perhaps the company is beginning a new project or initiative - ask a general question about that. From there, you can talk about whatever you think is best.

Answer 2

Just start out by saying Hello. When you meet in the lift say something like, " have a good day." Maybe he is shy around the people he works with because he doesn't know weather he is accepted as an equal because he is a foreigner. If you see him having lunch by himself ask him if you can join him. Strike up a conversation about work, maybe you can get him to open up a little. You seem like a very nice person and he is probably feeling lonely so far away from home , he could probably use a friend.

Answer 3

There are westerners that are open and some that are not. You can't give a whole nation a certain characteristic. It's like saying all Irish are drunks, all French are rude, etc. You should approach him, try to talk to him. He might just be shy.

Answer 4

he is in the minority here...he is probably interested in you, but, when in rome do as the romans...no one has opened up to him, so he won't open to them
not ALL westerners are first to communicate...talk to him...he can't help his accent, as you cannot help yours...it will be difficult, at first, but once you get used to each other, you will be able to understand each other better