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Having received his M.A. from the Free University of West-Berlin, the author won a scholarship from the Volkswagen Foundation for two intensive Chinese language courses which strengthen his already growing interest in China. Finally realizing he'd never learn Chinese in a German environment, he decided to study on Taiwan. After traveling through the Soviet Union and Japan, he arrived in Taipei, ready and willing to accept the challenge of living in a totally different culture. His various experiences as a student and teacher slowly enlarged his awareness of the differing beliefs and values separating East and West and through this, becoming painfully conscience of his biases and limitations, thus also gaining critical insights as to both Chinese and his own culture. While this journey included manifold misunderstandings leading to very embarrassing situation, it eventually evolved into a worthwhile experience in cross-cultural learning.
Riassunto
”Man kann es auch so ausdrücken: Die vielzitierte Inschrift am Apollotempel von Delphi, die da lautet: „Erkenne Dich selbst!“ hat immer Recht! Richard Mann ist von Berlin nach Taipeh gereist und dort zu der Erkenntnis gekommen, was in der europäischen Kultur und Tradition im Argen liegt und wo es auf chinesischer Seite „nicht rund läuft“.“ (Volker Neef, Stimme der Hauptstadt)
