Jimmy O. Yang: Dating Culture Shock Between US & HK

Jimmy O. Yang Unpacks US vs. Hong Kong Culture: Dating, Space, and Creativity

Comedian Jimmy O. Yang recently joined Club Shay Shay to share his unique perspective on the cultural differences between living in America and his hometown of Hong Kong. From personal space and schooling to dating habits and even longevity, Yang offered a humorous yet insightful look at how these two worlds compare.

More Room to Roam, Less Pressure to Excel

One of the first big differences Yang pointed out was the amount of personal space. “You get a little more space” in America, he explained. This means having the freedom to own a house or a pet, something that can be a challenge in Hong Kong’s densely populated environment. “It’s quite hard to have like a big dog in a small apartment” there, he noted.

Culturally, Yang sees America as a place that “really reward[s] creativity,” especially from a young age. He believes this encouragement in the arts is why America has produced so many talented musicians, comedians, and actors. In contrast, Hong Kong’s education system is “more academic” and intensely competitive. Yang recalled struggling as a student, often ranking around 11th or 12th in his class because he was drawn to creative pursuits rather than just studying.

“At the end of the day, Hong Kong is a finance town,” Yang stated. The focus is often on pursuing careers in fields like finance, law, or medicine. However, he does see a growing appreciation for creativity in Hong Kong, with more people excelling in areas like restaurant design and interior decorating.

Dating Differences: From Courtship to ‘Situationships’

The conversation shifted to dating, an area where Yang found significant contrasts. He admitted he “never really dated in Asia” when he was younger, imagining a straightforward path to marriage. But upon arriving in America, he was surprised by the openness and perceived focus on sex, especially in media like MTV and music videos. Hearing that the average age for American teenagers to lose their virginity was 16 made him feel like a “loser” at 17, having never even kissed a girl.

Yang described American dating as potentially more chaotic, involving “situationships” and figuring things out later. He contrasted this with what he perceived as a more deliberate courtship process in Asia, where asking someone to be a boyfriend or girlfriend might happen before becoming physically intimate. He also highlighted the significant time it can take to meet a partner’s parents in Asian culture, sometimes waiting six months to a year and a half. In some cases, he joked, “you might have to meet the parents first before you stick it in.”

While acknowledging that casual encounters exist everywhere, Yang feels that by and large, the dating culture in Hong Kong is “a little less chaotic.” He finds the slower pace and clearer intentions refreshing. He also touched upon the common practice of dating within one’s own race, noting that Asians often marry within their race, with Indian and Asian communities having high rates of intra-racial marriage.

Genetics, Diet, and Dating Preferences

The discussion then moved to why Asians tend to live longer. Yang attributed this partly to diet, mentioning the variety of seafood and smaller, more frequent meals common in Hong Kong, rather than large, heavy ones. He also cited genetics, referencing the saying “Asian don’t raisin,” meaning people tend to look younger for longer. This led to a lighthearted moment about the perceived advantage of dating Asian or Black partners due to their genetics.

Yang shared personal anecdotes about his dating experiences, including dating a Black woman he met at Hooters. He also spoke about his younger self’s attraction to white women, influenced by seeing them in movies and wanting to assimilate. However, he has since shifted his preference back to Asian women, appreciating their beauty, shared language, respectfulness, and cultural understanding. He emphasized that dating someone with a similar background and experiences can be very important.

Food and Cultural Exchange

Finally, the conversation touched on American restaurants in Asia. While places like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Starbucks are common, Yang noted the absence of specific American-Chinese chains like Panda Express in Hong Kong. He humorously suggested that an “American Chinese food restaurant in China” might not be successful, and he personally never grew up eating dishes like Orange Chicken.

The interview concluded with an invitation to subscribe to Club Shay Shay, promising more conversations with interesting guests.

Source: S*x In America vs Hong Kong – Jimmy O. Yang Explains I CLUB SHAY SHAY (YouTube)