accepted as a natural part of life in China. In contrast，taking care of aged parents is often viewed as tremendous burden in the United States，where aging and family support are not honored highly.

　　The Vietnamese family consists of people currently alive as well as the spirits of the dead and of the as-yet unborn. Any decisions or actions are done from family considerations，not individual desires. People's behavior is judged on whether it brings shame or pride to the family. Vietnamese children are trained to rely on their families，to honor elderly people，and to fear foreigners. Many Vietnamese think that their actions in this life will influence their status in the next life.

　　Fathers in traditional Japanese families are typically strict and distant. Japanese college students in one study said they would tell their fathers just about as much as they would tell a total stranger. The emotional and communication barrier between children and fathers in Japan appears very strong after children have reached a certain age.

Although there has been much talk about "family values" in the United States，the family is not a usual frame of reference for decisions in U. S. mainstream culture. Family connections are not so important to most people. Dropping the names of wealthy or famous people the family knows is done in the United States，but it is not viewed positively. More important is a person's own individual "track record" of personal achievement.