It will be 30 years next year since I arrived to this continent.   There have been a lot of changes in my logic thinking and my value.  Looking backward some of the gradual changes are related to the mixing of two cultures.

My first several years in Canada were primarily on campus, nearly isolated from outside world.  In 1988 during a business trip I saw someone was playing card himself.   This was in the kitchen of a research institute in British Columbia.   It was so fresh to me.   It broke my concept of playing card, the one I knew played by 4 or 6 people.   In the old days in China, normally we had plenty of participants.  It would be hard to find a quiet place.  Playing card with 4 people?  Typically you would have several others to watch the 4 players.   

I was thinking that this guy must be out of his mind.  What was he playing?  A year later, Microsoft released Windows 3.1, which has a card game called Solitaire.  I had this game but did not figure out how you could play it with only one person.   Gradually I saw people playing the game on PC.    I realized that many people probably liked that game.

Over the years I gradually realized many people enjoy their own quiet moment by playing games individually; they do not need many people to get things done because of high efficiency; money drives in whenever it is needed because of developed business market.  Although some people, older people, retired people, may feel lonely sometimes, mostly their rich lifestyles, reading, music, arts, pets, etc will keep them pretty busy.   People here do not like to bother others for sports or entertainment except during special holiday occasions.  Solitaire must have its unique value.   We also see people playing tennis alone with a machine, or against a wood wall.  In sports centers, many people play basket ball or valley ball for years but never know each other’s name.   Some sports pull people together, but not too close, just close enough to serve the exercise purposes. 

The world changed fast. I used to think Americans are loners beyond my understanding.  Now I am one of them.