Yep. Like I said in another comment, people are faster to assume that differences are innate or absolute, rather than learned or dependent on their environment. Raise an American in Korea and I have no doubt they'd find squatting natural.
I’m black and both my cousins can do it and ohh wait my niece can do it here’s one as well my 43 yo uncle can do it I asked him how and he said the exact same thing so ur right sis
i can do the sqaut no prblem am a european from germany, its just about having hip flexibility. something ANYONE can achieve with some easy exercise and stretching. by the way for anyone mentioning he cant do that, you got a problem my friend a healthy human being should be able to be that flexible do your back and hip muscles a favor and stretch a bit you will thanks me later! and your back will for sure thank you
I love her Korean speaking; she's so pretty. But as an American living in Korea, I thought that everyone around the world (U.S. and elsewhere) knocked on their melons to check the sound
Yeah, I thought it was universal. I guess it depends on where you grew up in the west. People who live in the large cities versus people who live in small towns. Or more appropriately how your fruits and vegetables are presented where you live.
being an american who grew up helping his welder/mechanic father, i spent a lot of time working on things down low while squatting. apparently some people have trouble doing the "asian squat" but i could probably stay like that for hours.
Being an Italian, I do it all the time, sometimes I sit like that just cause it's comfortable. But not all people can do it, some friends of mine would break if they tried 😅 you can do it if you're muscles are used to the position.
I’m American, but my entire family is hyper mobile... so I have been able to fold myself in half since I was 3, so the “Asian squat” is no problem for me
I’m American, and the reason why I think we don’t usually do the “Asian Squat” is because it makes you look “weird”. I think if you do it in America (or at least where I live) people will assume that you’re weird/crazy etc.
Hey, so I did research on the Asian Squat vs the Catchers Squat (western crouch) in biomechanics during my undergrad. The reason why westerners find if more difficult to do the Asian squat is a combination of flexibility (though this is not the major factor) and different muscle recruitment. the Asian squat requires greater muscle recruitment in the muscles at the front of the shank (shin), which are trained over time through living postures. Because westerners spend very little time in low positions due to eating a tables, in chairs and brining our task up to meet us rather than squatting down to the task, we lack the muscle strength in the required areas to accomplish the Asian Squat. Side note: if you are willing to train yourself to do so, your joints will thank you for it in the long run because the Catchers Squat (wester crouch) has shown to put more torsional force through the knees thank you Asian Squat. (Just incase you were curious) ❤❤
If you look at young children, they can all do the Asian squat. Westerners, overtime, lose the ability to do that because of lack of use. Overtime the tendons and other structures in the back of the legs and ankles that are require to stretch far enough for you to keep your feet flat on the floor are no longer flexible enough to keep that position. The reason why the Asian Squat is better for you than the catcher’s squat is that it actually requires less muscle strength and puts less pressure on your joints because your feet are completely flat and your butt is resting further down.
i have always been able to do the asian squat (even though i'm not asian). i did play volleyball for most of my life so i was squatting a lot for that, so maybe that's why
@@Nadia-ql5yq hmm, while flexibility CAN be a factor many people can sit I that position if they are supported. This indicates a strength issue. I also wouldn't consider either of them to require more/less mucle strength, just different muscle strength.
From the US: I feel like a lot of these may depend on what area of the US you live, how you're raised, and your financial situation. - I grew up watching my mother knock on watermelons to find the fresh ones, and she learned it from her parents who both grew up on farms. - The squat one surprised me, definitely can't do it flat-footed. - The food thing has a lot of variables. Personally, there are some friends and family that I share food with like that but there are others who wouldn't be down. So I always offer people the first bites if they want to try it. - The check thing is another case by case thing depending on what you were taught was polite, or if you're able to pay for more than your own. You typically go expecting to just pay for your meals/drinks (but then, we don't share all the plates typically when we go out... so that ties back to the food one?) - As for the sun and umbrella thing, it also depends on the person/area. I typically only see people using umbrellas for the sun at the beach, but I also don't go tanning 'cause I burn too easily. XD Also there are some places/areas where the locals are so used to rain they don't bother with an umbrella most of the time.
The US is like a hundred times bigger than Korea so for us it depends on where in the US we’re from while in Korea it’s usually all of them do the same stuff because of how much smaller the country is
I definitely think the tapping on melon bit is dependant on factors: - were your grandparents / parents poor and therefore more diligent about making sure produce was ripe (passed down) - do you live in an area that supports farming and therefore produce is always fresh in your area or is it imported from another state / country
@@Smerrill I live in California and since it's always sunny people never even carry umbrellas... for the sun or for the rain. It's just one of those, "do I really wanna carry something around that I might never end up needing". I think another factor is that Korean society values lighter skin, so they hate the sun... whereas western cultures prefer tanned skin.
I'm from the states, I like to smack fruits just cuz i like the sound. My brother can squat with feet flat on the ground, im jealous of his flexible ankles
Same! I am born and raised in the US but i frequently take vacations to mexico bc i have family there and then i watch videos like this and i’m like “i do that too!” And its bc i learned it from my relatives
Exactly! Perhaps that is the reason some cultures consider it odd. If I saw someone in America do that, I would think they were relieving themselves; unless they were squatting to assist a child or pet.
@@shanchan8247 mmm yeah guess so, I live in a small state? If that contributes to what you said anyways- and The people who take care of me are like 60 and 70 so? Yeah I guess it makes sense.
In Slavic countries we have something called slav squat 😁 and in the old days (a few centuries ago) some of us ate meals from one bowl, with separate spoons.
I think the squatting is from practice and habit, not difference in body structure. Westerners don’t practice it, so our tendons get too short and our bodies don’t get used to doing that position.
I was in college when I first went to an authentic Indochinese restaurant. I ordered lamb with fried rice (my first time eating a poor little sheep, but they're not that bad tasting!) and the food came in a huge bowl with a large serving spoon. I was confused but I kinda shrugged it off. I pulled the bowl towards me and picked up the spoon to dig in, and my Indonesian friend was so startled. He was like "what are you doing??" and I was equally confused. I ordered the food, so can't I eat it? He told me I'm supposed to share it...but I didn't order a group meal, I ordered an individual meal. So dang confusing! We don't have a good sharing culture in America. Everyone gets their own plates with all their food on it.
Here in Australia with everything becoming so multicultural, we are learning, depends on the cuisine. If it is anything Asian the group of friends will usually ask if we all share. I prefer serving spoons though........chopsticks stay on your own bowl or plate. If it is more European based cuisine, then no it is definitely your own plate.
@@blacksorrento4719 Indonesian here. We often share food but our spoon/fork/chopsticks stay on our own plates. We might use the same utensil e.g. chopsticks & fork while avoiding sharing spit (for the lack of better words 😅) when it's more practical to do so but some of us are comfortable enough sharing everything (food, utensils) with close friends & family members. And many of us sometimes eat with our hands. Then again, we're really diverse, so....
the whole sharing food (+drinks) and blocking the sun is something I've done since i was a child i thought it was just a me / ppl around me thing, good to know i'm not alone in wanting to share delicious things with everyone
I am not really flexible and was able to do the Asian squat on the first try. It comes really handy when there's no chairs. Also many Latinos hit the fruits as well. I've seen it at my local market. But mainly for watermelons. And the older Latina ladies use umbrellas too. I've only seen one young Latina teenager use an umbrella.
Yeah, I'm wondering if that's actually translated correctly, and if so, if the word "joyful" has an expanded meaning in Korean... it would make more sense to me if it had said "bright" sound or something instead.
We actually did a test among colleagues in my workplace to see who could do the "Asian squat" out of 6 people - one of which was Asian (Thai). The Thai guy was the only guy who couldn't do it for longer than a minute without complaining about it being painful lol
I do most of these, including the Asian squat. Does this mean I am Korean at heart :)? I don't think being able to squat is a difference in bone structure, I think it is just down to practice. I mean think able squat toilet for example. If you have one of those in your culture, you will have ample practice. Same with doing yoga or just a habit like me.
@@susiewithrow1626 well, i am a doctor and was interested in that topic. actually they did a study about it in japan......the only difference between people who can do it and who can`t is dorsiflexion in the ankle.....and this, unless you are injured, is due to consistent practice.......watch children age 2-5 when they play.....they all can do it.....but then it depends on culture....in western countries we sit on chairs, even our toiletes are chairs.....i remember times in europe, where squatting toiletes were common( for example italy or france until the 80ies) and even old people in those countries were able to squat down deeply with ease.......so it is rather ùse it or lose it`than bone structure or genes. and in china or india there are many longleged people who can easily squat.
@@susiewithrow1626 i was also interested, if it is possible to relearn the asian squat.......even in older age( i am 58y).......and yes....actually it is quite easy......you just have to be consistent.......i did this squat with heels on the ground for 5 minutes ( almost) every day for two months.......first i had to hold myself not to lose balance......and i did not do 5 minutes in one session....it would hurt.....just 30 seconds now and then.....but 5 minutes in total.......and voila.....after two months i can do the deep asian squat perfectly.......no problem with balance and i can stay in this position comfortably for 30 minutes......you see, i like challenges.....like a child.....it is fun to see, what you can achieve, even if you are older
I’m from the US and I have seen people in the grocery store tapping and shaking watermelons. I’ve also seen people walking with umbrellas in the sun... I did think it a bit odd but...
I wish it was ok in Western countries to use an umbrella under the sun, it'd save my pale skin from burning 🤦🏼♀️I even use SPF 50+ sunscreen and reapply it regularly but still I manage to get a sunburn every time I spend a lot of time outdoor in the summer.
Kids when are trained a very young age to do gymnastics are more flexible when they grow up , so maybe if asians since a very young age (when people is more flexible ) sits like that “asian squads” and still doing it during all their life maybe that’s why is easy for them, is like if someone do a split every day for the entire life gonna be easy to do it tomorrow and is not gonna be easy for some one that has never done it before.. ( 🤔 maybe)
I don't think so. I've never done gymnastics in my life and can't do the split. My first time trying the Asian squat was when I was like 22...and I did it on the first try without any trouble. Most people can do it as children. But I think not so much as adults.
@@lindavel43 so is not true that the flexibility can be cause you have done that position your entire life, so the people that say that they practice and now they can do it, are the liars? And the true is that that already had the hability from their entire life ??? Or what part of that you don't think so????
I think you are right for example in Mexico if you see kids sitting in the floor can be considered bad education in public, cause the floor is dirty so kids mostly have to sit in a chair or other places otherwise their mothers gonna be like QUE TE PARES DEL PISOOOOOO!!!! haha so yeah if for example sitting in the flor with your legs crossed 🤞 required some flexibility but if you have never done it it can be difficult at first so I think that could be true!!!
The umbrella thing! I started doing that after my summer visit to Japan. The Airbnb my friends and I stayed at before the rules changed was at someone's apartment and he had 3 umbrellas for us. At first we brushed it off because we never used umbrellas before to block the sun. But the sun that day was so miserably hot we started to use them. It's so nice not to feel like a frying lump of flesh. I recommend carrying an umbrella around. Your skin will thank you.
I’m nearly 50 and my family were melon thumpers too. I’m from the south & my family is generationally from Tenn. My grandfather had a garden - about the sized of half as football field - kid you not. He had his own business, so it wasn’t his primary thing. No idea if his ancestors were farmers, but he grew up as an unwanted child in the Depression and had a lot of food insecurity. My dad’s family had a small garden so that they could eat everyday, even though both parents worked. Anyway, we learned melon thumping, general inspecting produce, etc., canning - from them. Unfortunately I have forgotten a lot of it. 😔 But I’m old and don’t have children, so no one to pass it on to anyway lol.
OMGGG the fact that everyone in my gym class when I was younger use to be so confused whenever I did the squat thing flat footed and I was just like “I’m built different”
It’s because when you tap a melon, it produces a certain pitch, and if the pitch is correct, that means it is ripe and is good to eat. Hopes this helps.
From Bosnia: -Yes we knock on the melons too -we have a squat that is quitd common in eastern europe 😂 but i don't quat like that, it's not as comfortable as the asian squat - everyobe eats from their own plate but if u want to try smth that sb else has ordered or smth just ask yk - we fight over who will pay it, it's super dramatic everyone wants to pay, but we dont share bills we just give in in the end and we're like "well next time it's on me then" -people in bosnia want to get tanned
The getting the check one was funny as an American... with some friends our family has a running tally and the 2 families will come up with more and more creative ways to subtly pay before the other
Oh yeah the “asian squat” is my favorite position hahaha whether im waiting, trying to concentrate while texting, looking at something on the floor, talking to a little kid...so comfortable and easy! My family and friends always thought it was so odd! 🤣
It was interesting to learn about our cultural differences! Giwoong is so sweet & nice to explain it to us ( I did not understand why a few of these were done)! Saerom is great! She always shares her experience and reaction to the first time she encountered these differences! I really like Giwoong & Saerom! 👍
A lot of Americans actually do tap on watermelons to check the ripeness (water to flesh ratio creates different sounds)... we also push on the ends to make sure they are not super soft since this usually means the melons are overripe. It's mostly something you see from older generations though, as the younger generations don't seem to have been taught how to choose ripe produce by their parents or they come from an area where produce is so readily available during the seasons - not imported - that it's usually fresh anyways.
That part in the video about getting the check reminded me so much of my mom and grandpa. They're always fighting over it like "I'm paying for it!" "No, I'm paying for it!" "No, you paid last time, I'm paying for it!"
@@cplova333 lmao yes they actually quarrel, ex- my granny and her fren likes to give each other stuff like that's just what we do,sometimes they help each other buy groceries and the fight is certainly entertaining lmfao,they be throwing cash at each other cuz they want to pay their fren back but the other doesn't want to accept the money etc.
with melons I always look for the ones with big yellow spots. (means they sat longer on the vine and were able to ripen and sweeten more than ones without) hasn't failed me yet.
I live in the southern states and we knock on melons as well. Learned it from my dad who grew up raising them and I cannot do the asian squat, I just now getting back to pilate squats. But I do remember having the ability as a child.
The umbrella thing I find really interesting. Many years ago using umbrella as shade was very popular for women in US. They were called Parasols. Being light skinned was preferable because being tan or dark skin meant you were low class or manual laborer. Also lighter skin color may have meant you were trying to "Pass" as white in some areas of the South. Now there are people who use tanning beds to get a skin color that years ago would get them segregated in some towns and looked down on. Interesting how things change over various times.
@@rachelmoody1520 you both are right about that and before ,say the 60th, being pale ment you was rich/had an education and had a higher ranked job and not like poor ppl work outdoors like for example farmers.But now a tan means a new different thing😀 you will probably soon get skincancer
My mom checks watermelons and breadfruit like that and we're Jamaica. We also squat when waiting for taxis in Jamaica. We also use umbrella without rain but to be fair, it's always hot in Jamaica. The sun is scorching.
In the Highlands in Ecuador we avoid sun with all our heart (sun in highlands isn't healthy at all) so when it's really sunny we carry umbrellas around (I found this when I entered college) also when it's raining. My mom is from the coast of Ecuador and she gets annoyed when everyone suddenly decides to hide from sun
I'm in the Midwest of America and most of us smell the spot where the flower was on the melon. If it smells like fruit it's ripe. If it smells like alcohol it's overripe and if there's no smell it's underripe.
Some of the things they showed regarding things Asian's do, I experienced as well while growing up. I learned that by knocking on the fruit you can tell which is better to eat. We also shared food amongst family, but not amongst friends as much unless you are really close. During school, some students would squat at the bus stops while we waited. Very interesting video though. Thanks for making it!
If I had a parasol I would use it on sunny days, I'm really pale, and I got a really bad sunburn when I was in 5th grade and do not want to get one again. I always cover my arms and legs as much as possible in the sun, like wearing sweatshirts even when everyone else asks how I can wear it because it's so hot outside.
In northern states it could be envied to have a tan. Especially back in school, you'd see it. Those with wealthier parents could go to Mexico or Florida. Somewhere south during winter (or spring) break. And to be tan in summer is that you're healthy, athletic or just have the time to spend.
The thumping of the melons is also really popular in the states too...like I guess down south it is? I just know that here in Texas (Where I was born and raised) there's literally a festival called "The Watermelon Thump". I'm not kidding. Look it up. It's a really common thing here in Texas at least. IDK about the rest of the States but from around me it's very common.
the boy's tie is just like in my school students wear this kind of tie in india. my uncle also did the same with watermelons and a lot of my relatives too
the squat position comes from using traditional style asian toilets - i know some asians struggle with it...in fact when i was in Japan some said they have gotten too use to western toilets as now most new houses and apartments come with them and a lot of shops and restaurants have them too. In Japan i often saw mostly student who'd squat and sometimes the old men. For me, the hardest was kneeling... i have very bad knees due to an old injury so kneeling at tables etc was hard -- but i was often told i could make myself comfortable and sit on the floor... but i havent sat on the floor since i was a kid so this was also uncomfortable
I always naturally did the Asian squat and didn't realize until college it was strange or something others couldn't even do comfortably 😅 never knew it was an Asian thing
Two things: It is so very hard to say "what Americans do." So many habits are sub-cultural, regional, based where your parents or grandparents were born. The melon thing? Yeah ...its done here. 2nd thing: These videos show one cultural difference between Koreans and most Americans. The Korean guy (KiWoon?) rarely looks at Stephanie and if he does he cannot sustain it, especially if she looks back at him. It's not comfortable for him. Could be for various reasons. Stephanie, as an American will look at him because he's the person speaking. No discomfort. Happens in all their videos.
I'm like that too actually, it makes me feel uncomfortable and embarrassing when I look at someone in the eye (wrong grammar, I know hehe) while talking to them. I usually stare straight ahead or if I'm forced to look at them, I would stare at their foreheads not their eyes. I don't even know why I'm like that.
You have a point patchchat. I didn't notice he didn't look at her too much. I just assumed he was focused on the individual asking the questions. Perhaps he had a girlfriend and he didn't want her to think he was attracted or distracted by the young lady's beauty.
@@dawnrobbins5877 I think it's cultural. In many countries on the Asian continent, averting your gaze (e.g. downwards) is considered well-mannered and respectful: the focus is on humility & modesty (if someone speaks, it's implied others will listen to them, so they already expect to be listened-to). Whereas in e.g. Europe and North America, whether it's in a group setting or one-on-one, it's considered polite to look at someone and/or into their eyes when they're talking to you: it's about attentiveness and outward displays of interest/concern (it's not assumed others will listen to whoever is speaking, hence it can't be taken for granted either). At least that's kinda how I've interpreted it.
I dunno. I feel like he looked at her a lot, especially when she was the one talking. Whoever was talking looked principally at the camera/interviewer, which I don't think is necessarily cultural.
@@AylaMarianna nah i think its more to do with the ppl themselves. Some r just more extroverted and comfortable looking into the eyes, some arent. I dont think its cultural
My favorite "fighting over the check" story was, at a Chinese buffet (in USA), the bill came on a tray with a fortune cookie for each guest on top. My husband, tired of my mom fighting for bill, picked up the tray, held it in her direction, and said, "Pick one." She promptly chose a fortune cookie, and he immediately grabbed the check off the tray and said, "I choose this one!" He finally beat her at the game lol. Who doesn't thump their melons? I thought everyone did. Melons and hard squash, listening for a dull sound like it's full of water. Saw a video once that discussed the "Asian Squat", and showed xrays of people who could and couldn't do it. I don't remember the conclusion, though, just remembered thinking that I used to do it as a kid, but couldn't imagine even trying now, I have hypermobile joints, though.
The tapping of the melons is to listen for hollowness. A hollow melon is no good, because it has more seeds in the centre and or it is starting to dry out. I'm Australian and I don't like melons but I still know that. There is no difference in the bone structure of any group of people, East or West! What makes it easier to squat flat footed for Asians is constant practice, from a very young age, so they develop muscle memory and muscle strength in the parts of the legs that work hardest in that pose. I'm a 50yo and I can squat flat footed without much of an issue. I only have trouble standing back up because of Arthritis.
I'm alaways doing the Asian Squat for being more comfortable than leaning somewhere or standing. Sometimes people give me weird looks or tell me their appreciation for being able to pull such a position. In Germany they mostly ask you if you need a bottle of Vodka though. I never thought that it's such a big thing in Korea. First time I hear about, hehe. *^*
I cannot buy a watermelon without knocking on it to make sure it's good lmao Also gotta say, doing the same to apples also works. Though I only do it to the ones already in my fridge and not in the store
Wait westerners don't share food?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like if I ever forgot to bring my lunch everyone in my school will share their lunch and that way I could taste so many things 😂
@@shanchan8247 we dont do that here in Scandinavia but i didnt think much about it when i seen ppl from Koreangroups i follow share a spoon u til covid messed up our world ,It cannot be good if u want to try keep down the spread of virus to use same spoons
It's not considered normal. except if you're really close friends and they forgot to bring their food. Not even all friends would offer, this mostly because it differs very much what each person brings to school. Some bring crackers, fruit, yoghurt which can be hard to share while others just bring bread. There was always a cafeteria where they could buy food and in my case I was lucky enough to have my high school near two supermarkets where we could always buy food during our lunch time or free periods.
Here in The Netherlands, we check the sound as well. Nothing weird about it. And personally, I squat very often too 🤷♀️ Just normal exercise and it's convenient when brushing my Shetland pony.
the squatting thing is just westerners don't do it from a young age so we lack the flexibility in our ankle joints, but if you practice you can loosen up. I am also a watermelon thumper. I enjoy seeing things that are unique to other cultures, it's fun. And can I just say Saerom is GORGEOUS!!
I have poor circulation I can’t do the squat like that for very long. 😂 When I was visiting friends in Japan we had to sit on the floor for a long time during a temple service, and I could not stop fidgeting to save my life, because my legs were 100% numb. I had trouble getting up afterward my friend had to help me I probably looked like I was 80 years old in my 20s.
In the hot sun, I wear sunglasses and I use an umbrella as well. If I'm at the beach, I do not enjoy sitting in direct sunlight, and I'm under an umbrella there as well. So not all Westerners automatically do what is shown in this video. I really enjoy learning about other cultures.
I am from america and I do that squat and I share food. The squat is a comfortable position for me and when I'm eating with others and they can't finish thier food I eat it for them.
Me as a Malaysian people did all of that westerners and asians did depends on the situation. Living in a country that has summer all year actually makes people wear umbrella during hot days especially sports day
American here-some of us do check melons by talking! We also squeeze fruit lol But the interesting one is the squat sit. Must Americans don’t do this much-except teachers. Anyone who teaches kids (pre secondary school) usually has mastered the squat sit. My husband is a primary teacher and I have marveled at just how long he can cop a squat!
