International Usage
Here in the Chaplaincy at Heriot-Watt University, the atmosphere is usually as international as you could ask for. There are plenty of people who use the facility, and it often seems like the only underrepresented group are the Scottish.
However, there is one group who seems to make more effective day-to-day use of the building than any other. Students from China can often be found here, and as often as not it is Chinese students who act as residents. Could this be because of their socialistic, communist background? Socialism at its best is a group of people who share their resources unconditionally, for the common good. Does this predispose them to make good use of public facilities? Do people from other societies find it harder to use these facilities, perhaps because they are somehow more poorly-trained to share, or because they fear imposing on others? Before I indavertently offend any one, I am of course including Americans in these queries. We are just as likely to be stifled by such concerns as anyone else.