Bill looked tired when Huihua saw him in class one morning. Bill complained, "My God, Hui Chen called me after 11:00 last night. Do Chinese all call each other so late?"
Huihua said, "Often enough, because that's when we finish the work of the day. Besides, it's cheaper to call after that hour."
"I don't understand. Isn't that too late for conversation? Hui Chen also called me before 9 :00 a. m. last weekend, too. Do you all get up so early at weekend?"
"Not really. But we put up with early calls anyway."
Chinese perspective1
It is true that Chinese people overseas call each other late because it is cheaper and they have finished the day's work by then. Often the caller would apologize for calling late, while the receiver would say it is OK though it may be a very bad time for him/her. As a result, people who are active late at night continue to think everyone is comfortable with late-night conversations. The Chinese habit of politeness and of avoiding direct criticism does nothing to discourage the annoying habit of phone calls at uncivilized2 hours.
North American perspective
While some North Americans socialize or work late at night, they know that other people are not like that. These "night owls" tend to sleep very late in the morning, sometimes not arising before noon. Most people, out of courtesy3, will not call anyone after 9 or 10 p.m., unless they know the person is another "night owl" or it is an emergency4. Similarly, many people will not call before mid-morning or even noon on weekends, unless they know the person is awake and active. North Americans even have an expression about morning telephone calls on weekends, "Bad news can wait until noon." The expression means few things can be so important as to justify disturbing5 a quiet weekend morning.
Part of Bill's frustration with Hui Chen's calls is that nights are private times when one can relax alone or with loved ones. Life styles for most North Americans are hectic6 and stressful; quiet time alone or with family is rare and protected. Indeed, one of the reasons that many North Americans seek in planning a get-away weekend or vacation is to go some place where they can't be reached by phone.
一天早上，慧桦见到Bill时，他满脸都是倦意，他抱怨道，“我的天，昨晚陈辉1l点多给我打电话。中国人都这么晚打电话吗?”
慧桦说，“差不多吧，因为那时大家都做完了一天的事，也因为1l点以后打电话最便宜。”
“我想不通，这个时间是不是太晚了点?还有，上个周末早上，陈辉不到9点就给我打电话了，你们周末都起那么早吗?”
“这倒不一定，这么早的电话我们也不高兴，但也忍了。”
中国人的解释
确实，海外的中国人很晚还会互相致电，因为那时大家都做完了一天的事，电话费也最便宜。这种情况下，打电话的人往往都说声对不起，而接电话的人则说没关系，哪怕那对自己来说可能是很不方便的时间。结果喜欢晚上活动的人以为一般人都不介意深夜的电话，中国式的礼貌和不愿直接批评别人助长了这种恼人的习惯。
北美人的解释
尽管有些北美人习惯于晚上工作或社交，但他们很清楚别人不是如此。这些“夜猫子”们往往睡得晚起得晚，有时一觉睡到第二天中午。因此，很多人出于礼貌不会在晚上9点或10点以后打电话，除非有急事或者确知对方也是一个“夜猫子”。同样，很多人周末上午10点或11点甚至午前都不打电话，除非他们肯定对方已经起床了。北美人对周末早上的电话有专门的说法：坏消息可以等到中午。意思是很少有什么事重要到要去打扰人家一个清静的周末清晨。
Bill对陈辉来电不满的原因之一是晚上属私人时间，一般人不是独享个人空间就是和亲人在一起。很多北美人的生活繁忙而充满压力，难得有安静的时间独处或和家人相聚，这种时间应该受到保护。事实上，北美人周末外出或度假的原因之一就是去电话找不到自己的地方。
1. perspective n． 观点，看法
2． uncivilized adj． 失礼的
3． courtesy n． 礼貌
4． emergency n． 紧急情况，突然事件
5． disturb v． 烦扰
6． hectic adj． 繁忙的；兴奋的