Cross Culture Lesson 1

"Gay"

For most part of my life, the word "Gay" just simply means a guy with sexual preference for another guy. However, it seems that the word gay has multiple meaning to it.

Gay is an adjective meaning "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy"; however in modern usage, gay is a word usually used, as either a noun or adjective, to refer to same-sex sexual orientation; homosexuality.
Source: Wikipedia

Interacting with students from other countries let me realise that people from different country have attached different meaning to the word "gay".

Scenario 1:
Girl from HK: I have a girlfriend who is gay
ZH from Singapore: Huh? You mean your friend is a gay and he is the "female" in the relationship?
Girl from HK: No no, she is a girl and she likes girl.
ZH from Singapore: Oh, You mean she is a lesbian.
(Ok, I am ignorant here, but I didn't know that "She's gay" = "She's a lesbian")

Scenario 2:
(In the middle of my Investment Banking Seminar)
ZH from Singapore: You know what is that guy is talking about?
Guy from Australia: Nah, he is gay.
ZH from Singapore: Huh? How do you know he is gay? He seems like a normal guy to me.
Guy from Australia: (Gives me a puzzled look)

It turns out that in Australia, the word "gay" is used interchangeably with the word "crap".

So for example, a guy who dedicates an entire entry in his blog on the word "gay", he is pretty gay.

And anyone who actually bother to read till this sentence, he/she is pretty gay too!

ZH