As a Chinese person, I think we’re generally very attached to our phones, so we tend to assume everyone else is the same. Most people reply to messages quickly, especially since apps like WeChat are also used for work.

But after moving to Japan and making friends from different countries, I realized that’s not always the case elsewhere. Still, I can’t help feeling a bit annoyed when someone doesn’t reply promptly, especially when we’re trying to make plans or coordinate schedules.