Coming from an Eastern country, and living in a Western country for more than five years. Although the education system can be quite similar compared to Australia and Taiwan. One teacher and 30 to 40 students. Australian students may go home at 4 o'clock, and do sports and different activities after school. However in Taiwan, we are likely to be sent to after school academic classes, because we believe it is extremely important to gain high scores in the subjects. When we run fast, no one in Taiwan will be likely to tell you, you can be an athlete. Because we do not recognize someone who is good at sport as much as Australia. If you are not good at your textbook, no matter how good you are in sport, you probably wouldn't be seen as someone who can achieve great things.
It is different in Australia, when someone is good at sports, they are likely to be recognized by parents or teachers, so they can start to be trained at a young age.
Imagine, a Taiwanese boy can swim very well, but no one ever tells him. It is ok that he does not do well at school, but maybe one day he possibly can become an Olympian and win a gold metal for Taiwan. Instead thinking that he is all brawn and no brains, maybe his life would be quite different.
It is similar to many things between countries, because how we are educated in the country, also the TV shows we watch, it influences the way we see ourselves and how we educate the next generation.
For example, Eastern country women have tanned skin, but they prefer to have paler skin. Western women have paler skin, but they prefer to have tanned skin. Because this is how each culture believes and is influenced by media. We could not really see that maybe some where in this world, someone may like our original skin colour, and we do not have to change ourselves in order to be seen as "beautiful". We sometimes can only see what's around us and we are restricted by the environment and thinking. When we see beyond our surrounds, there are more chances that we can accept who we are and who we can be.