First Week In China:)
I am dumbfounded by the change in every single aspect of my life. Discovering new things about myself that only someone lost and confused and trying to find their way in a huge foreign land could discover.
Arrived in ZhuZhou a little over a week ago and each day holds so many new experiences that I feel that I have been here for much longer. Still getting over the culture shock so please don't find offense in what I write, I'm telling it how I see it. Every noise and smell, the words, the actions, the people, the weather- each a new adventure (some not as pleasant as others...)
CULTURE SHOCK- WTFREAK?!
One of the other foreign teachers in the city said that as long as you are aware of 2 things going in, you won't be as shocked when you get to China. Yup. Wish I had been aware of them before I came lol.
#1: squat toilets. Yes, you heard me.
Need I say more? Good, cuz I won't. XD
#2: No Personal Space. Whatsoever. Its insane- there is absolutely no such thing as waiting in line. People shove past you like they have a right to be the very first person attended. I am constantly herded into cramped places with countless of other people spitting, smoking, yelling into their phones, and throwing waste on the ground regardless of their environment. It is reflected in everything that the Chinese do: driving, shopping, walking, aaahhhhhhhhh. everything.
Like this for example, a crappy pic, but it gets the job done. Took us a good eight minutes to try and get down this staircase in Changsha- insane!
LESSON LEARNED- RIGHT OR WRONG?
I am but one person in this world. Who am I to judge what the 'correct' or 'incorrect' way of doing things are? Maybe there is a reason for the madness and I just need to open my eyes and see it. I am trying to take things as they are, to look beyond my personal biases and try to understand. I still don't get it, but maybe with time I will grow to love this place and see it for the beauty that is hidden to me still.
CULTURE SHOCK- ACCENTS!
Most of the other foreign teachers in the area are not from the states and the second night I spent in China we went to a western style bar to have Christmas Eve dinner with other foreigners. It was accents galore! haha Switching from an English accent, to Scottish, to Spanish (spain spanish & south america spanish), to whatever other accents present was quite the work out for the eardrums. Still don't understand half the slang used, but its really fun learning about different cultures and how everyone absolutely hates Americans lol.
LESSON LEARNED- REPRESENT!
We all have stereotypes deeply embedded in us. Sometimes those stereotypes apply and sometimes they don't. Everyone is an individual and even though we take pride in who we are, we also represent where we come from. I represent so many different things all at once -Mormons, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Americans, just to name a few- and there are stereotypes and assumptions that go along with each and every one of the things that make up who I am. So who am I? Will I live up to the task of educating others about those assumptions? Will I in turn learn from others what they can teach me?
So here I am, trying to get things in order so I can go to church through skype. Nothing is the same, yet some things never change. Went to the gym for example, and even though they don't open till 9:30 there are still the same jocks showing off, pretty girls that are only there to pretend to work out and look good, TV's to entertain yourself and employees sitting around waiting to check your card and let you in.
It's times like those that are encouraging. Reading the scriptures in the morning brings the same peace as it would anywhere else. There are creepos in the clubs and Mom's holding their children's hands on the sidewalk. I still have to search for my keys that are somewhere inside my bag. I still make my bed, do laundry, go to work, and have dinner with friends. It is a different sameness, but I hope I will find my routine soon and make ZhuZhou less of a shock and more of a home.
Miss and love you all:) Hope you danced the new years away with lots of laughter and hugs. Can't wait to teach my first class to write about that as well! Wish me luck!
Arrived in ZhuZhou a little over a week ago and each day holds so many new experiences that I feel that I have been here for much longer. Still getting over the culture shock so please don't find offense in what I write, I'm telling it how I see it. Every noise and smell, the words, the actions, the people, the weather- each a new adventure (some not as pleasant as others...)
CULTURE SHOCK- WTFREAK?!
One of the other foreign teachers in the city said that as long as you are aware of 2 things going in, you won't be as shocked when you get to China. Yup. Wish I had been aware of them before I came lol.
#1: squat toilets. Yes, you heard me.
Need I say more? Good, cuz I won't. XD#2: No Personal Space. Whatsoever. Its insane- there is absolutely no such thing as waiting in line. People shove past you like they have a right to be the very first person attended. I am constantly herded into cramped places with countless of other people spitting, smoking, yelling into their phones, and throwing waste on the ground regardless of their environment. It is reflected in everything that the Chinese do: driving, shopping, walking, aaahhhhhhhhh. everything.
Like this for example, a crappy pic, but it gets the job done. Took us a good eight minutes to try and get down this staircase in Changsha- insane! LESSON LEARNED- RIGHT OR WRONG?
I am but one person in this world. Who am I to judge what the 'correct' or 'incorrect' way of doing things are? Maybe there is a reason for the madness and I just need to open my eyes and see it. I am trying to take things as they are, to look beyond my personal biases and try to understand. I still don't get it, but maybe with time I will grow to love this place and see it for the beauty that is hidden to me still.
CULTURE SHOCK- ACCENTS!
Most of the other foreign teachers in the area are not from the states and the second night I spent in China we went to a western style bar to have Christmas Eve dinner with other foreigners. It was accents galore! haha Switching from an English accent, to Scottish, to Spanish (spain spanish & south america spanish), to whatever other accents present was quite the work out for the eardrums. Still don't understand half the slang used, but its really fun learning about different cultures and how everyone absolutely hates Americans lol.
LESSON LEARNED- REPRESENT!
We all have stereotypes deeply embedded in us. Sometimes those stereotypes apply and sometimes they don't. Everyone is an individual and even though we take pride in who we are, we also represent where we come from. I represent so many different things all at once -Mormons, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Americans, just to name a few- and there are stereotypes and assumptions that go along with each and every one of the things that make up who I am. So who am I? Will I live up to the task of educating others about those assumptions? Will I in turn learn from others what they can teach me?
So here I am, trying to get things in order so I can go to church through skype. Nothing is the same, yet some things never change. Went to the gym for example, and even though they don't open till 9:30 there are still the same jocks showing off, pretty girls that are only there to pretend to work out and look good, TV's to entertain yourself and employees sitting around waiting to check your card and let you in.
It's times like those that are encouraging. Reading the scriptures in the morning brings the same peace as it would anywhere else. There are creepos in the clubs and Mom's holding their children's hands on the sidewalk. I still have to search for my keys that are somewhere inside my bag. I still make my bed, do laundry, go to work, and have dinner with friends. It is a different sameness, but I hope I will find my routine soon and make ZhuZhou less of a shock and more of a home.
Miss and love you all:) Hope you danced the new years away with lots of laughter and hugs. Can't wait to teach my first class to write about that as well! Wish me luck!
Gahhh!! Talk about culture shock!! I love the picture of the tall glass building right next to one that looks like it might start to crumble! Amazing how two different worlds can coexist! And the picture of the staircase makes me claustrophobic just looking at it!
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