| Culture shock | |
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| Feb 19, 2005 09:28 |   |
 | Ni Hao, Most of you know that I am planning my first trip to China for this summer. What do you think will be the biggest culture shock for me when I get there. I live in Orlando, Florida (USA). My experiences are broad. I have experienced a variety of foods (many of which most Americans would not dare to eat). I have not been to Asia but I live very close to an Asian district and have enjoyed buying from the merchants fresh foods (including fish, shrimp and crabs). What can I expect to experience in China that will be so different from my experiences here or in Europe. Describe it to me. Thanks, Brent |
| Feb 19, 2005 16:33 | #1 |
| Ni Hao Ma? If you are used to Chinese food and if you read some books about China, I think you reached half of your way. First, China is always crowded and Chinese love that. Their understanding of vacation and travelling is the more people join it the better it is. If you are lucky to be there at peak times like Spring Festival and so on, you won? see any sights because of people. It is hard to be on your own! Transportation is always crowded. For example a train ride from Xian to Shanghai, there are also tickest without seat, so people were standing and sitting in the corridor for 16 hours. Going to the restrooms meant climbing over people. Private busses, which you have to use in rural regions start to their destination only when they are full (that means sometimes more than twice as many people as the vehicle was built for). It is not always like that, but if you are lucky...... People soemtimes stare at you, without bad meaning of course. Less in places like HK, Shanghai and Beijing where most people are used to laowais, but more in rural places, off the beaten track. Restrooms! You said you go on a guided tour to major cities, which means you?l have good hotels and so on. If you get to cheaper or public places the restrooms are a totally different world. Sometimes only holes in the ground without flush AND without doors. Say hello to everyone when you enter;-) Just kidding. But the description is right - it depends on where you go. But you?l get used to it, don? worry. Spitting is also very common. The best ones do it with a roaring noise. I once heard a sound like a razorback behind me. When I turned around there was only this cute woman in sight. That is what I call equal rights! Oh, by the way, this sometimes happens in busses, trains and I was even "pleased" to see it in an airplane - the ground was carpet! You have to get used to it! Don? get me wrong it does not necessarily be that way everywhere - but you might face it like that, so I told you of my experience.  |
| Feb 19, 2005 21:22 | #2 |
| Hi Brent, Hey Elcabron, you're impressed with the spitting abilities too. I saw a really lovely young Chinese couple, clearly in love, walking down the street when suddenly the girl just turned and spat. The male friends I was with couldn't believe it (though they don't seem to have minded adopting it themselves). I'm English and have been living in China for 6 months. I can safely say that the best way to sum up all the different culture shocks is 'lack of privacy.' For better or worse (and I guess better in light of how crowded China is) the concept doesn't exist. When I got my medical check up I was astonished. Consultancies happen in the corridor, really. There was a problem with my friends' 'ecg' and it was discussed in the waiting room with 20 chinese men crowding round and looking over each other shoulders to see what was happening. Its disconcerting (and admittedly something I personally find awkward) but its not meant to be rude, its just a different way of considering things. I think that same lack of privacy though is also one of the things that makes the Chinese so friendly. Like Elcabron said, the toilets take some getting used to, expecially, I suspect for Western women with no experience of urinals. Being 'foreign' can be more than just stares, I went out with bare arms once (I have quite fair skin) and 2 yr old boy was so astonished at my colour that he dropped his ice lolly (popsicle), and I've had people follow me around supermarkets to see what I buy. It sounds like food won't be a problem for you but I will say, I'm a relatively unsentimental person about animals and don't actually like dogs. Though not wanting to try it myself (I'm NOT adventurous with food) I told everyone that I didn't think the whole 'eating dog' culture would be a problem, after all eating one animal is surely much the same as another. I will admit however, that when I saw skinned dog's heads being sold on the street I felt rather odd, beyond my normal distate for raw meat. Likewise, being offered roasted sparrow on a skewer. Trust me, it is strange but that is what makes it China and different! So, where are you planning to travel? |
| Feb 20, 2005 08:26 | #3 |
| Hi Fran and Elcabron...Ni Hao! Thanks for the reply. I have to admit that after your posts I will probably be "shocked culturally". I don't mind. In fact, I am looking forward to it. I wonder why the spitting is performed the way it is? It sounds so dramatic. Fran, I am an adventurous eater but I don't think I can eat dog either...ofcourse thats not to say that its not delicious. However, I felt the same way about eel until I ate it in France. It was great. I do have two dogs so I guess I'll stick to eating the Peking Duck. Fran, you asked about where I'll be traveling. A friend of mine and I are taking an escorted tour to Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Suzhou, Guilin, and Hong Kong. As Elcabron (who has been a big help to me with all of his replies) has mentioned, I'll be staying at superior and luxury hotels so, to some degree, I'll be somewhat sheltered. I hope that I can experience the people of China though. So, on the days that we will be "on our own" I hope to venture out. Elcabron, do you travel all over the place...what do you do for a living. And Fran, you're a far way from England. What brings you to China? Thanks again for all your replies...you have no idea how close you bring me to China. I appreciate it. Brent |
| Feb 20, 2005 12:32 | #4 |
| It sounds like you're going to have a wonderful tour and seeing some brilliant places. You'll enjoy China if you like adventurous food! You're very brave, my grandfather made me try jellied eel once (in England), I was nearly sick. The food is delicious though, its not all dog and insects I promise. Definitely try steet stall snack food as well as restaurants, its really cheap and often much tastier. Just make sure its got plenty of customers. Make sure you go to the food market in Beijing (I'll try and remember the name for you), its really interesting to look at, hot ice cream and starfish on sticks! Oh, if you get to Guilin before me, tell me what it was like, I'm trying to decide whether to go there or not. I keep hearing different opinions. Fran |
| Feb 20, 2005 16:40 | #5 |
| Hey Brent, That was a good comparison. Actually Chinese and French cuisine have more in common than most people think: French also enjoy Frogs, Horses and snails. But I had my first frog with hotpot in Chongqing. Tastes a little bit like chicken.... You can try snake, too, Chinese believe it is good for men;-) The variety of uncommen food gets bigger the more you go south. Some people say Chinese eat everything that shows its back to heaven or everything with four legs except tables and chairs...... Francesca mentioned this food market in Beijing, it is on the right side of the Forbidden City, turn left behind the Beijing Hotel. On the left side there is a tourist clothes market first but further down you will find it. They offer the so called southern variety like scorpions on sticks, testicles of most animals big enough (I know they like some testicles in Spain, too!) and so on.... The pic shows the scorpions.  |
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