As I've been hurrying through everyday with my hectic schedule and long subway commutes, I often forget I'm even in China. That is until one of a million culturally shocking things catches my attention.
In high school, I had a brilliant teacher who once told our class, "things uncommon to us are not weird, just different." I've made this a rule to mentally note for all things in life. Since I started traveling it really has come to the front lines of how I view and speak of others, their cultures and their lifestyles.
That being said, no matter how truly strange some Chinese culture appears to me, I note it isn't weird, just different.
Here are a few fun facts I've noted over the past month.
1. Smile! You're on candid camera.
Many Chinese locals are fascinated with foreigners. Until recently, there weren't many foreigners in China. People will stare. And I mean the deep, double-take kind of staring your momma always popped you on the back of the head for, followed by a quick, "don't stare; it's rude."
Sometimes when people are staring at me I feel like a zoo animal. Other times I can feel like a super model. It's all dependent on my day and the person staring.
People will take your picture often and at random, especially when you are out with a group of fellow foreigner friends.
The other day I was having a few beers at a cafe and when I finally paid to leave, the waitress stopped and asked to take my picture. “You are so beautiful,” she said. I kindly obliged because I was flattered she still saw beauty in my face after a 12-hour day and my hair was at its frizziest.
Now, here is a classic "Amie" story.
Some friends and i went to the zoo a few weeks back, as you know. While there, every time we stopped for pictures, as did several surrounding Chinese people. Forget the pandas, we were their main attraction that day, ha. So, toward the end of our trek through the zoo, we are admiring a cage full of monkeys and close by are three Chinese people. This lady had been staring at me for quite some time (so I thought.) So, when she pulled her phone up for a photo I thought I was saving her the trouble of being sneaky and just smiled. Smiled like an idiot I did for a solid minute until I realized her Chinese friend was standing to my right and that's who she'd been staring at all along. Leave it to me to pose for the one Chinese person who doesn't give two shits about seeing a foreigner. It's a great story, though! :)
2. Walking Chinese
This next bit isn't so much a cultural shock as it is my biggest pet peeve in China. Walking Chinese. Ninety-nine percent of the walking and subway riding population of China have a standard speed of zero. Absolutely no one walks with purpose here. In New York, you'd be trampled on if you didn't walk quickly enough. In China, I have literally walked into people who don't step off the escalator and walk. People step off the escalator and practically walk at a tip-toe. It's the most ridiculous situation I've ever endured.
Ironically enough, to exit the subway train itself, a person will literally give you a black eye or step on your kid to make sure they're out the door in time. However, that doesn't mean they're going to walk once they've reached that station platform. It makes positively no sense to me and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the mindset of walking and subway travel.
On my longest days, when I'm at my weakest physically, I still have to walk around 85 percent of the people along the way.
3. The restroom situation:
Western toilets are not always easy to come by. I thought always squatting in Europe because there were no seats on toilets was bad. Well, I was sadly mistaken. Lucky for me I come from a place in the South where it isn't uncommon to squat in the woods when push comes to shove. However, it isn't my first choice. In China, aside from popular foreigner areas, you will find "squatty potties." A toilet on the ground. So, if you're looking to tone up your quad muscles, take a trip to China.
Rule no. 1: Carry tissue always. If you are lucky enough to find a Western toilet, you probably aren't lucky enough to find a Western toilet with toilet paper. Now, toilet paper is sold in stores, don't panic. It just isn't always plentiful in public restrooms.
4. "He did what in the street?"
Along with the lack of Western toilets in China. There is a general lack of public toilets, which is troublesome for a heavily populated city.
That being said, with a lack of restrooms, it isn’t uncommon to see someone urinate or defecate in the streets. Yes, you read that correctly. I’ve had a few friends in China who've witnessed this first hand. So far, I have only heard, and I'll be happy to keep it that way. No one has been able to give a legitimate reason, other than the lack of public restrooms. Me personally, I hope I'm never so desperate for a bathroom that I resort to the street. Just sayin'...
5: "As smooth as a baby's bottom..."
If you're standing on the subway one day, and you realize the person next you're bumping arms with has skin as smooth as a baby's bottom... take a glance because it very well could be a child's rear end.
I was riding the subway the first time I saw a kid in pants with the private area cut open. Not cut, intentionally designed this way. About five people down was a child with absolutely no bottoms on. Butt naked.
Again, there is a serious lack of public restrooms. I understand most countries use diapers. I'm still just as puzzled by the logic here. I mean, how in the world can you know a 16 month old needs to use the restroom, anyway. I'm no parent. I haven't a clue. It's too different for me to comprehend.
So the deal is, the private areas are left unclothed and when the kid needs to use the restroom, he/she just pops a squat, too.
After three weeks of living her, I finally saw a mother pick up her toddler son, carry him to the bushes, and hold his legs spread eagle as he peed. All I could do was laugh. At this point, it's honestly not very surprising.
I have seen much more and learned much more in just one month's time, however, I shall save it for another day. After all, I've got 345 days left in China. :)
Cheers!
Just like that you've been introduced to split pants. :)
ReplyDelete