I have been living in China for over two years now. With the exception of two weeks, I spent all that time here. Much of that time has been spent learning Chinese. Lately, I have been very busy. I teach 28 hours per week, and I spend lots of time studying Chinese. I also found a girlfriend, so I need to make time for her.
Being in a cross-cultural relationship is difficult. Even when the language is not an issue, there are things that happen that do not translate easily. Sometimes, I do things or say things that are misunderstood.
Sorry I am going to stop now, but I feel a little sick. I simply wanted to write something because I hadn't wrote a blog in quite a long time.
Showing posts with label China. Show all posts
Showing posts with label China. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
A Challenge
Living in China is like living anywhere else. There are good points, and there are points that can make living difficult.
Sometimes it is easier to focus on the frustrations and things that are difficult here, particularly after a non-preferred event occurs... But I will make my best attempt to focus on the aspects that are good and positive.
One of the things I like most about China is the challenge. There are many Challenges that I can embrace. The good part is that most of the challenges that I encounter are optional, so I can avoid them if they become too overwhelming. Obviously, I deal with a language barrier, but I also deal with cultural differences as well. Last month, I found a Buddhist place. I am not exactly too sure of what they do there, but I do know that it pertains to Buddhism. I know it isn't a temple, although the building that houses this place does contain some alters. There is a man who is approximately in his forties who runs the place. He provides some type of consultation. Perhaps spiritual consultation, but I am currently not too clear. He seems very friendly. He resembles what I would think of as a Buddhist monk, although people who are not monks may also wear the Buddhist monk garb. Im not sure. A friend told me that all Buddhist monks shave their heads. This man does not. His hair is short, but not shaved. I know that he does have a superior, but he is the highest person of that place that I have met in terms of authority. One of his assistants is quite a challenge because he asks difficult questions. Overcoming the language barrier, and addressing my ideas in Chinese are difficult.
I don't know if all Buddhist are alike, but these Buddhist seem to have a love for fire. During my last visit, the group lit two fires in front of the building. There seems little regard for what I would think of as fire safety. There are many things that I observe at this Buddhist location and others like it that puzzle me. For example, leaving food at the alters. That seems like such a waste.
The next think I want to share is, is a portion of a letter that I wrote to a friend describing what it feels like living in China;
" ... Welcome to the China ride! Don't try to change anyone or anything. Don't be a reformer. Don't try to fix things. Don't get involved in any arguments between Chinese people, no matter what. Don't expect Chinese people to be honest. Most things here are straight forward. Start at the beginning, do what your told, don't deviate, and get off when the ride is over. China can be a great source of entertainment if I can try to find the humorous side of things, but it can also be quite depressing. ... "
I am here by choice. I am a foreigner. This means that some things are forbidden to me, while other things are more accessible. I have seen so much that I am sure that I would never have encountered if I had never left the United States. So since I am here, I just try to gracefully accept my lot. However, my lot isn't really that bad!
If anyone is considering a move to China, I think that a few characteristics are probably essential ordered from least important to most.
- an open mind
- flexibility - i.e. last minute changes
- having the ability to just let things be without trying to change them
- patience, and slow to anger.
and finally... A sense of humor. There is plenty of humor to be found here.
p.s.
For those considering trips to China... If you plan on traveling within China, and intend on taking a train, I strongly suggest that you not book a hard seat train for trips that last more than 2-4 hours. I can handle them with too much complaint for about 4 hours, but after that... They suck. They are misery for long hauls, I.E. the 12 hour train ride from Beijing to Hohhot. Instead, what you should do is spend the extra money, and book a hard sleeper. Sleepers are bunks that I think are reasonably comfortable. Some people prefer the soft sleeper, but to me, the extra money vs the additional comfort provided are just not worth the value.
Book an overnight train that leaves at around 6pm. As soon as you get on the train, you can sit and look out the window for a few hours, or you can read a book or whatever. Later, you can eat whatever you brought with you, or buy the overpriced shit they sell on the train. Go to sleep, because they will turn the cabin lights off at around 10 -1030, and all the Chinese people go to sleep. Sleep through the night, and next morning you will have arrived at your destination! Plus, you just save money on lodging.
In a word, hard seats suck. I will ride them for short trips, but not for long trips.
Sometimes it is easier to focus on the frustrations and things that are difficult here, particularly after a non-preferred event occurs... But I will make my best attempt to focus on the aspects that are good and positive.
One of the things I like most about China is the challenge. There are many Challenges that I can embrace. The good part is that most of the challenges that I encounter are optional, so I can avoid them if they become too overwhelming. Obviously, I deal with a language barrier, but I also deal with cultural differences as well. Last month, I found a Buddhist place. I am not exactly too sure of what they do there, but I do know that it pertains to Buddhism. I know it isn't a temple, although the building that houses this place does contain some alters. There is a man who is approximately in his forties who runs the place. He provides some type of consultation. Perhaps spiritual consultation, but I am currently not too clear. He seems very friendly. He resembles what I would think of as a Buddhist monk, although people who are not monks may also wear the Buddhist monk garb. Im not sure. A friend told me that all Buddhist monks shave their heads. This man does not. His hair is short, but not shaved. I know that he does have a superior, but he is the highest person of that place that I have met in terms of authority. One of his assistants is quite a challenge because he asks difficult questions. Overcoming the language barrier, and addressing my ideas in Chinese are difficult.
I don't know if all Buddhist are alike, but these Buddhist seem to have a love for fire. During my last visit, the group lit two fires in front of the building. There seems little regard for what I would think of as fire safety. There are many things that I observe at this Buddhist location and others like it that puzzle me. For example, leaving food at the alters. That seems like such a waste.
The next think I want to share is, is a portion of a letter that I wrote to a friend describing what it feels like living in China;
" ... Welcome to the China ride! Don't try to change anyone or anything. Don't be a reformer. Don't try to fix things. Don't get involved in any arguments between Chinese people, no matter what. Don't expect Chinese people to be honest. Most things here are straight forward. Start at the beginning, do what your told, don't deviate, and get off when the ride is over. China can be a great source of entertainment if I can try to find the humorous side of things, but it can also be quite depressing. ... "
I am here by choice. I am a foreigner. This means that some things are forbidden to me, while other things are more accessible. I have seen so much that I am sure that I would never have encountered if I had never left the United States. So since I am here, I just try to gracefully accept my lot. However, my lot isn't really that bad!
If anyone is considering a move to China, I think that a few characteristics are probably essential ordered from least important to most.
- an open mind
- flexibility - i.e. last minute changes
- having the ability to just let things be without trying to change them
- patience, and slow to anger.
and finally... A sense of humor. There is plenty of humor to be found here.
p.s.
For those considering trips to China... If you plan on traveling within China, and intend on taking a train, I strongly suggest that you not book a hard seat train for trips that last more than 2-4 hours. I can handle them with too much complaint for about 4 hours, but after that... They suck. They are misery for long hauls, I.E. the 12 hour train ride from Beijing to Hohhot. Instead, what you should do is spend the extra money, and book a hard sleeper. Sleepers are bunks that I think are reasonably comfortable. Some people prefer the soft sleeper, but to me, the extra money vs the additional comfort provided are just not worth the value.
Book an overnight train that leaves at around 6pm. As soon as you get on the train, you can sit and look out the window for a few hours, or you can read a book or whatever. Later, you can eat whatever you brought with you, or buy the overpriced shit they sell on the train. Go to sleep, because they will turn the cabin lights off at around 10 -1030, and all the Chinese people go to sleep. Sleep through the night, and next morning you will have arrived at your destination! Plus, you just save money on lodging.
In a word, hard seats suck. I will ride them for short trips, but not for long trips.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
I recently went on a solo trip around China. It was pretty cool overall. Although I did struggle with loneliness, I did appreciate the fact that I was able to see some really interesting things. I realized that things in different parts of China are not necessarily the same as they are up here in the north. I remember that when I was young, I believed that all Chinese people wore cone-shaped hats (for clarification, please read comments below). After arriving in China, I didn't see anyone wearing these hats. I concluded that I was wrong. When I went south, I saw some people wearing the cone-shaped hats and realized that some of the things I believed about China were based in some truth, but the ideas were not necessarily reflecting all of China.
Well, I am back in Baoding, and since seeing other parts of the country, it has helped me see Baoding differently as well. When I visit other Chinese cities, I analyze these places from the perspective of someone who does not intend to stay long. This is not the case with Baoding. I arrived here analyzing this city as a place I intended to stay for a while. I arrived for the first time to most of the other cities at the bus or train station. As soon as I step out of the train station, I get my first (and sometimes lasting) impression of that city. This is not so with Baoding. I was driven right to my door of my apartment.
None of these observations are very important, I just want to make the point that the traveling and sightseeing I have done has caused me to change the way that I see my home city of Baoding. I would imagine that when I return to the United States, I will also see that different as well.
-------------------------
The cone-shaped hats I was talking about are called Conical Asian hats. They have other names as well, but I want to be somewhat specific as to what I was talking about. If you want to know more about these, there are many references available online.
Well, I am back in Baoding, and since seeing other parts of the country, it has helped me see Baoding differently as well. When I visit other Chinese cities, I analyze these places from the perspective of someone who does not intend to stay long. This is not the case with Baoding. I arrived here analyzing this city as a place I intended to stay for a while. I arrived for the first time to most of the other cities at the bus or train station. As soon as I step out of the train station, I get my first (and sometimes lasting) impression of that city. This is not so with Baoding. I was driven right to my door of my apartment.
None of these observations are very important, I just want to make the point that the traveling and sightseeing I have done has caused me to change the way that I see my home city of Baoding. I would imagine that when I return to the United States, I will also see that different as well.
-------------------------
The cone-shaped hats I was talking about are called Conical Asian hats. They have other names as well, but I want to be somewhat specific as to what I was talking about. If you want to know more about these, there are many references available online.
Friday, September 24, 2010
China, one year later...
Exactly one year ago today, I arrived in China. What is the difference between then and now?
last year; I loved the attention that I got from strangers in the street.
this year; I can't stand the attention I get from strangers in the street.
There are not many foreigners in Baoding, so sometimes people are curious. They generally ask questions, but the always ask the same questions. I get tired of answering 'which country are you from?', 'how old are you?', and 'how much money do you earn in a month?'. Generally, I ignore people in the street if I am able to.
last year; I couldn't stand the food
this year; my taste for food has changed a bit.
When I was still living in America, I was very picky about what I would eat. Shortly after arriving in China, I lost a lot of weight because I was unable to find suitable food to eat. Over time, I have found that my taste for food has changed. Today, I can handle some spice, and I eat soup now. Some of the flavors and textures that I disliked when I first arrived are okay now.
last year; I could not wander too far because I was afraid I would be unable to find my way back home if I did.
this year; I can go anywhere in China and make my way back home.
My language skills have improved. Because of this, I can read more signs, and talk to people. This has given me independence to do as I want while in China.
last year; I would see some new and interesting things in the street everyday.
this year; I see some new and interesting things in the street about once a week.
There are many things that are found in China that are not found in the United States. Sometimes, these are quite fascinating.
last year; I had no clue about how to teach Chinese students.
this year; I know what to expect, and have prepared for when these situation arise. I know the common mistakes that Chinese students of English make, and because I understand some Chinese, I know why they make these mistakes. Because of this, I can be more helpful.
---
Some differences between my life in China and my life in the United States
United States 美国 -I owned a truck, and I could freely travel as I wanted.
China 中国- I have to rely on public transportation, taxis, or walk. I have to ride on crowded public buses to get to where I want to go.
美国- People in the street, for the most part, are considerate.
中国- People in the street rarely think of other people. The traffic is insane. I will never drive here if I can avoid it. I feel it is very dangerous. When crossing the street, I need 360 degree vision. Cars, and bikes sometimes seemingly come out of nowhere, and they will not stop.
美国- I earn a lot more money, but costs are higher, and I have to pay higher taxes.
中国- As a foreigner, I will always have money in China. Chinese people don't have it so easy. I do pay some taxes, but it isn't much. The pay is poor, but in consideration to the cost of goods here, I am very wealthy.
美国- I could sometimes walk down the street and see no people or cars.
中国- The streets always have many people. The street near my apartment is near a University gate, so there are usually lots of people in the street. Many streets will have vendors selling all sorts of things, such as food, clothing, and small gift items. At the end of the day, the streets are filthy, with garbage everywhere.
美国- government buildings are well-maintained, and kept clean.
中国- Chinese people do not seem to appreciate the value of maintaining property. Buildings and parks are rarely tended to. The building I teach at needs repairs. Classrooms are messy, and the walls need fresh painting.
美国- building are required to meet certain safety codes.
中国- no one seems to care. Buildings are constructed in a seemingly random way. Besides some of the hotels I have stayed in, I don't think I have seen any smoke detectors. Most buildings don't have emergency exits. In fact, I know one classroom building at my university where they lock the doors from the outside. This in of itself may not be a problem, but the keep the locks on even when the building is open for business. Should an emergency occur, there would be only one way for people to exit the building. This is not the best idea, especially since this building is about 15 floors high.
美国- Cellphones are expensive. You get a bill at the end of each billing period. Usually, you are expected to sign a contract.
中国- Cellphones are fairly cheap. I bought mine for 200 yuan (about $30). It is my phone, and I can use it with any cellphone company I want to do business with. The service is 'pay as you go'. No contracts or anything. Simply add money to your account when you are about to run out. If you run out, you simply can't use your phone. If this happens, you can simply go to a convenience store and buy a phone card or you can go to your cellphone service providers store and add money there. No late fees, no reactivation fees, none of that nonsense. Oh, and it is very cheap. I think I have paid 500 yuan so far, and right now I have about 130 yuan still left on my phone.
美国- I normally worked 40 hours per week, if I was not in college.
中国- Last summer, I did not work at all. I spent most of my time traveling and studying Chinese. I still got paid by my university. Not a bad deal, I get paid while I explore a foreign country. In the next few months, November will be my busiest month. I will be working about 28 hours per week. September was very light, I didn't start working until the 19th. We get a week off on October. For December and early January ( or thereabouts) I will be working about 14 hours per week. Oh, and if I work more than 16 hours per week, it is considered to be overtime, and I get overtime pay. This is not true for all Chinese people, many of them work considerably more than I did when I was in America. I have one Chinese friend who has worked every single day since Spring Festival (during February), and she doesn't complain about it.
美国- If you look at me the wrong way, I will sue you.
中国- People just let things slide. I got hit by a bike a few months ago, and the guy who hit me simply shrugged and rode off.
-------
Some misconceptions about China -
- People do not eat catmeat, and very few people eat dogmeat.
- I can find almost all fruits that are found in the United states here in China, but there are some Chinese fruits that I have never seen in America.
- Not all Chinese people are short. In fact, many of them are quite big.
-------
Some observations about China-
- It is very noisy in the street.
- It is also very dirty, apartments are harder to maintain here in China than the ones in the states.
- Yes, there are lots of people everywhere.
- Certain things are difficult to find in China. Cheese is sometimes hard to find, and it is expensive. It is hard to find deodorant, good stationary products, and comfortable shoes. Shoe sizes are small here in China, which seems strange because I do see people with big feet.
This is all I feel like writing right now. Maybe I will write more later.
last year; I loved the attention that I got from strangers in the street.
this year; I can't stand the attention I get from strangers in the street.
There are not many foreigners in Baoding, so sometimes people are curious. They generally ask questions, but the always ask the same questions. I get tired of answering 'which country are you from?', 'how old are you?', and 'how much money do you earn in a month?'. Generally, I ignore people in the street if I am able to.
last year; I couldn't stand the food
this year; my taste for food has changed a bit.
When I was still living in America, I was very picky about what I would eat. Shortly after arriving in China, I lost a lot of weight because I was unable to find suitable food to eat. Over time, I have found that my taste for food has changed. Today, I can handle some spice, and I eat soup now. Some of the flavors and textures that I disliked when I first arrived are okay now.
last year; I could not wander too far because I was afraid I would be unable to find my way back home if I did.
this year; I can go anywhere in China and make my way back home.
My language skills have improved. Because of this, I can read more signs, and talk to people. This has given me independence to do as I want while in China.
last year; I would see some new and interesting things in the street everyday.
this year; I see some new and interesting things in the street about once a week.
There are many things that are found in China that are not found in the United States. Sometimes, these are quite fascinating.
last year; I had no clue about how to teach Chinese students.
this year; I know what to expect, and have prepared for when these situation arise. I know the common mistakes that Chinese students of English make, and because I understand some Chinese, I know why they make these mistakes. Because of this, I can be more helpful.
---
Some differences between my life in China and my life in the United States
United States 美国 -I owned a truck, and I could freely travel as I wanted.
China 中国- I have to rely on public transportation, taxis, or walk. I have to ride on crowded public buses to get to where I want to go.
美国- People in the street, for the most part, are considerate.
中国- People in the street rarely think of other people. The traffic is insane. I will never drive here if I can avoid it. I feel it is very dangerous. When crossing the street, I need 360 degree vision. Cars, and bikes sometimes seemingly come out of nowhere, and they will not stop.
美国- I earn a lot more money, but costs are higher, and I have to pay higher taxes.
中国- As a foreigner, I will always have money in China. Chinese people don't have it so easy. I do pay some taxes, but it isn't much. The pay is poor, but in consideration to the cost of goods here, I am very wealthy.
美国- I could sometimes walk down the street and see no people or cars.
中国- The streets always have many people. The street near my apartment is near a University gate, so there are usually lots of people in the street. Many streets will have vendors selling all sorts of things, such as food, clothing, and small gift items. At the end of the day, the streets are filthy, with garbage everywhere.
美国- government buildings are well-maintained, and kept clean.
中国- Chinese people do not seem to appreciate the value of maintaining property. Buildings and parks are rarely tended to. The building I teach at needs repairs. Classrooms are messy, and the walls need fresh painting.
美国- building are required to meet certain safety codes.
中国- no one seems to care. Buildings are constructed in a seemingly random way. Besides some of the hotels I have stayed in, I don't think I have seen any smoke detectors. Most buildings don't have emergency exits. In fact, I know one classroom building at my university where they lock the doors from the outside. This in of itself may not be a problem, but the keep the locks on even when the building is open for business. Should an emergency occur, there would be only one way for people to exit the building. This is not the best idea, especially since this building is about 15 floors high.
美国- Cellphones are expensive. You get a bill at the end of each billing period. Usually, you are expected to sign a contract.
中国- Cellphones are fairly cheap. I bought mine for 200 yuan (about $30). It is my phone, and I can use it with any cellphone company I want to do business with. The service is 'pay as you go'. No contracts or anything. Simply add money to your account when you are about to run out. If you run out, you simply can't use your phone. If this happens, you can simply go to a convenience store and buy a phone card or you can go to your cellphone service providers store and add money there. No late fees, no reactivation fees, none of that nonsense. Oh, and it is very cheap. I think I have paid 500 yuan so far, and right now I have about 130 yuan still left on my phone.
美国- I normally worked 40 hours per week, if I was not in college.
中国- Last summer, I did not work at all. I spent most of my time traveling and studying Chinese. I still got paid by my university. Not a bad deal, I get paid while I explore a foreign country. In the next few months, November will be my busiest month. I will be working about 28 hours per week. September was very light, I didn't start working until the 19th. We get a week off on October. For December and early January ( or thereabouts) I will be working about 14 hours per week. Oh, and if I work more than 16 hours per week, it is considered to be overtime, and I get overtime pay. This is not true for all Chinese people, many of them work considerably more than I did when I was in America. I have one Chinese friend who has worked every single day since Spring Festival (during February), and she doesn't complain about it.
美国- If you look at me the wrong way, I will sue you.
中国- People just let things slide. I got hit by a bike a few months ago, and the guy who hit me simply shrugged and rode off.
-------
Some misconceptions about China -
- People do not eat catmeat, and very few people eat dogmeat.
- I can find almost all fruits that are found in the United states here in China, but there are some Chinese fruits that I have never seen in America.
- Not all Chinese people are short. In fact, many of them are quite big.
-------
Some observations about China-
- It is very noisy in the street.
- It is also very dirty, apartments are harder to maintain here in China than the ones in the states.
- Yes, there are lots of people everywhere.
- Certain things are difficult to find in China. Cheese is sometimes hard to find, and it is expensive. It is hard to find deodorant, good stationary products, and comfortable shoes. Shoe sizes are small here in China, which seems strange because I do see people with big feet.
This is all I feel like writing right now. Maybe I will write more later.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Life in China
What can I say about living in China after almost 9 months? I am not sure. It is so very different, and I quickly found that people simply do not think in the same way as I do. I remember thinking when I was still in America, that if ever a misunderstanding should occur, then I could simply explain it away. What I have found is that it is not always that simple. Sometimes, people believe things, and they will not easily be swayed by an explanation. All people believe certain things about life and human nature, and Chinese people are no different. I am quite sure that my behavior in China is quite puzzling to Chinese people, as their behavior sometimes is for me.
Sorry, the above paragraph may seem a bit like rambling, but it is just something that weighs heavy on my heart, and causes much of the hardships that I face in China.
In many ways, I have a very easy life in China. What makes things difficult is getting involved with the community. This is difficult for me to do sometimes. My Chinese is improving, but the accent that I am learning is best understood by people living in large cities such as Beijing or Shanghai. I have great difficulty understanding the local people. I am conflicted with the understanding that, many times, I am the only foreigner that they see on a daily basis. In some cases, I am the only foreigner they have ever met. Because of this, what I say and do will have a lasting impact upon how they may see foreigners in the future. I understand this responsibility, and try to act generously and kindly. At times, this is difficult because the behavior of the Chinese people can be difficult to tolerate. It is not so much that the behavior is bad, but it is just that it is very repetitive. They ask the same questions, and say the same things. After 80 times of hearing the same thing over and over, it is difficult for me to appear genuinely interested in what they have to say.
The English language has a huge influence on the culture in China. It is interesting to observe how Chinese people have attempted to adapt English into traditional Chinese culture. Often, the result is strange. Sometimes, it is quite funny. There are the signs written in Chinese, with the English translations underneath. The problem is that the translations are not very precise, and in some cases, I cannot understand what is being said. For example 'Keep near, settling the civilization' is intended to mean to keep near the urinal when using them in the restroom. Sometimes, Chinese building will have Chinese writing and also pinyin. Pinyin is the Chinese sounds spelled out using Roman letters. The result is often a really long word that looks, perhaps, something like this; 'baodaoshifeihongdengzailuobingguan' no spaces or capital letters. When I first saw this, it looked quite strange to me.
There is so much to say, but I am too tired. I will write another blog someday. I am not going to make promises or anything. I now know I should not do that. If I do, I may end up not keeping my word. Anyhow, good night.
Sorry, the above paragraph may seem a bit like rambling, but it is just something that weighs heavy on my heart, and causes much of the hardships that I face in China.
In many ways, I have a very easy life in China. What makes things difficult is getting involved with the community. This is difficult for me to do sometimes. My Chinese is improving, but the accent that I am learning is best understood by people living in large cities such as Beijing or Shanghai. I have great difficulty understanding the local people. I am conflicted with the understanding that, many times, I am the only foreigner that they see on a daily basis. In some cases, I am the only foreigner they have ever met. Because of this, what I say and do will have a lasting impact upon how they may see foreigners in the future. I understand this responsibility, and try to act generously and kindly. At times, this is difficult because the behavior of the Chinese people can be difficult to tolerate. It is not so much that the behavior is bad, but it is just that it is very repetitive. They ask the same questions, and say the same things. After 80 times of hearing the same thing over and over, it is difficult for me to appear genuinely interested in what they have to say.
The English language has a huge influence on the culture in China. It is interesting to observe how Chinese people have attempted to adapt English into traditional Chinese culture. Often, the result is strange. Sometimes, it is quite funny. There are the signs written in Chinese, with the English translations underneath. The problem is that the translations are not very precise, and in some cases, I cannot understand what is being said. For example 'Keep near, settling the civilization' is intended to mean to keep near the urinal when using them in the restroom. Sometimes, Chinese building will have Chinese writing and also pinyin. Pinyin is the Chinese sounds spelled out using Roman letters. The result is often a really long word that looks, perhaps, something like this; 'baodaoshifeihongdengzailuobingguan' no spaces or capital letters. When I first saw this, it looked quite strange to me.
There is so much to say, but I am too tired. I will write another blog someday. I am not going to make promises or anything. I now know I should not do that. If I do, I may end up not keeping my word. Anyhow, good night.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The life of a Chinese learner living in China...
I think that I can understand how hard it is for a foreigner to learn a new language. I have been living in China for 8 months now, and in addition to that, I had studied Chinese for around 10 months while living in the states. I have some experience with this. I must say, it can be difficult at times. Learning Chinese for an English speaker is probably easier than it would be for a Chinese person to learn English in the United States, because many people can speak at least some English. When these Chinese people see a foreigner, they are often friendly and eager to use the little bit of English that they know. This means that they may be willing to be helpful, and patient when I try to speak Chinese. However, there are not many Chinese speakers in the United States, so this is not very likely.
Anyhow, my life in China is filled with constant frustration, confusion, and irritation. Doing any task in the street is always difficult, because my Chinese is not good. I study Chinese for several hours on most days, but I still know very little after all this time. Everyday, the fact that my language skills are poor is immediately apparent. As I learn more Chinese, I find that, in some ways, it actually gets harder to function. When I knew very little, people were more patient with me. Now, people expect me to be able to speak better than I actually can, so they just get frustrated with me. Sometimes, Chinese people, meaning to be helpful, will sometimes throw English words in their Chinese sentence. This causes problems for two reasons; first, their pronunciation is often very poor, so I don't realize that they are trying to speak an English word until later. And second, they will say the English for words that I already understand the Chinese for anyway. In this way, this is no help and serves only to frustrate matters worse.
I recently hired a Chinese person to help me work on my oral Chinese. I am one of the very few Chinese learners whose reading and writing is better than my speaking. For most people, their speaking and listening is good, but they cannot read or write. After my first lesson, I got discouraged because she spent lots of time talking in English. I might have to find a new tutor.
I get so frustrated sometimes. Some days, I might spend a three hour session studying Chinese, then go to the street to do something, and fumble, stumble, and crawl my way through the most basic Chinese interaction. As I said earlier, I am constantly reminded of my poor speaking ability. My reaction sometimes is to simply say 'screw it, this is too hard. Perhaps I will just play video games during my spare time' but I know that if I practice, I will improve. I know this because I am improving. It is very slow, but I am getting better each day. I just have to maintain the regimen of studying that I have been doing since around January or thereabouts.
I know this is not well written, but it is a first draft, and I don't really care to revise and edit. This is what you get. Sorry.
Anyhow, my life in China is filled with constant frustration, confusion, and irritation. Doing any task in the street is always difficult, because my Chinese is not good. I study Chinese for several hours on most days, but I still know very little after all this time. Everyday, the fact that my language skills are poor is immediately apparent. As I learn more Chinese, I find that, in some ways, it actually gets harder to function. When I knew very little, people were more patient with me. Now, people expect me to be able to speak better than I actually can, so they just get frustrated with me. Sometimes, Chinese people, meaning to be helpful, will sometimes throw English words in their Chinese sentence. This causes problems for two reasons; first, their pronunciation is often very poor, so I don't realize that they are trying to speak an English word until later. And second, they will say the English for words that I already understand the Chinese for anyway. In this way, this is no help and serves only to frustrate matters worse.
I recently hired a Chinese person to help me work on my oral Chinese. I am one of the very few Chinese learners whose reading and writing is better than my speaking. For most people, their speaking and listening is good, but they cannot read or write. After my first lesson, I got discouraged because she spent lots of time talking in English. I might have to find a new tutor.
I get so frustrated sometimes. Some days, I might spend a three hour session studying Chinese, then go to the street to do something, and fumble, stumble, and crawl my way through the most basic Chinese interaction. As I said earlier, I am constantly reminded of my poor speaking ability. My reaction sometimes is to simply say 'screw it, this is too hard. Perhaps I will just play video games during my spare time' but I know that if I practice, I will improve. I know this because I am improving. It is very slow, but I am getting better each day. I just have to maintain the regimen of studying that I have been doing since around January or thereabouts.
I know this is not well written, but it is a first draft, and I don't really care to revise and edit. This is what you get. Sorry.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
trip to china and first impressions
September 29, 2009,
I have been in country for four days now. I no longer think of the types of things I did before I arrived and during my trip. During that period of time, my thoughts were focused on the fact that I was really going to China, and that it was about as real as it was going to get. One of the first surprises I encountered was the fact that we flew northeast to get to China. This means that we went over the North Pole. My first night was a blur. I know that some of the other teachers brought me to a restaurant, and treated me to Tomato fried egg, but I cannot tell you how to get to that restaurant if you paid me. People have been most friendly, for the most part.
Before I left, I was told to expect the unexpected when I arrived to China. It has been the case that I have seen many things that I found worthwhile to note. The three observations I would like to focus on in today’s blog are Chinese nationalism, American influence, and the mannerisms of the Chinese people.
I have found that Chinese people are very nationalistic. This is evidenced by the fact that there are Chinese flags everywhere. I do not feel this is too different than what is found in the US. I think it is similar. I met two young men selling Chinese flags in downtown Baoding, and they seemed thrilled to interact with me. One of the men had his photo taken with me, and they gave me a Chinese flag. Chinese flags are found in the street, and in many of the buildings.
I have found a great deal of American influence in China as well. Many street signs are written in English, which is handy as my Chinese is not that good. I also notice that Chinese clothing resembles American clothing, and many shirts that Chinese people wear have English writing on them. I was surprised when I walked into what would be the equivalent of an army store in the US, and found the vendor selling US Army class A style jackets with 82nd Airborne division patches on its sleeves. I could not imagine an American Army store selling Chinese Army jackets. Much of the music that I hear on the streets resembles American, or western European style music, often having Chinese singers. Because I am a foreigner, most Chinese people are eager to be around me. For the most part, Chinese people seem to like Americans. Chinese people do not like all foreigners; there is a Japanese teacher here that is not as well liked.
Chinese people behave in ways that I sometimes find strange. The streets are madness; there are pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, and bikes going everywhere at once. This makes for a very noisy street. In addition to all these people trying to move from one place to another, there are many vendors in the street. It is not like the US where there is order with the traffic, and most people follow the rules of the road. One of the first things that I saw was a woman wearing a dress and high heels riding a bike. This is commonplace in China. Most people here own bikes that look like they came from a movie filmed during the 1950’s. Sanitation in China is not the same as I have come to expect from living in America. Young Children run around with slits in their pants, so they can go without wearing diapers. People spit and smoke everywhere, and they seem not to care much about keeping their lawns mowed, and trash off the street. I took a stroll through my university, and it looked like the campus grounds have not been tended to in years. It is not like the college where I graduated from, where things are kept well maintained. Sometimes people want to say hello to me, but what I find strange is that they wait until I have nearly passed them before doing so. For example, if I am walking down a street and I pass someone, they will wait until I have walked several yards ahead of them, then they will say hello. Nearly every small child I have seen is shy, this observation brings to mind one of my nieces who was absolutely not shy about meeting new people.
The descriptions I have offered are not intended to be statements of the entire country of China; I have only been in a few neighborhoods of one Chinese city. It is quite likely that other parts of China are not like what I have observed in my short time here in Baoding City. I offer these observations to offer a perspective of what I have experienced in my short time in China.
I have been in country for four days now. I no longer think of the types of things I did before I arrived and during my trip. During that period of time, my thoughts were focused on the fact that I was really going to China, and that it was about as real as it was going to get. One of the first surprises I encountered was the fact that we flew northeast to get to China. This means that we went over the North Pole. My first night was a blur. I know that some of the other teachers brought me to a restaurant, and treated me to Tomato fried egg, but I cannot tell you how to get to that restaurant if you paid me. People have been most friendly, for the most part.
Before I left, I was told to expect the unexpected when I arrived to China. It has been the case that I have seen many things that I found worthwhile to note. The three observations I would like to focus on in today’s blog are Chinese nationalism, American influence, and the mannerisms of the Chinese people.
I have found that Chinese people are very nationalistic. This is evidenced by the fact that there are Chinese flags everywhere. I do not feel this is too different than what is found in the US. I think it is similar. I met two young men selling Chinese flags in downtown Baoding, and they seemed thrilled to interact with me. One of the men had his photo taken with me, and they gave me a Chinese flag. Chinese flags are found in the street, and in many of the buildings.
I have found a great deal of American influence in China as well. Many street signs are written in English, which is handy as my Chinese is not that good. I also notice that Chinese clothing resembles American clothing, and many shirts that Chinese people wear have English writing on them. I was surprised when I walked into what would be the equivalent of an army store in the US, and found the vendor selling US Army class A style jackets with 82nd Airborne division patches on its sleeves. I could not imagine an American Army store selling Chinese Army jackets. Much of the music that I hear on the streets resembles American, or western European style music, often having Chinese singers. Because I am a foreigner, most Chinese people are eager to be around me. For the most part, Chinese people seem to like Americans. Chinese people do not like all foreigners; there is a Japanese teacher here that is not as well liked.
Chinese people behave in ways that I sometimes find strange. The streets are madness; there are pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, and bikes going everywhere at once. This makes for a very noisy street. In addition to all these people trying to move from one place to another, there are many vendors in the street. It is not like the US where there is order with the traffic, and most people follow the rules of the road. One of the first things that I saw was a woman wearing a dress and high heels riding a bike. This is commonplace in China. Most people here own bikes that look like they came from a movie filmed during the 1950’s. Sanitation in China is not the same as I have come to expect from living in America. Young Children run around with slits in their pants, so they can go without wearing diapers. People spit and smoke everywhere, and they seem not to care much about keeping their lawns mowed, and trash off the street. I took a stroll through my university, and it looked like the campus grounds have not been tended to in years. It is not like the college where I graduated from, where things are kept well maintained. Sometimes people want to say hello to me, but what I find strange is that they wait until I have nearly passed them before doing so. For example, if I am walking down a street and I pass someone, they will wait until I have walked several yards ahead of them, then they will say hello. Nearly every small child I have seen is shy, this observation brings to mind one of my nieces who was absolutely not shy about meeting new people.
The descriptions I have offered are not intended to be statements of the entire country of China; I have only been in a few neighborhoods of one Chinese city. It is quite likely that other parts of China are not like what I have observed in my short time here in Baoding City. I offer these observations to offer a perspective of what I have experienced in my short time in China.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
- ?? into trip
My departure time is uncertain at this point. It is extremely unlikely I will be able to leave for China in August, and it is unclear of when I will be able to do so. I will continue to update this blog as I get new information.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
- 39 days into trip
I feel a bit nervous, I have not received my letter of invitation to do work in China. I cannot get a visa until I receive such paperwork, and I already bought my plane ticket. As each day passes without the paperwork, my anxiety increases. I don't want to bother the career services people, as I know that they are already doing their best to get it, but it is a source of stress for me.
My Chinese studies are going well (details of which is given elsewhere). That's all for now.
My Chinese studies are going well (details of which is given elsewhere). That's all for now.
Friday, June 12, 2009
First Post
Hello everyone,
I just started a blog in which the main point is to communicate my experience during my China adventure to those who are interested in following it. The current title of this blog is 'Amesbury George's China Adventure', and it may change. I learned recently that there is not another approval process necessary for the China teaching opportunity, so therefore I will be going. It is a matter of packing everything I own, and selecting a bare minimum to take with me to China.
Currently, I am in West Virginia on a return trip from a family visit to Georgia (mostly) and Florida. It was a good visit overall, but it is in the back of my mind that I will eventually be leaving for nearly a whole year. While down south, I met two people who are interested in following my progress, which was a significant reason for me to do this blog. It would be too overwhelming to attempt to send individual emails to all interested parties. I am going to do some updating for Facebook, but I feel that I would rather make detailed blog entries.
If you are one of the people who are interested in charting my progress while in China, I encourage you to become a follower. Provided that there is some interest, I will make regular entries. I also have a blog specifically dedicated to my Chinese learning, so the record of my attempts to learn Chinese will not be accounted here. I also have a flickr account where I plan to load most of my photographs, so I will load very few here. Here are the relevant links;
Chinese learning blog -
http://amesburygeorgechinesestudy.blogspot.com/
General blog to things not related to China -
http://bigblueeeee.blogspot.com/
photography of Chinese and non-Chinese stuff-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcharestiii/
Thanks for your attention, and have a nice day.
I just started a blog in which the main point is to communicate my experience during my China adventure to those who are interested in following it. The current title of this blog is 'Amesbury George's China Adventure', and it may change. I learned recently that there is not another approval process necessary for the China teaching opportunity, so therefore I will be going. It is a matter of packing everything I own, and selecting a bare minimum to take with me to China.
Currently, I am in West Virginia on a return trip from a family visit to Georgia (mostly) and Florida. It was a good visit overall, but it is in the back of my mind that I will eventually be leaving for nearly a whole year. While down south, I met two people who are interested in following my progress, which was a significant reason for me to do this blog. It would be too overwhelming to attempt to send individual emails to all interested parties. I am going to do some updating for Facebook, but I feel that I would rather make detailed blog entries.
If you are one of the people who are interested in charting my progress while in China, I encourage you to become a follower. Provided that there is some interest, I will make regular entries. I also have a blog specifically dedicated to my Chinese learning, so the record of my attempts to learn Chinese will not be accounted here. I also have a flickr account where I plan to load most of my photographs, so I will load very few here. Here are the relevant links;
Chinese learning blog -
http://amesburygeorgechinesestudy.blogspot.com/
General blog to things not related to China -
http://bigblueeeee.blogspot.com/
photography of Chinese and non-Chinese stuff-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcharestiii/
Thanks for your attention, and have a nice day.
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