Losing My Dignity?

Sometimes, if you're going to be stared at anyway...you might as well give people an added reason to stare. And a smile too. On a side note, it's nice to have local friends that I feel comfortable doing this with. :-)

Things That Don't Transition

I've talked about a few of the ways that I have adapted to my life in China...but there are a few things I haven't mentioned....most of these are things that won't transition well back into life in America. Awareness is a good step for me, I suppose, since I will be spending a few weeks in the States this summer. Some of the ways I've adapted "too much" to the culture:

• Pushing people out of the way in line. We don't form lines here. We shove. Old people, children...everyone is equal in this regard. Because many of those old people are stronger than me.



• Yelling for the waiter when I want something. That doesn't go over well in America. Neither does not leaving a tip (we don't tip here).



• Giving unsolicited opinions/advice constantly. Or even just remarking on things in an annoying fashion. I used to hate it when people did things like that...now I do it all the time. Case in point, last night: "Did you eat enough? Are you really full?" "Oh, 你吃很小! (You eat so little!) Eat more!" "Are you still sick? Are you taking medicine?" Yep....all things that I said last night. Just call me Grandma.

All that to say, I beg advance forgiveness from those people that I may annoy with nagging, or shove, while I am at home this summer.

For any other expats out there, in what ways have you noticed you're adapted to the culture in what might be perceived as negative by your fellow countrymen?

Changing Society

I am not entirely sure if this sign is a joke or not, but it does indicate some of the changes happening in Chinese society. It reads:

:

"Friends wanted. Me, boy, senior 3. Want nothing but a elegant-style friend. Men's only. Maybe I'm homosexual, but I ain't sure. If you're the one, contact me."

Smiles

I have a 人人网 account (the Chinese version of facebook...in fact it is almost exactly the same...just in Mandarin of course). Anyhow, I recently left a comment on a friend's photo saying "真好看啊” (rough translation: it looks pretty) and that she and her boyfriend looked like models. She responded with this comment: "Thank you~~You always behave like a gentle princess, and you are the model for me." Oh man....seriously, my friends here know how to bestow a compliment.

A Great Moment for Progress

China is an interesting country. It is said that visiting Shanghai is like seeing the future, visiting Beijing is being in the present, modern age....and everywhere else is like stepping back in time. That's definitely accurate to my area....we're a few years behind on, well, almost everything. But, I was very excited to discover that frozen yogurt is no longer something that I am missing out on here. Another exciting addition to this fact is that the frozen yogurt is even more like frozen yogurt than it is in the states....less sweet, more sour....still delicious (and more friendly to those of us that don't eat sugar!). This will definitely become a post-class tradition....