After Visiting China, An American’s Perspective
Here is one American’s perspective about China after visiting recently. I think this represents basic differences that an American would notice about parts of China after visiting for the first time nowadays.
China is land that arises out of the, almost foggy, cloudy, haze. A land of very few clear days. A country with extremely large cities and people everywhere (Beijing and Harbin challenging cities even as big as New York). Skyscrapers stretching, seemingly, as far as the eye can see and new ones, in rows, further than that, mainly for housing the countless millions. On the horn filled streets, cars, buses, bikes, scooters, pedestrians everywhere, walking and running together with few restrictions other than get there the best way you can (I loved it). Air conditioning is used very sparingly and humidity at levels that leaves you sweat, soaked from beginning until ending of the day.
There are many Western influences that have penetrated the eastern world such as McDonald’s, KFC, & Pizza Hut, along with signs with English on them, and the beloved chair like commode. Even with Eastern versions of these, culturally, authentic food is in the largest supply. Americans from the Western world should carry a adequate supply of Pepto Bismol, Imodium, and anything else they can think of in preparation for the abdominal disruptions that will, without a doubt, occur at some point. Smoking restrictions are minimal, in comparison with the West, allowed even in many eating establishments. Most public restrooms contained a commode in the floor (no, not above the floor but, recessed in the floor) known as the squatty potty (something totally mind boggling to all Westerners). And oh yes, you have to supply your own toilet paper in such places!
Aware of that China is a Socialist Republic, I was very surprised to see the capitalism and entrepreneurship being practiced by normal, everyday citizens. Almost all ground level space in the countless skyscrapers housed restaurants, convenience stores, bakeries, produce stores seemingly run by the people of these cities.
Chinese people love Americans & their culture. They have a burning desire to learn the English language. They love wearing clothing with English words on them. They are intrigued and want to stare and touch you. They make you fill like a celebrity and they love having their pictures made with you! They are courteous to you beyond belief!
-Greg B.
Question: If you have been to China, what differences did you notice?
08.2.11
Cultural Dos and Don’ts
When I went to Peru as a mission students, I learned many different things about culture and missions. Several of those things have stuck with me and help me to this day. Here are some “Cultural Dos and Don’ts” from Austin Gardner, that I think equally apply to China. These are good reminders for short-term groups when visiting the mission field.
Cultural Dos and Don’ts
1. Do not treat their church any differently than you would a church in the United States. Their church is just as good, and many times much more spiritual than a church in the US.
2. Don’t treat national pastors any differently than you would a pastor in the United States
3. Do not eat or drink in front of them without offering them something.
4. Do not constantly criticize their country or talk about your country and all that you miss there or how it is better, etc.
6. Develop a taste for their foods. Eat with them. Do not turn your nose up at their food.
7. Do not skip church or stay outside the building during church services, etc. Get involved with the people in the service.
8. Look at things like they do. They aren’t strange or new–you are.
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The Reasoning Behind the Squatty Potty
I had an interesting conversation with one of my teachers at school on Tuesday. I learned a new word and the translation was toilet. I never heard a toilet called this so I asked to clarify. Anyways she explain this wasn’t like a western toilet but more like a pot used as a makeshift toilet…something I thankfully haven’t had the pleasure of using yet.
This led us somehow to be talking about two other kinds of “toilets,” the Western style toilets and the popular Chinese style toilets, also known as squatty potties (if you are unsure what these porcelain holes in the ground look like, you can google it). I always just thought that maybe these style “toilets” were less expensive and China was behind the times in there restroom facilities. I had no idea why someone would choose this style over a normal toilet. Then my teacher explained it to me!
According to her, Chinese people like to use the squatty potties in public places because they are cleaner and more sanitary. She said she didn’t think it was very clean for a bunch of strangers to sit on the same toilet over and over. If it is just your family then a western style toilet is okay, but they aren’t okay in public. I thought the reason here made sense and something that I never really thought about, not that I think about toilets a lot. I told her some places in America offer paper to put on the seat cover and she said that Chinese people would just think that is a waste. I agree that they probably would think that it is a waste since the public restrooms never provided toilet paper (bring your own or improvise).
So there you have it, the reasoning behind the infamous squatty potty…squatting verses sitting is more sanitary.
07.20.11
“Cold Air Machine”
I attempted to find something cheaper than the full scale air conditioners to cool our guest room for the guest coming at the end of this month. That didn’t work out so well.
Our house doesn’t have central air but we have installed a stand alone unit in the living room and also a small wall unit in our bedroom. This has kept the house cool enough. But the guest room is on the other end of the house that doesn’t receive any benefit from the air conditioning units.
Buying a new unit is a little expensive but even more so, it is just a lot of pain to install. Not because I would install it but the installers don’t really care about being clean. They have to drill through the wall to run a house outside. In a seventeen story building the walls are thick so they us a water-drill. The drill sends mucky water everywhere. We have already had three wholes drilled through our walls and each time it is a major ordeal. (Then you try to clean the walls and the paint comes off.)
Thus we went to the store on a hunt. We quickly found a few machines that looked like they could work. After talking to the sales lady, we found a “cold air machine.” We tested it and she told me if we put water in the back of it the air would be cold when it comes out. I was skeptical but even the box said “cold wind” on the side of it. After getting it home and testing it, we realized it was nothing more that a overpriced humidifier that didn’t make the room cold but more humid and miserable.
The way the machine was suppose to make cold air (which I didn’t know beforehand) was that it included two freezer packs that you freeze and place into the water tank to make the water cold and thus the air would be cold. Not only did it not work but how annoying would it be to keep changing out the freezer packs.
We wanted to return the machine and get our money back, but that isn’t happening in China. We where able to replace it for an nice overpriced fan though!
07.19.11
Things that are different (Part 5)
- Yelling for the waitress in a restaurant if you want anything! You just yell “WAITER!” Otherwise they might not come and take your order!
- When paying for something you can just throw the money down on the counter without it being rude. People will just throw a handful of wrinkled bills down without thinking twice.
- Burping in public, yep, thats OK!
- At a restaurant you don’t clean up after yourself, even at places like McDonald’s. You just leave everything on the table and walk away. (It is nice but hard to do.)
- Make a mess when you eat a meal at a small local restaurant. You don’t have to do this, but if you want to fit in with the locals, then feel free to be messy. Throw that chicken bone on the table, drop those cigarette buds on the floor, spit freely, and whatever else creates a mess.
- Street vendors are a part of your life.
- Using chopsticks more than using a fork during a week period.
- Not being able to fit underneath the tables because they are too short and my legs are too long. Usually the chairs and tables are super small.
- A good majority of Chinese restaurants serve their food “family style.”
- We look forward to shopping in the “International aisle” at the grocery store since we now fall into that category.
- Using an ATM as a way of life. Every month we have to get our money out of ATMs which can take a few days to accomplish.
- People walk around with umbrellas on a bright and sunny day (not just rainy days) so they won’t get darker.
- Drinks that are familiar to us are pretty limited, Coke, Sprite, Fanta, but there is an unlimited selection of Chinese drinks of all sorts…some very interesting!
Question: Can you relate to any of these? Which do you find interesting?
06.27.11
Stopped at the traffic light, a glimpse of hopelessness.
As I went to pick up dinner for the family tonight, I was reminded again of the hopelessness that the thousands around me have.
I stopped the car at the 100 second traffic light and to my left were two middle age men and an older men burning their joss paper right there in the street. The two younger men had some kind of clothing tied around their waste, I am not sure what that meant.
I watched as they attended to the fire. The traffic light was almost ready to turn green. The two men knelt down and started bowing downing in front of the little fire. The did this several times.
The old men took a metal tea kettle and pour a liquid around the fire in a a circle. Then they all left. Those standing around giving a look of approval.
The light turned green and I was on my way. My heart breaks. All I could think is how hopeless and empty that ceremony was and how I wish they could take that same devotion and use it to worship the real God.
Without Jesus, their devotional is NOTHING. Jesus changes EVERYTHING!
There is much work to be done, will you come join us in reaching the hopeless!?
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Driving In China
After reading a friend’s post about his “driving adaptation” in Cambodia, I thought I would give some insight about driving in China.
First, let me say it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe that comes from driving thousands of miles on deputation or delivering pizzas in a suburb of Atlanta, GA. But on the other hand, it can be really crazy and frustrating.
We were able to purchase a used car at a good price. The car is a manual and I only learned to drive a manual a couple months before we came to China.
People here definitely drive different than America. Here are some observations from my four and half months of driving here:
- There is a lot of traffic.
- Driving Lanes don’t mean much.
- There are a lot of taxis and buses, who seem to drive the craziest.
- You drive a lot slower, since we are mainly in the city, most of the time you are in stop-n-go traffic.
- People for-the-most-part pay attention to the traffic lights, but you always have the one car that doesn’t.
- There are a lot of cops out-n-about, especially at intersections and heavy traffic areas.
- Cops aren’t afraid to call you out and tell you to pull over if they see you did something wrong, but a lot of the times the just ignore it.
- The road conditions in our city aren’t very good. There are a lot pot holes and bumps in the road. I think this is mainly from the harsh winters and the construction projects that take place.
- Besides watching out for other cars and buses, you have to keep an eye out for PEOPLE everywhere, bicycles, and these littles three-wheel-car-thingys.
- Drivers just pull out in front of you, especially when they are making a right hand turn, they don’t look left, the just go!
- Conclusion: You just have to be an aggressive driver.
When you get in a wreck there are a few options: Call the cops, you both agree to go on your way since there isn’t much damage, or pay money to the other guy. We have seen all three of these. Many times when there is a wreck a large crowd of people gather and it stops traffic. Many people will even stop their car get out and go look and see, not to help, just see. My wife was in a taxi that got in a small wreck and the other taxi driver just gave the guy some money and they went on their way. Oh yeah, and I had a small “fender-bender” with a guy not to long ago and we both got out of our cars, seeing no damage but some paint exchange, the guy said “let’s go, let’s go” and we went on our way (really thankful for that!). The cops standing nearby just waved us on.
When it comes to driving in the winter, you just have to learn to drive on ice. I previously wrote in a post about things in China that are different and one was this topic, here is what I said: “Driving on Ice! It can be scary. Cars are always getting stuck. Traffic must drive slow. Black ice is everywhere. Tires are constantly spinning.” I saw a semi-truck got stuck going up a small hill because of ice, and we almost got stuck, but eventually made it up. Also, we have a garage that is heated in the winters to keep the car running smoothly.
I am sure there is a lot that I have already gotten used to and someone driving here for the first time or even riding in a taxi would think it to be a pretty interesting or scary experience!
03.11.11
Culture Shock (3 of 3)
So How Do You Deal With Culture Shock?
I definitely don’t have all the answer and there are plenty of books to read on the subject, but here are a few thing that have helped us.
First, realize that if you are “suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes” that culture shock is is coming your way. Know that it happens and you, most likely, are not immune to it.
Second, have the right foundation, mindset, and focus. Look to Christ and trust in the Lord. I am constantly finding myself relying on God more and less on myself as I try to adapt to the culture and language. You have to be in the Word, it is your foundation. You have to watch what you think and not let the wrong thoughts sneak in. Keep thinking on the right thoughts. Keep your focus, “In the Lord Put I my Trust!”
Third, be accountable, take a rest, and keep moving forward. Have a team of people, a mentor, and people that can help you and keep you accountable. People that will encourage you and speak straight with you. Also, take a rest and do some things that are “familiar” but don’t stay there. Move forward and with every step the alien culture starts to become your culture and not so strange.
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Culture Shock (2 of 3)
Why Is Culture Shock So Shocking?
Culture shock is so shocking because we don’t like things to be different. Change anything and people always seem to have some kind of “shock” reaction to it.
This seems to be magnified when you move into an unfamiliar culture. You go from being a normal productive citizen to being a infant. You go from knowing how to live and “survive” to feeling like you don’t know anything.
Culture has many definitions. I think the easiest way to look at it is “culture is a set of ideas in which a group of people hold or information know by the people around you” and culture adaptation is when you are “trying to attain that information.” (Adapted from L.A.M.P.)
Chinese culture doesn’t have some mystical attribute to it, they just do things differently than I do them and they have done them since they were born. Therefore, what seems natural for them seems artificial to me.
They speak a different language, listen to different music, watch different TV shows and movies. They read different books, have different greetings, and different role models.
Notice they do all the same things that we do, they just do them differently.
I speak a language, listen to music, watch TV shows and movies. I read books, greet people, and have role models. So I am not really learning to do things I have never done before, I just have to learn how to do them the Chinese way.
Here is a simple example: Chinese take their shoes off and wear slippers in there homes. They almost never walk into their house or anyone else’s with their shoes on. Before coming to China, I wore my shoes and took them off as well. But I would wear my shoes inside the house and I didn’t put slippers on. So, am I learning anything new here? Not really, I already have acquired the skills of taking off and putting on shoes, but I did need to learn to do it the Chinese way…when do they take their shoes off, why, and if I don’t is it offensive. It was something that everyone else around me knew to do, but I didn’t. My first reaction to this (something different) is that it is stupid. Every time I want to go to someones house that I have to take my shoes off and put on slippers. It seems inconvenient. These feelings were just a shock reaction to having to do something different. Now, it is not that big of a deal, I realize why and it has become second nature.
When I am used to doing things in a way that comes natural to me, I am fine. But when I add in a foreign concept (a.k.a. change), SHOCK! takes place.
Next Post: So How Do You Deal With Culture Shock?
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Things that are different (Part 4)
- White, White, White! Everything is white. I didn’t notice this until our recent trip down south and I was amazed at all the green I saw. (I had the same feeling when I lived in Peru, but everything was brown.)
- Squatty Potty. If you have been to China enough said. If not, basically most bathrooms consist of a porcelain hole in the ground.
- Publicly using the bathroom. It is common to see people urinating on the street and children using the bathroom openly.
- A few new foods that seem to find themselves into our Chinese diet: “ramen noodles,” eating weird parts of animals, and wonderful green tea.
- Having a thing called a Yangtie. Basically, a built in porch or balcony type thingy. Uses for, uuhhhm, uhmm….whatever really (storage, plants, sitting area, freezer in the winter, hanging clothes to dry).
- Internet. The internet here is filtered by the “Great China Firewall” therefore we have to use a VPN/Proxy to access websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo.
- Sound Activated Lights. Most people stomp their feet or cough really loud to turn on the lights in the hallway or stairway. You can also whistle, clap your hands, or whatever creative way you find to make a loud noise.
- Doing the above every time you walk into a room where the lights are out then realizing not every light is turned on by making loud noises.
- Security. Having guards at the front of our complex. Using a key card to get in our building. Visitors “buz” in through an intercom system.
- Keeping a list of things that are different on my phone and then deleting it. Stink!
Read: Things that are different (Part 3)
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