Friday, February 5, 2010
A Little Update
In November, I put in my notice at my job. Our last day of school before Christmas break was on Dec. 11th (the day before we headed back to the US) and that was also my last day teaching. There are multiple reasons I decided to do this, but I won't go into them all here (it's a long and winding story). The simple reason is that I wasn't happy. This will hopefully free up time for me to do some of the things I love like spend time with Ralphie and Andre, travel more (we are currently on a trip to Suzhou, Shanghai, and Harbin - more on this when we get back), update my blog, and get my butt in shape. Hopefully everyone had a healthy and happy holiday!
Reverse Culture Shock
When you are an ex-pat, moving to a foreign country for the first time, "culture shock" is a phrase you hear often. People/books tell you all about how different life will be for you in whichever country you will now call home. In fact, I even bought a book bearing this title that was totally devoted to the in's and out's of life in China and what we could "expect."
Andre and I definitely experienced culture shock when we moved to China and throughout the next six months or more. Things consistently surprised us and we were filled with wonder and curiosity about life outside our "normal." Over time, things began to seem normal and seeing things we would have once been shocked, surprised, outraged, etc. by...no longer seemed that interesting. This was the primary reason I stopped blogging, I no longer had any idea what would be interesting to read/write about...it was no longer new and exciting. China became our home, and the US became a place we went a couple of times a year to see some really special people in our lives. We settled into a routine, made new friends, and life went on.
On our last trip to the US (we were gone for 6 straight months) I began to observe this phenomenon that I will lovingly refer to as REVERSE culture shock. The following are some things I noticed about the US on our trip:
1.) Sensory overload!!!!!! I could read any and EVERY sign I wanted to. It no longer blurred to a rainbow of colors with the recognition of a character every now and again. I could read billboards, shop signs, street signs, and every other thing out there. Not only could I read and understand everything, but I could also listen and understand everyone. Andre and I could no longer sit down in a busy restaurant and talk about anything we want (however inappropriate) at whatever volume we wanted to. When we talked, people actually understood us...yikes!! And also, we understood them!! I couldn't even count the number of times I rolled my eyes in Andre's direction because of someones meaningless conversation that I was unwillingly a part of because they were talking AT THE TOP of their lungs. Don't get me wrong, the Chinese people are notorious for talking SO loud. But, when I cannot understand most of what they are saying I tend to fade into my own unknowing bliss. Was it good? Was it bad? I don't know, but it was certainly different!
2.) People actually wait in line? In the US, everyone is so sensible about lining up and people do it without really even thinking too much about it. Most people are considerate, and it is with silent communication and respect that we let those who were there before us have their turn and we wait patiently for ours. In China? No way! It is a free-for-all. Even if you are in a civilized place where lines are suggested (for instance, in a hotel where each aisle is roped off and you choose whichever you want to get your turn to check-out/check-in) people still don't get the memo. And not only do they not wait in line, but they will even push in front of you WHILE you are being helped!! Talking to the lady at the desk about the mini-bar?? No problem, hold on while she helps this guy who just pushed in front of you because apparently his time is more important than yours. This drives me nuts, and whenever I return to China I have to get stepped on a few times before I remember that I have to be pushy to get anything done here.
3.) You have to tip?? You can't scream (sometimes at the top of your lungs) at the waitress when you need her? These two go hand-in-hand and are two of the things I love about China. No tipping is glorious, and something I take for granted until I come back to the US and begrudgingly add my 20 percent to the receipt for the girl who took ages to come back by my table. In China, there is no tipping and all of the waitresses in the establishment are willing to bend over backwards to make sure you are satisfied. Any one of them will come over at any time and you aren't stuck with the crappy one because no one is assigned to tables. Why would they be? They aren't going to get a tip, they are just there to serve you. When Andre and I were out for dinner one night in the US, we finished our meals and decided we were ready to leave. We both looked at each other with a meaningful glance because in China you would just yell out and someone would come scurrying over. Instead, we had to wait for someone to come by and the politely inquire after our bill? WHAT? The nice thing about this method is that you don't have someone constantly coming by and interrupting your meal to ask you if you need anything. No, in China they know that you don't need anything unless you are yelling for them. Have I mentioned in this blog that you have to be assertive here? :)
Andre and I definitely experienced culture shock when we moved to China and throughout the next six months or more. Things consistently surprised us and we were filled with wonder and curiosity about life outside our "normal." Over time, things began to seem normal and seeing things we would have once been shocked, surprised, outraged, etc. by...no longer seemed that interesting. This was the primary reason I stopped blogging, I no longer had any idea what would be interesting to read/write about...it was no longer new and exciting. China became our home, and the US became a place we went a couple of times a year to see some really special people in our lives. We settled into a routine, made new friends, and life went on.
On our last trip to the US (we were gone for 6 straight months) I began to observe this phenomenon that I will lovingly refer to as REVERSE culture shock. The following are some things I noticed about the US on our trip:
1.) Sensory overload!!!!!! I could read any and EVERY sign I wanted to. It no longer blurred to a rainbow of colors with the recognition of a character every now and again. I could read billboards, shop signs, street signs, and every other thing out there. Not only could I read and understand everything, but I could also listen and understand everyone. Andre and I could no longer sit down in a busy restaurant and talk about anything we want (however inappropriate) at whatever volume we wanted to. When we talked, people actually understood us...yikes!! And also, we understood them!! I couldn't even count the number of times I rolled my eyes in Andre's direction because of someones meaningless conversation that I was unwillingly a part of because they were talking AT THE TOP of their lungs. Don't get me wrong, the Chinese people are notorious for talking SO loud. But, when I cannot understand most of what they are saying I tend to fade into my own unknowing bliss. Was it good? Was it bad? I don't know, but it was certainly different!
2.) People actually wait in line? In the US, everyone is so sensible about lining up and people do it without really even thinking too much about it. Most people are considerate, and it is with silent communication and respect that we let those who were there before us have their turn and we wait patiently for ours. In China? No way! It is a free-for-all. Even if you are in a civilized place where lines are suggested (for instance, in a hotel where each aisle is roped off and you choose whichever you want to get your turn to check-out/check-in) people still don't get the memo. And not only do they not wait in line, but they will even push in front of you WHILE you are being helped!! Talking to the lady at the desk about the mini-bar?? No problem, hold on while she helps this guy who just pushed in front of you because apparently his time is more important than yours. This drives me nuts, and whenever I return to China I have to get stepped on a few times before I remember that I have to be pushy to get anything done here.
3.) You have to tip?? You can't scream (sometimes at the top of your lungs) at the waitress when you need her? These two go hand-in-hand and are two of the things I love about China. No tipping is glorious, and something I take for granted until I come back to the US and begrudgingly add my 20 percent to the receipt for the girl who took ages to come back by my table. In China, there is no tipping and all of the waitresses in the establishment are willing to bend over backwards to make sure you are satisfied. Any one of them will come over at any time and you aren't stuck with the crappy one because no one is assigned to tables. Why would they be? They aren't going to get a tip, they are just there to serve you. When Andre and I were out for dinner one night in the US, we finished our meals and decided we were ready to leave. We both looked at each other with a meaningful glance because in China you would just yell out and someone would come scurrying over. Instead, we had to wait for someone to come by and the politely inquire after our bill? WHAT? The nice thing about this method is that you don't have someone constantly coming by and interrupting your meal to ask you if you need anything. No, in China they know that you don't need anything unless you are yelling for them. Have I mentioned in this blog that you have to be assertive here? :)
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