Here is a fun little list I made of observations and experiences I've had here in China…and to be cute there are 11 of them!! 🙂 Enjoy!
YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN CHINA WHEN…
- You have to relearn how to use a door (refer back to Chinese Doors Are a Mystery to hear the story).
- When going to the grocery store you are forced to go to another counter before entering where you are then told to put your purse, daypack, or other various bag into another large, green, cloth bag which they then lock shut before you can do your shopping. True story!
- After, what you think, are near-fatal encounters with Chinese vehicles, buses, or bikes you realize…even though they show absolutely no signs of slowing down at the sight of pedestrians or follow any lane or road sign advice, these people are actually GOOD at driving BAD…yet you still book-it across the street screaming, fearing for your life, all while taking an occasional video of the madness. And yes…sometimes I add to the madness!
- Ordering meals consists of a lot of pointing, nodding, making numbers out of your fingers, and hoping that the plate of food you hoped you were pointing at turns out to be edible, won’t burn your tongue off, and isn’t a chicken liver.
- You go out in public and the CHINESE take pictures and videos of YOU! Sometimes I feel like I have paparazzi following us all around Harbin! They are so amused by our presence here since Harbin is not a tourist location.
- You sincerely enjoy using chopsticks and consider using them for every meal from now on.
- You give your Chinese friends English names because no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to pronounce Chinese names, or words in general, correctly.
- When waiting for an elevator you begin to expect that it just may stop on every floor, from 30-1, even if no one is waiting to get on or off. Chinese elevators are just as confusing to me as their doors!
- You find that there are such things as squatty potties that FLUSH…but yet you still can’t flush your toilet paper! Might I add that this is a hard habit to break! And speaking of squatty potties, use them on a moving train (where the train tracks are visible beneath your feet) at your own risk! My advice is to stop taking in flids at least a few hours before a 20 hour train ride so that trips to the squatty are few and far between! Oh, and make sure that you keep your hands and feet inside your seat so that when the cart lady comes by you don't almost lose a limb.
- You literally melt at the sight of Chinese babies and make friends with them with no need to speak their language.
- You see a chance for relationship and revival around every corner…and you just may fall in love with this beautiful country and the people! I know I have!
