China is weird. Everyday I see more things that are just so different to England. People told me that moving here would be a culture shock, but that is truly an understatement. So, I thought I would share with you all the 15 weirdest things I have seen so far/just the things I have noticed quite regularly Just so you can see for yourselves what my life is going to be like for the next few months here, and for me to reflect on this list in July and see which of the things I will in the future be doing or be finding completely normal.
1) Pollution = face masks: Some days you can't even see the tops of buildings, you can feel it in your lungs and the air is just not like the country air in Brackley. People say living here for a year is the equivalent to smoking for a year, so considering I don't smoke, my poor body is going to have to put up with it for 5 months. I have a stupid cough because of it, it's frustrating. I'm nearly tempted to buy one of the masks!
2) Bikes: Everyone here has bikes. It is almost a necessity even though the walk into uni is only 20 minutes. I have nearly given in to peer pressure and bought one. Although the one Brad bought for £10 initially broke so many times, he is now on his 2nd bike and has been to get repairs 7 times in 2 days. I will certainly invest in a proper one if I do, but I feel my coordination is not yet good enough to be able to ride a bike on the crazy roads here. They are literally everywhere, everyone has one!
3) Mopeds: Similar to bikes, yet faster and more powerful. But the thing is, people ride them along the pavement. You'll look behind and see one coming up behind you. Quite scary, and a little dangerous!
4) Supermarkets: Chicken feet, dead scrawny chickens, feotus eggs and things that smell so bad that you can't even explain. Walmart is an experience you need to be a bit brave for. I would not wish it upon any vegetarian to go into the fresh section.
5) Beggars: Not as many as Malaga, which is great, but the things they do here is quite upsetting to see. We've seen a few that take their children around, and basically use them to beg. A woman singing into a microphone on a train and making her child shake her money jar, that was the first time I'd witnessed them using their children to beg. This has happened a few times on the subway since. But the worst, was definitely at 4am when we were all drunkenly stuffing our faces with McDonalds, and a little child comes and taps each one of us on the back, to get some money. No child should be dragged out at 4am to get money for their family. So, although we didn't give them money, I gave the child my chips and drink, and someone went and bought her a burger. She was no more than 4 years old, but she just seemed so happy doing it. Really messed up.
6) The westerner glance: Always enjoyable, you just make friends and smile at people because you share the fact you are both westerners. Even from across the street, you just smile at people, and people just smile at you as they can tell you are from relatively near where they are. Very random!
7) Markets: The fake market. A place where you should only go, when you are in a fit state of mind. People just yell at you, 'you want ties, you want the high heel shoe, you want new bag gucci prada, you want new phone'. Every stall you walk past yells to get your attention. Then once they finally have your attention, you have the next challenge of bartering with them to get a crappy phone case from 100kuai to 20. They all speak English, and we try Chinese to get a few bonus points/kuai taken off. Ends up in a little chinglish argument until one person gives in!
8) Karaoke: Your average Saturday night out. There is just no shame, you just have to embrace it. I did however, get asked where I learnt to sing (haha), best compliment all year. I just conveniently knew all the words to Hound Dog and did a cheeky Elvis impression at the same time.
9) Chinese drivers: Driving in Shanghai is the scariest thing. They don't stick to red and green lights, they lane hop and they beep about 10 times a minute. So many near death taxi experiences already. Drivers here are so illegal. There was a taxi last week, we opened the door and it was a van with a bench inside, which wasn't even attached to the floor. That, combined with the way they drive on the roads is a very unsafe combination!
10) Smoking inside: If the pollution isn't bad enough here, people smoke everywhere, dinner, nightclubs, streets, lifts. Even children smoke. Going to deal with enough second hand smoke to last me a lifetime!
11) Upper class clubs: From the second you walk in, you just get so much respect. Ladies in the toilets waiting with towels to dry your hands, endless alcohol on the tables for being sexy westerners, even fruit and french fries to nibble at. Just soo different to Fab. Everyone puts on this pretentious act, yet we are probably all as poor as each other.
12) Spitting: Just like Jack teaches Rose in Titanic. Hock it right back, and just spit it. Whether it be in a restaurant or just on the floor in front of you, or even your taxi driver. I know having phlegm isn't good for you, but pleeeaaase, a little bit of politeness or cover your mouth, anything! It is honestly DISGUSTING. I must look like such a snob when I frown at them doing it. But really, it is vile.
13) Eating: They eat as disgustingly as they spit. Not chopsticks to mouth, but mouth to bowl, slurp slurp slurp. My first lunch in the canteen I was sat opposite a Chinese boy. My family know how much I cannot stand loud eaters, but this pushed me to the max. Couldn't quite enjoy my lunch until he had gone. Maybe this is the only way to master chopsticks though, instead of carrying the food all the way to your mouth, you just gotta get your face all in your tray. Ewww.
14) Prostitution: First night out, we went to a place with a mini prostitution ring at work. The pimp was sat in the corner, was interesting to see him overlooking what all his girls were doing. I don't think we will be going back to Judy's anytime soon. International perverts and dirty local girls, not our kinda scene!
15) Medical physical exam: I was lucky enough to avoid the blood test and majority of the physical as Dr Babe Harrison had sorted me out at home. But Charlee was injected 5 times before they even found her vein to get some blood (proffesional?). They also had weird gobstopper size suckers put all over them, boobs out and everything. We also had the pleasure of undressing in a room with girls we didn't know for our chest x-rays. Just had to get your boobs out, no questions asked. The best quote however; 'Hi, I'm Charlee and these are my boobs, what's your name, it's nice to meet you!'. Weirdest experience ever, thank goodness I didn't have it all done!
So, they are my 15 key weirdly different things about China so far, and I haven't even been here 10 days yet!
Wonder what is in store for us next?!
No comments:
Post a Comment