It just seemed unavoidable to not experience the cultural shock of moving to China.
Whether you’re mentally prepared for it or not, you are decontextualized from your regular environment and you are bound to learn things about yourself. Thus, in order to readjust to the city, I had to embrace the nation with two arms. Starting with the communication barrier : there is a mysterious rule that Chinese people seem to follow which is that every sentence in English should always include mistakes. The language of Shakespeare transformed into the “Chinglish”, a language that comes from a mixture of Chinese and English. I didn’t know how bad the phenomenon was until I saw these spelling mistakes, misinterpretations, and word inventions myself.
Good luck girls!
Okay, will sure do!
Even though the Chinese government is taking serious measures to gradually eliminate these hilarious panels, they still seem to be almost everywhere. This is why it is usually impossible to live in China without speaking a minimum of Chinese.
A clear example of words invention!
Surprisingly enough, there will be moments where you feel completely alone although you are constantly surrounded by 1.3 billion people. But somehow, you will learn the power of human interaction. You might be striking up conversations with strangers. Strangers than can become your friends. You’ll build relationships that you never would have had otherwise. And, the positive side of the story is that, whether you’ve struggled to communicate, or you’ve managed to have bridged the gap of communication, these people will always tell you that your Chinese is great, no matter how bad it is.
Bon appétit!
I would like to point out that it is really interesting to go and live in china. The history nerd in you will emerge. You will amazed by the skyscrapers then realize that next to them are dilapidated apartment complexes. Streets will be lined with the most expensive brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci when right around the corner are stands of cheap Chinese goods. You will be wondering how amazing that 30 years after the Cultural Revolution, it has transformed itself into a country that is in continuous development. You’ll feel as if you are living through a crucial moment of history, like something dramatic can happen at any time. I personally took in the excitement. And, sometimes, when I got dragged down by so many frustrations, I would laugh it off. Probably because you will have lots of stories to tell other people. Stories of rickshaw drivers, of babies defecating on the street, of being ripped off, of those crazy unforgettable moments when living in China for this brief period was worth it.
My friends and I invented our own hashtag “#it’s part of the experience”. We used to say it out loud or it used to pop into my head every time something went wrong – such as when the ATM swallowed my only working bank card….
Hmmm…ok…
mighty travellers 