Such Different Worlds

I told you in my last blog that I would update you on some more cultural things that I am learning from being here, so I wanted to take this time to do that. Here they are:

* Due to the vast amounts of studying by the Chinese (from a previous blog you might remember how much time is spent studying), they are very smart, but you still find that some of them do not know how to "think outside the box", form their own opinions, or even to have dreams / aspirations. Here is an example: I met a Chinese college student one day a few weeks back and as we were talking he mentioned that he had an interest in coming to America to visit. I asked him where he thought he would visit if he came to America, and he said probably Oregon since he knew a friend there. As the conversation continued I gave him the scenario that if money was not a problem, where besides Oregon would he like to visit. His response was that he could not go anywhere else in America because he didn't have money and that he was only allowed to visit his friend in Oregon. I took a different approach and asked if he ever dreamed of going anywhere else in America besides Oregon and his response again was that he could only go visit his friend in Oregon. I realize that sometimes there is a need to be literal and realistic about things, but sometimes I feel like when I ask questions like I did of this guy, that they are like robots spitting out answers, and especially if you ever ask the question of who is their hero, you are quick to hear the answer: Mao.

* Tomb Sweeping Day - on Monday, April 5 (the day after Easter for us) there is a tradition here that about half the Chinese still celebrate. The day involves going to the graves of the families' deceased members and "sweeping the evil spirits away, placing a feast of food next to the grave, and burning fake money so that the deceased will have food, money, and happiness in the afterlife." I am thankful for the people that do not celebrate this tradition, but really feel burdened for those that still do.

* It is not an uncommon sight to see dogs riding on the back of their owner's bicycles. They usually sit on a little flat platform mounted above the tire. It is also not an uncommon sight to see little children going to the bathroom on the street.

* You do not wear seat belts here since in cars and taxis they are covered up by the seat covers or have been removed. You can wear a seat belt in the front seat of a taxi, though the driver usually tells you several times that the seat belt is dirty or that you do not need it. Babies and children do not ride in car seats here either as they are very expensive and therefore the Chinese choose not to buy them, so instead the children are held, and usually in the front seat of the car.

* Many Chinese believe that because people sweat that every place you sit needs to be covered up, so it is not uncommon to find covers over couches and plastic still wrapped around chair backs and seat bottoms.

I hope that you find these insights into culture here helpful. It has been and continues to be an eye-opening experience for me, but one that I am thankful for.