A taste of reality

What a trip. What an interesting trip into an immersed cultural experience during the most important time in the Chinese calendar. What a joy to share in the familial affair that is known here as the Chinese new year. What an exciting time to fall on my face culturally and be lifted back up by one who can truly teach me what is. What solidarity is gained from a few days in the life of the majority of Chinese.

 Buses stopping along the roadside because they don’t want to go on, making every passenger get out and walk 4 miles on the ice to get to the destination promised when we got on. Yet no one complains. No one makes any kind of a scene. They just get off and walk. And walk. And walk. In the freezing cold, slipping right with the cars that are pulling of the road on all sides, people paying others to simply park in their yard. The insane amounts of pictures that are taken at each little destination by people who want to “document” their trip, proving that they were there and posing as they hold their selfie sticks up in the air. Becoming well versed in the practices before bed for my friends family, complete with pouring the boiling water from the thermos to wash the face, then later the feet and the socks. Seeing how there can be such specific situations you can and can’t do things, such as drink water or wear clothes. If you drink cold water you’ll get sick. If you wear pants to bed you could get sick. Scolding children seems to be a rarity as they seem to be the centers of attention in just about any family. I learned how I fit in better here in regards to showering routines, and how unique certain dishes can be-especially served for breakfast. Pig ear gelatin things, seaweed, spicy bean sprouts, and more, all normal things to eat early in the morning. Having class from a 5 year old who isn’t afraid to do a whole lot of scolding. Struggling with communication since the people here speak a unique dialect and the older generation generally isn’t too familiar with the Chinese I’ve began to ease into. Experiencing what many many people experience when traveling during a time when no train seats are left and they cram as many people on that train as possible, leaving all of the ones without seats to stand on their feet or sit in the tiny aisles for the 14, 20, even 40 hour journey. Appreciating the solidarity that comes from sharing such an experience but quite content if it never happens again.  

Reflecting back on those days, all the things I took away-the way to ganbei, what to say when addressing people, the general way of life-all I have to say is that I have much to learn. And that’s exciting.