What is life in a new place other than a grand adventure, discovering new smells, tastes, sounds, languages, fashions, manners... etc., etc., etc.?
There were two things that struck me when I first moved here from home.
1. I am definitely a foreigner. I live in small town China (which is medium-sized city in America) and I am one of 10 or less English-speaking foreigners here. So I, with my blond hair, green eyes, and pale skin, stand out to the nth degree. I get stares all the time. On the bus. In the classroom. Ordering at a restaurant. Heaven forbid I go into a supermarket and want to buy things without an entourage of sales associates following me, wanting to help me out. My two favorite stares are the little kids, with eyes so big, like, "Wow! That's what foreigners look like?!" and the older people, or people who need glasses, who do that freaky squinty-eyed look that you normally associate with your mom when she's extra angry about something you've done. They start about 30 feet away, squinting and walking, typically with their hands behind their back. The closer they get, the more they look you up and down. I've even had some walk in a circle around me, as if possibly I have a tail back there? Then they sniff and move on, as though there is nothing more to been seen here, lol.
I have so many stories I could share from just these kinds of incidents, but I'm gonna try to be artsy and leave some impressions with you:
... walking home at dusk, earphones in to drown out the noise of the traffic, just as the students are getting out of school. Mother and son walking in front of me, hand in hand. They often turn to look behind them, as if something weird is happening, or something is following them. They do it so much I finally turn around to look, too. Only to discover the strange thing following them is me.
... leaving the restaurant at the mall to go home. The girls, high school aged, are looking so intently. One is bold enough to say hello. I step on the escalator, heading down and reach the bottom, only to be mobbed by the same group of girls. Pictures, they ask. "May we take your photo?" "Of course," I say, and pose with them.
... standing in the classroom, the first couple of weeks in, talking and listening. My eyes roam from student to student. Too often I hear that shutter sound and remind myself I must suck my stomach in...
2. Chinese women are hot. I know. I shouldn't say it, but as much as the people were checking me out, I was checking them out, too. And that was the first thing I noticed. They all seem to dress so fashionably, wear heels, and they're all so skinny. I would never know which ones were mothers and which ones weren't because the mothers look just like everyone else: high heels, short shorts, tiny tummies... The only difference the little hands they hold on to.
I really noticed their legs. I have yet to meet a "fat" pair of legs here. Why? Because they walk *everywhere.* It's crazy. And healthy, I guess. So ask me what I want from China and I'll tell you I want sexy Chinese legs.
What does everyone else look like? Well, always at home I saw the pictures of older people, faces lined with sweet wrinkles, stooped and walking. I do see many like that. The men carry their murses (handbags or fanny packs) and tend to prefer a more European style of dress: skinny or straight pants, always worn at the waist, dress shirts, t-shirts, or button ups, and those fit snugly, too.
The older folk tend to wear more traditional looking jackets, or slacks and a jacket. The women enjoy sweaters and shirts with bling. (Which has been a problem for me, since I don't care for much of anything encrusted with rhinestones or other shiny details, but some of it has grown on me.)
All in all, my first impression of China was this wondrous place with new smells, sounds, rules, and language. A place to explore. A place of funny looks and sexy legs.
**I must make a disclaimer and say, just as it is at home, not every place is the same. I have encountered different manners, dress, and rules in each new place I have visited. But I certainly enjoy my home here. :)**
There were two things that struck me when I first moved here from home.
1. I am definitely a foreigner. I live in small town China (which is medium-sized city in America) and I am one of 10 or less English-speaking foreigners here. So I, with my blond hair, green eyes, and pale skin, stand out to the nth degree. I get stares all the time. On the bus. In the classroom. Ordering at a restaurant. Heaven forbid I go into a supermarket and want to buy things without an entourage of sales associates following me, wanting to help me out. My two favorite stares are the little kids, with eyes so big, like, "Wow! That's what foreigners look like?!" and the older people, or people who need glasses, who do that freaky squinty-eyed look that you normally associate with your mom when she's extra angry about something you've done. They start about 30 feet away, squinting and walking, typically with their hands behind their back. The closer they get, the more they look you up and down. I've even had some walk in a circle around me, as if possibly I have a tail back there? Then they sniff and move on, as though there is nothing more to been seen here, lol.
I have so many stories I could share from just these kinds of incidents, but I'm gonna try to be artsy and leave some impressions with you:
... walking home at dusk, earphones in to drown out the noise of the traffic, just as the students are getting out of school. Mother and son walking in front of me, hand in hand. They often turn to look behind them, as if something weird is happening, or something is following them. They do it so much I finally turn around to look, too. Only to discover the strange thing following them is me.
... leaving the restaurant at the mall to go home. The girls, high school aged, are looking so intently. One is bold enough to say hello. I step on the escalator, heading down and reach the bottom, only to be mobbed by the same group of girls. Pictures, they ask. "May we take your photo?" "Of course," I say, and pose with them.
... standing in the classroom, the first couple of weeks in, talking and listening. My eyes roam from student to student. Too often I hear that shutter sound and remind myself I must suck my stomach in...
2. Chinese women are hot. I know. I shouldn't say it, but as much as the people were checking me out, I was checking them out, too. And that was the first thing I noticed. They all seem to dress so fashionably, wear heels, and they're all so skinny. I would never know which ones were mothers and which ones weren't because the mothers look just like everyone else: high heels, short shorts, tiny tummies... The only difference the little hands they hold on to.
I really noticed their legs. I have yet to meet a "fat" pair of legs here. Why? Because they walk *everywhere.* It's crazy. And healthy, I guess. So ask me what I want from China and I'll tell you I want sexy Chinese legs.
What does everyone else look like? Well, always at home I saw the pictures of older people, faces lined with sweet wrinkles, stooped and walking. I do see many like that. The men carry their murses (handbags or fanny packs) and tend to prefer a more European style of dress: skinny or straight pants, always worn at the waist, dress shirts, t-shirts, or button ups, and those fit snugly, too.
The older folk tend to wear more traditional looking jackets, or slacks and a jacket. The women enjoy sweaters and shirts with bling. (Which has been a problem for me, since I don't care for much of anything encrusted with rhinestones or other shiny details, but some of it has grown on me.)
All in all, my first impression of China was this wondrous place with new smells, sounds, rules, and language. A place to explore. A place of funny looks and sexy legs.
**I must make a disclaimer and say, just as it is at home, not every place is the same. I have encountered different manners, dress, and rules in each new place I have visited. But I certainly enjoy my home here. :)**
Please learn how they get sexy legs and flat tummies - must be an ancient chinese secret!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about this wonderful place. I am jealous and amazed that your mom gets to come visit. Our family doesn't seem to travel to foreign places.
I know that I probably won't ever go.
So as you write imagine me sqinting with weak eyes as I read of this beautiful place, circling your words in my mind as I try to imagine the smells, sounds and sights,
and then snort - sometimes with envy wishing I was there with you and other times snorting with laughter from your gift of Harrington humor.