On one hand, I am super
anxious. I like to know what I’m getting myself into and with this trip I won’t
fully know until I get there. I can only guess and listen to what others tell
me. I like to be prepared and it’s difficult to do this when I haven’t been to
this place before. It is a whole new culture, place, time zone, different
foods, living style, ways of interaction.
I don’t want to be rude
to someone when they offer me something, but if I don’t want it, I really don’t
want to accept it. I also don’t want to come across to others as a princess,
but I also want the things I am used to. I know China has many things (everything
is made in China haha), but I also want to make sure I have the things I need.
I already have food
preferences and not knowing exactly some safe food options that I will eat
stresses me out. I’m a lacto-ovo vegetarian which means I eat chicken, eggs,
and fish, I don’t drink milk, but eat milk products. While I am in China, I
plan to cut chicken out of my diet (unless I very obviously can tell that it is
chicken) just to be sure I’m not eating something that isn’t chicken. Until I
get use to the different food, I feel like I’m going to get someone from my
travel group to test taste it first before I eat it. I’m also afraid that a
Chinese person is going to offer me food as a welcoming gift or something
traditional, and if it’s something I don’t eat, I’m worried I will offend them
if I say no. However, that still won’t make me eat it if it’s something I’m not
comfortable eating. I’ve been told that China does have Starbucks, many tea
places (yay!) KFC, McDonald’s (they have a black squid burger), and a Subway
(thank goodness!). Water is another issue. I’ve been told that if I drink the
water I will get sick. Bottled water only. No ice cubes. Even when brushing my
teeth I have to be very careful. When food and drink become an issue, I get
hangry and no one has a good time.
I hear that public
washrooms are basically a hole in the ground with no stalls, doors, toilet
paper, or soap. In apartments, items cannot be flushed because their pipes are
small. Differences like this make me nervous because at the very least, I
believe that people should have a safe place to pee and feel comfortable while
doing so. I will definitely be taking pictures of these to show you.
Another aspect of the
culture that I have been told about is the fact that people are everywhere – 9
million people! Since places will be crowded, people are often standing very
close to others and they are not aware of personal space. I hope to be able to
stand my grounds and protect the items I have with me.
The Chinese will also
stare at foreigners because of the appearance difference. I feel that this I
will eventually be able to ignore, but (for example) the Acadia students that
went last year said that people would sneak photos of them. One time they caught
a person and took a selfie with them on each other’s devices.
Of course I will adapt
and get use to the changes, but for the first bit I know I will be overwhelmed
and have mixed emotions so I want those comfort things from home to help me
during the adjusting process. People says that it will take about 2 weeks to
feel settled.
For the teaching aspect
of this practicum, I know I will face different challenges and many interesting
names. I am looking forward to gaining this new experience. I hope my students
and teachers like me. I’ve been told that since we are arriving during the
winter that it will be cold in the schools and they do not heat them. Everyone
wears their winter jackets and gloves in the school. China also gets a lot of
rain. I’m not a fan of rain because it makes me feel damp and greasy. I like
rain when I can observe it from inside, cuddled up on the couch, relaxing. By
the end of our stay in China, the weather will be completely opposite – hot. I
like the warmth, but don’t want to be sweating and uncomfortable all the time.
Packing for this change in weather was difficult and I hope I have all I need.
On the flip side, I can’t
believe that I’m going on this adventure! What a privilege and special life
moment. This trip marks such a change and growth in my life. I’m thankful. I
can’t wait to explore and learn. I hope to take every opportunity I have. Even
though I am going to China to teach English as a second language, I know I am
going to learn so much.
You’ll notice that the
length of my ‘worry’ section is much larger than my ‘positive’ section, but I
think that the positives will provide me with so many special memories.
Ultimately, even though I
have certain expectations, I’m looking forward to experiencing what China has
to offer. I remember a quote and I’m not sure who it is by, but I think it’s
appropriate to use here: “Don’t expect. Experience”.
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