If you have ever traveled to another country, you will have noticed that they do things different there than you are used to. Sometimes the differences can be refreshing, sometimes they can be funny, sometimes they can be odd, and sometimes they can be shockingly outrageous. Following are some things you might want to know about before testing the waters of teaching in Datong.
People spit everywhere.
To be fair, this practice has dwindled significantly since I first came here. During my first year here (2005) I noticed that people spat everywhere: on the street, on the sidewalk, in restaurants, in the classroom, literally everywhere. In 2008, just before the Beijing Olympics, the government started a campaign educating the people on not spitting in public. It seems to have worked as it is now a rare occasion to see anyone spitting. I do include this item because one does sometimes still see this, but if the current trend continues, I will be able to eliminate this tidbit in the near future.
Males urinate everywhere.
I, for one, would rather see someone spit on the sidewalk rather than pee where I plan on walking, but apparently not everyone shares that sentiment, as the government has made no effort to curb it. No matter where you go, you are bound to see a man or boy relieving himself on the side of a building, on a tree, or right on the sidewalk. You have been warned.
Truth should not offend.
In America, making statements regarding personal characteristics is considered rude. In China, if you mention something about a person, as long as it is the truth, it is not wrong. Don't be surprised if someone, even a complete stranger, walks up to you and rubs your belly and tells you that you are very fat. They are not being rude, just truthful. Often they will make statements to foreigners that we might not find rude, but definitely curious because we would never make these statements to other people. On many occasions I have been told that I am very tall (not sure how 5'9" is very tall, but...), my hair is beautiful because it is yellow (or golden), I am very rich (they've never seen my bank account, or they would know differently), I am wonderful and amazing (said to me after I had mentioned that I clean my own house.) I have had to learn that when Chinese people say things to me, I must think like a Chinese person, and not an American, and realize that they aren't being rude, they are just being informative.
To be fair, this practice has dwindled significantly since I first came here. During my first year here (2005) I noticed that people spat everywhere: on the street, on the sidewalk, in restaurants, in the classroom, literally everywhere. In 2008, just before the Beijing Olympics, the government started a campaign educating the people on not spitting in public. It seems to have worked as it is now a rare occasion to see anyone spitting. I do include this item because one does sometimes still see this, but if the current trend continues, I will be able to eliminate this tidbit in the near future.
Males urinate everywhere.
I, for one, would rather see someone spit on the sidewalk rather than pee where I plan on walking, but apparently not everyone shares that sentiment, as the government has made no effort to curb it. No matter where you go, you are bound to see a man or boy relieving himself on the side of a building, on a tree, or right on the sidewalk. You have been warned.
Truth should not offend.
In America, making statements regarding personal characteristics is considered rude. In China, if you mention something about a person, as long as it is the truth, it is not wrong. Don't be surprised if someone, even a complete stranger, walks up to you and rubs your belly and tells you that you are very fat. They are not being rude, just truthful. Often they will make statements to foreigners that we might not find rude, but definitely curious because we would never make these statements to other people. On many occasions I have been told that I am very tall (not sure how 5'9" is very tall, but...), my hair is beautiful because it is yellow (or golden), I am very rich (they've never seen my bank account, or they would know differently), I am wonderful and amazing (said to me after I had mentioned that I clean my own house.) I have had to learn that when Chinese people say things to me, I must think like a Chinese person, and not an American, and realize that they aren't being rude, they are just being informative.