China...a commentary on the intricacies of Chinese Culture
China...What I think I will remember the most of China is the smell, no matter where I go certain smells are just "China". It's not a bad smell but not necessarily pleasant either, I can't really describe it except to say if you ever have an authentic Chinese meal, not Americanized, then that spice in the air is a majority of what permeates the pollution filled air of China.
Other habits that are unique to China is the spitting, they really will spit anywhere, out a bus window, on the street, in the supermarket. Which by the way is not the worst thing on the floor of Chinese supermarkets. All young children who are not potty trained wear clothes with no crotch in them. So if they need to go a parents holds them over a trash can or grate in the floor of the supermarket to do their business in. Which is why all Chinese supermarkets, smell like urine. Oh, and the squatty potties, in which you squat to use the restroom and are provided no toilet paper, carry tissues with you and get this, you don't flush your used paper you put it in a wastebasket, next to the hole in the ground (a porcelain one), and for girls I would like to mention feminine products that, for any girl know start to smell in less than an hour. In the supermarket are live snakes, turtles, frogs, and other small creatures, so that the customer comes, chooses their dinner, and then the animal is killed in front of you to prove its freshness. All the fish lay on ice, freshly dead and very little is packaged unless you go to the imported section. The Chinese eat every part of the animal, a throwback from days where starvation was imminent , unless you ate every-piece of the animal, they use the bones to flavor soup, eat the oxtail, put chicken feet in soup or fried them, putting scorpions on a stick, even eating fish eyes, anything to stave off hunger, is now a delicacy in modern China. Oh, did I mention the lack of personal space? Yes they cut in line and push you around wherever you may be, unlike the Japanese they don't care to please you, the guest to their country, they consider you a nuisance.
However, there are some things I love about Chines culture, their architecture both ancient and modern. In ancient times they really didn't change much, but with the modern "skyscraper" they take many more chances than any American or European Designer, which is why despite the rundown look of most of their buildings all a visitor will remember are the few amazing and inspiring buildings, dotting the city skyline. Did I mention the vast amount of stairs in China? Well let's put it this way, if ADA rules were applied here, none of the modern buildings let alone the historic sites would pass. Stairs that go up entire mountains and take you hours to reach a destination that might have hundreds of stops along the way, with yes, more pagodas. Each with a long name that is mouthful even for a Chinese person.
The Chinese also have another strange habit, after buildings are built they have only one use. Take the Olympic Bird's Nest Stadium, used for that one summer in 2008. Now, no one can afford to use the space, and it falls into disrepair. Whereas the Water Cube next door continues to be used and prospers. The reason behind the desertion of buildings eludes me, all I know is that a building even five years old can look more like thirty years old from neglect. The Chinese taxis can choose where they want to go, and if you happen to be trying to pick up a taxi on the wrong side of the street, they will deny you countless times. In some places these drivers have agreements with country merchants who can't make it into the city, to drop you at their place for tea, sell it to you, and then take you where you want to go.
What I love about the Chinese is their group mentality, although I think valuing the individual is coming into vogue in the younger generation, the Chinese still function as a whole. In the mornings they work out together doing choreographed dances with fans and wearing skirts, for the women, while the men come and play a game with a spinning top that they hit with a whip in the afternoon. Gender oriented activities is still very common. In the park they play Hackie-sack with a ball with feathers attached, they have singing groups and they spend all day relaxing, none of them suffers from TBD (Too Busy Disorder) which is crippling American society.
Karaoke, which in America is only done by drunks in a bar in front of everyone, is done with a sense of style in all of Asia, not just China. Your party rents a room, in which a TV, a computer to choose songs, a menu, and a phone to order food and drinks is provided. You pay by the hour and only need embarrass yourself in front of friends, or show off to them, depending on your singing talent. In China, Winnie the Pooh (Siao Siaong Wei Ni) has his own store he is so popular, the markets sell some of the best knock offs of Prada, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Coach, and many others. You bargain your price down by thirty percent, and can (almost) always get a good price, you can buy pearls, jade, and anything your heart desires, you can even have custom clothes made at an affordable price (sometimes).
I would like to conclude this commentary with a take on a childhood song almost every American child knows, including the dance. "The Pizza Hut", a song that has only three restaurants in it, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, and Kentucky Fried Chicken, aka KFC. I truly believe whoever wrote that song either travelled to China or influenced some Chinese Business man to create a society that uses only those three American restaurants. In China, if you find a KFC, next door or within a block there will be a McDonalds, and within a block of that will be a Pizza Hut, trust me. Oh, and to top it off all three do delivery, yes even KFC and McDonalds can come straight to your door. Also, this is not like your regular fast food, at Pizza Hut alone you can get steak and curry, it is a sit down restaurant with hundreds of options that are not even related to Pizza.
So that's China..strange and fascinating, and utterly unique.
Other habits that are unique to China is the spitting, they really will spit anywhere, out a bus window, on the street, in the supermarket. Which by the way is not the worst thing on the floor of Chinese supermarkets. All young children who are not potty trained wear clothes with no crotch in them. So if they need to go a parents holds them over a trash can or grate in the floor of the supermarket to do their business in. Which is why all Chinese supermarkets, smell like urine. Oh, and the squatty potties, in which you squat to use the restroom and are provided no toilet paper, carry tissues with you and get this, you don't flush your used paper you put it in a wastebasket, next to the hole in the ground (a porcelain one), and for girls I would like to mention feminine products that, for any girl know start to smell in less than an hour. In the supermarket are live snakes, turtles, frogs, and other small creatures, so that the customer comes, chooses their dinner, and then the animal is killed in front of you to prove its freshness. All the fish lay on ice, freshly dead and very little is packaged unless you go to the imported section. The Chinese eat every part of the animal, a throwback from days where starvation was imminent , unless you ate every-piece of the animal, they use the bones to flavor soup, eat the oxtail, put chicken feet in soup or fried them, putting scorpions on a stick, even eating fish eyes, anything to stave off hunger, is now a delicacy in modern China. Oh, did I mention the lack of personal space? Yes they cut in line and push you around wherever you may be, unlike the Japanese they don't care to please you, the guest to their country, they consider you a nuisance.
However, there are some things I love about Chines culture, their architecture both ancient and modern. In ancient times they really didn't change much, but with the modern "skyscraper" they take many more chances than any American or European Designer, which is why despite the rundown look of most of their buildings all a visitor will remember are the few amazing and inspiring buildings, dotting the city skyline. Did I mention the vast amount of stairs in China? Well let's put it this way, if ADA rules were applied here, none of the modern buildings let alone the historic sites would pass. Stairs that go up entire mountains and take you hours to reach a destination that might have hundreds of stops along the way, with yes, more pagodas. Each with a long name that is mouthful even for a Chinese person.
The Chinese also have another strange habit, after buildings are built they have only one use. Take the Olympic Bird's Nest Stadium, used for that one summer in 2008. Now, no one can afford to use the space, and it falls into disrepair. Whereas the Water Cube next door continues to be used and prospers. The reason behind the desertion of buildings eludes me, all I know is that a building even five years old can look more like thirty years old from neglect. The Chinese taxis can choose where they want to go, and if you happen to be trying to pick up a taxi on the wrong side of the street, they will deny you countless times. In some places these drivers have agreements with country merchants who can't make it into the city, to drop you at their place for tea, sell it to you, and then take you where you want to go.
What I love about the Chinese is their group mentality, although I think valuing the individual is coming into vogue in the younger generation, the Chinese still function as a whole. In the mornings they work out together doing choreographed dances with fans and wearing skirts, for the women, while the men come and play a game with a spinning top that they hit with a whip in the afternoon. Gender oriented activities is still very common. In the park they play Hackie-sack with a ball with feathers attached, they have singing groups and they spend all day relaxing, none of them suffers from TBD (Too Busy Disorder) which is crippling American society.
Karaoke, which in America is only done by drunks in a bar in front of everyone, is done with a sense of style in all of Asia, not just China. Your party rents a room, in which a TV, a computer to choose songs, a menu, and a phone to order food and drinks is provided. You pay by the hour and only need embarrass yourself in front of friends, or show off to them, depending on your singing talent. In China, Winnie the Pooh (Siao Siaong Wei Ni) has his own store he is so popular, the markets sell some of the best knock offs of Prada, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Coach, and many others. You bargain your price down by thirty percent, and can (almost) always get a good price, you can buy pearls, jade, and anything your heart desires, you can even have custom clothes made at an affordable price (sometimes).
I would like to conclude this commentary with a take on a childhood song almost every American child knows, including the dance. "The Pizza Hut", a song that has only three restaurants in it, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, and Kentucky Fried Chicken, aka KFC. I truly believe whoever wrote that song either travelled to China or influenced some Chinese Business man to create a society that uses only those three American restaurants. In China, if you find a KFC, next door or within a block there will be a McDonalds, and within a block of that will be a Pizza Hut, trust me. Oh, and to top it off all three do delivery, yes even KFC and McDonalds can come straight to your door. Also, this is not like your regular fast food, at Pizza Hut alone you can get steak and curry, it is a sit down restaurant with hundreds of options that are not even related to Pizza.
So that's China..strange and fascinating, and utterly unique.