Expectations

Living abroad in China will be different, and it’s crucial for you to start expecting that China will be different. Simply anticipating some of the differences ahead of time can help better prepare you for life abroad in China. The single most import thing to remember is to be flexible. You will no doubt have to adapt to new things you encounter in China.

You should learn to expect the unexpected. Accept the fact that everything in China will not be same as it here in the United States. The following are some very general and basic things to which you are probably accustomed in the United States, but that may be very different in China:

• Routines and Schedules: Because of its gigantic geographic span, China should be divided into different time zones. However, Beijing time sets the standard time for the entire nation. Not only might you be dealing with a time difference upon arrival, but many Chinese also have a unique work schedule and ethic. You may have a long afternoon break between classes so that you can prepare and eat lunch at home. You may return to class late in the afternoon and have classes until later at night. You may eat lunch and dinner later than you are accustomed to doing. You will have to work your routine around Chinese business hours. You may find rural life in China to be slower paced and more basic than the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. You will also have to adapt your routine to bus and metro schedules and to your roommates’ schedules. There are countless ways in which your routine in China can be different from your routine in the United States.
• Facilities: Facilities may be modern or rundown, working or out of order, clean or dirty. Basically, you take what you get and deal with it. You have to be your own judge of when facilities like hospitals, restaurants, beaches, public transportation, apartments, or even phone booths are in safe, working condition. In many cases, especially in poorer areas of China, you may have to lower your standards a bit and accept what’s available to you. Facilities do not have to be new to be useful or safe.
• Modern Conveniences: It may be difficult for some students to find appropriate footwear in China, as shoe sizes tend to run quite a bit smaller than they do in the United States. In Chinese supermarkets, you probably will not be able to find certain favorite food items you always eat in the United States. Just because you can’t find something you’re looking for in China, doesn’t mean China lacks anything. If you like Chinese food in the United States, it doesn’t mean it will taste the same in China. You should not expect to find the same foods in restaurants or supermarkets, the same fast food chains or name brand items, the same style or sizes of clothing and shoes, etc. Many of the modern conveniences you may take for granted, like ATM machines, hair dryers, cell-phone reception, Internet hook-ups and microwaves, may not be available. In short, if you can’t have or find everything you want, you will have to compromise.
• Bathrooms and Toilets: You may very likely find things are different even in Chinese bathrooms. The idea of a western toilet with a porcelain bowl and a seat is not universal. Bathroom facilities abroad can literally be holes in the floor, outhouses, or non-existent. Bidets are common, especially in Europe. Toilet paper is often not available, or not commonly used. You may always want to carry a pocket pack of tissues with you just in case. Sinks and running water for you to wash your face and hands or brush your teeth may or may not be an option. If sink water is an option, be sure to ask if you can drink it or brush your teeth with it. Showers may also be different in China, as some cultures prefer to bathe in a tub or other water source instead. Hand-held water sprayers may replace U.S. style fixed showerheads.
• Co-ed Living: If you are not comfortable with living with the opposite sex, make sure to make your wishes known before you are assigned housing, or before you place an ad for a roommate. Otherwise, you may be assigned to live in a co-ed dorm, or find that your roommates are of the opposite sex.
• Civil Liberties: Be advised that some internet sites and reading materials are banned by the Chinese government. You will not be able to access these websites while in China, and you will face penalties if caught reading, possessing, or distributing banned materials. Students may bring into China only a limited number of items that are considered necessary for study and daily life.
• Other Cultural Differences: Do not be alarmed or offended if you find yourself being followed by a group of locals in a rural village. Westerns can be a rare site in many parts of China, and you just might be the talk of the town. The Chinese tend to be reserved in both their dress and their relationships. Most Chinese prefer to maintain formal and polite relations rather than overly-familiar ones. A guest may be greeted with applause, and the appropriate response is to applause back in return. One should arrive a bit early to invitations, and always take a small gift like candy or fruit when a guest in someone’s home. Stamps are also a popular gift. Arguing in public is frowned upon, and political and religious opinions should not be given.