When I tell people I went to China, most people are shocked. China isn’t necessarily the most family-friendly tourist destination, and its political situation is, well, more complicated than not.
“What were you doing in China?” the question always strikes. Suddenly I have to come up with a 30-second answer that somehow encapsulates such a beautiful trip. I tell them that I went there with my school- 22 other students and 3 faculty members- and that we were there for 2 weeks. I tell them we went to XiAn and BeiJing, stayed in a homestay, went to school, volunteered, and attempted to fully immerse ourselves in Chinese culture. But to even attempt to capture everything in a summary feels almost belittling to the experience, so the best I can do is remark on some particularly notable reflections.
Bathroom stuff
One of the biggest differences that struck me when I visited was the… well, bathroom situation. I was unfamiliar with the infamous squatting toilets or “squatty potties.” I’ll be honest, the first time I used one, I was really unsure about what I was doing. I, along with my other female friends on the trip, felt a bit uneasy. The thing is, this is something that people in China use every day of their life. It is their culture, their custom, and one of the many nuances of their day to day lives that make it so beautiful to experience. The joy in life comes from new experiences. There’s no need to feel weirded out by something from another country; rather, it’s better to just embrace it. So, I squatted. And actually I didn’t mind it! There’s also rarely toilet paper in the bathrooms. Most people bring along their own in their handbags and use it when needed. It made me think about how much paper they probably save, and how little actions like these improve the cleanliness of their environment. China is a very conservationist country. They take less showers, wash their hands for less time, and don’t do laundry often. There are hardly any paper towels and sometimes not even soap. Some people may see this as unhygienic, but I disagree. I view this as a way to preserve the environment and save natural resources. When I came back to the US, I found myself using less toilet paper, taking quicker showers, and air-drying my hands after washing them. My first-hand experience in China brought me to understand the intricacy of the mundane parts of my routine and how little changes can make such a vital difference in the overall environment.
School life:
Staying with a host family also meant another experience: school. Only a couple weeks into summer and I was already back at school, but Chinese school is something very different. One of my classmate’s buddies compared the schooling system to prison. School goes until 10pm, 5 days a week and then until 5pm on Saturdays. It’s certainly not something I’m used to. Because of the heat, we only had to stay at school on Friday until 5, and that was considered an “early dismissal.” The classes are only 40 minutes long, which feels better than my 75-minute block schedule; however, there are way more classes throughout the day. When I was with my host buddy for the afternoon, I joined her for English and biology class, and studied with her during her free period. Learning biology in a completely foreign language was definitely an unforgettable experience (especially because biology itself already feels like a foreign language). Despite my nearly 12 years of Chinese classes, going to school in China made me realize how much of the language I still don’t know. It’s okay to embrace the unknown, though. There is still so much out there to explore.
Media/pop culture:
A cool way that my host buddy and I were able to bond was through our shared love of media and pop culture. One of the first questions I asked her was what American music artists she listened to. An immediate connection we made was through our mutual love of Taylor Swift. Artists as big as Taylor are extremely popular in China, which is something I never would have known until visiting. My buddy and her friends all wished they could have seen the Eras Tour as there were no concerts nearby. This concept made me realize just how privileged I am to live in America where so much of the global media is based. Across the Pacific Ocean exists more fans who love the same silly pieces of music as me. It’s the little things like these that make me realize how we really are under the same sky after all. I remember watching Knives Out with my host buddy and her mom. With just some accurate subtitles, people from across the globe can watch the same movie and feel the same emotions for it. Language shouldn’t be a barrier. Rather, we should use our shared interests, like music and movies to bring us closer together. Last week, my buddy and I were emailing about the Olympics and how fascinating the events are to watch. Though we’re supporting different teams, we both enjoy watching the opposing teams thrive in their respective events. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone… We may be tied in gold medals but only one of us can say we got over 100 medals overall!
I want to keep studying Chinese, keep immersing myself within the language and culture, and keep pushing myself beyond the limits of the place I call home. Home is not just a place – it’s about the people who make that place. My host family was incredibly welcoming; they made me feel warm in a place they knew I’d never been before. My host buddy introduced me to her school, classes, and even to her friends. They helped me feel safe in a place where I was unsure how to adjust. They made me feel valued for my company, for my presence. There is no need to be afraid of the world because of projected stereotypes of a place. So many Americans antagonize China and criticize it for its politics and issues. Staying there has made me realize how much more there is to a place than its politics and than the way it's perceived by the outside world. There is culture, beauty, love, and so much kindness around. It’s why I love to travel. Why guess when you can just explore? Why hate when you can love?
Love always outshines hate. In a world where political conflicts pull us apart, it’s the connections like these that hold us together. Choose love. Choose unity. Choose the constellations in the sky that we all can see.
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