My life in China

Going to China after my graduation was quite inevitable. Not only because I was majoring in Sinology where I gained my knowledge of the language and culture, but also because of my vagabond nature to explore the world that was kindling in me from the childhood. When I first travelled to China as a student I was naively believing that because of my basic "broken" knowledge of language and couple of finished books on the culture I will somehow not have any problems orienting myself after leaving airport in Beijing. My hollow self-consciousness rapidly vanished when I entered the train station. And then it started, the so-called "culture shock". I think by that time I was having a massive panic attack, but my survival instincts helped me get myself to the University in Tianjin where I spent my first year as a student. It is commonly known that cultural shock changes you. But what it actually does is much more cruel, yet so urgently needed; it wakes you up from you comfort zone. It is as cold as the coldest shower bringing you from your world illusions, where you finally start to realize that your mind is capable of much wider perception that you have ever though. The feeling is scary and you find yourself on the crossroad – either you will let the fear get to you, or you will let go and let it change the way you see the world. 

 

While living in China for five years I was able to experience different fields of Chinese life. Through language and master`s studies I was able to get to know how Chinese school system really works. I also made steps towards my first serious job where I dealt with professional business world with Chinese characteristics. I met many people from China and other parts of the world and gained close friends. I experienced fast and extravagant life in megacities as well as poor and simple life in villages or little towns. I listened to stories that kept me sleepless at night and learned how to be more tolerant and accepting although it was sometimes very hard. I will not lie, sometimes it still is hard. But I soon started living by the principle that every story has layers and that every face is hiding something deeper underneath. Good friends from China always told me that I have to see things from different perspectives before making a judgment, even though they appeared so strange at the time. The mixture of such experiences will never stop having impact of my future choices and they will always remind me I can be a better person.

 

It is well-known that the speed of Chinese development is unbelievable yet you can still find people, who think China is a poor country. But it is not true anymore. In the big cities it is hard to see less than four Ferrari`s a day, the new class of rich society is growing, there is enormous choice of restaurants from every part of the world (Except Balkan) and nightlife is stunning.  But while everything that modern international person needs for normal life is concentrated in big cities, the western part of the country is faced with cruel damage, created by political elite and their projects, which were usually too ambitious to be handled properly. It can now be seen in dying nature, exploited natural resources, suffocating smog, poor agriculture and ghost towns. Hidden racism of ethnic groups, censorship of freedom of speech and poor school system in the underprivileged areas are deepening the gap between rich and poor. While travelling in such a country is sometimes hard to see the authentic Chinese characteristics. Even though rice, silk and green tea can be found on almost every corner, some things take more time to see. This is why sometimes it is so much better to slow down while you travel and observe. Only then, in the hidden parts of the cities, behind all American-Chinese lifestyle and moral decrease, you will see the essence of China. It will be in the old grandpa practicing Taiqi in the park or dancing ladies, singing the traditional Chinese songs.

 

Travelling is a part of life that constantly reminds us of how fortunate and privileged we are to do it. If you are open-minded enough, it changes you so much that when you move back to Europe, you suddenly realize how much of Chinese culture has unconsciously come home with you. Lately I catch myself drinking hot or boiled water regardless the season, staring at the blue sky more than necessary, and drinking green teas after each meal. Sundays are suddenly too quiet, on streets there is suddenly too much space. I smile and I let myself fall into memories, to miss the bustle and people. But my vagabond nature quickly clams me down, since I already know that somewhere very soon there is a new adventure waiting for me. What about you?