Climb Every Mountain

So, after engaging with my fellow foreign teachers for an hour-long hike up the mountain that sprouts behind our school, I’ve decided that I should share some more about China’s culture with you, my beloved readers. Pay attention, there might be a quiz.

1.  Bonding

In China, there are two ways to bond with your peers/co-workers/friends: go out and eat a ton of food or climb a mountain. You think I’m exaggerating? Well then, you wouldn’t be very cohesive with the Chinese culture Doubting Thomas (or Thomasina for you lady doubters). Not entirely sure if I can explain it to its fullest potential, but there is just something appealing to Asians in regards to both food and mountains. I can probably explain the former better than the latter. Cause I mean, who doesn’t love to chow down with friends? 

Heck, isn’t that in the Declaration of Independence somewhere? “We hold this food to be self-evident that all eating was created for bonding, which upon shall be delivered by their local restaurant wait staff for a certain attainable price, and among these are unlimited soup, salad, and bread sticks.” Hmmm…maybe I just miss Olive Garden.
  

2.    Money

One of the beautiful things about China, or at least about Qingdao, is the way things are priced. Most daily expenses (food and transportation) are reasonably priced, if not leaning on the cheap side. If I wanted to go downtown, I have two affordable options: the bus or a taxi. Bus stops are scattered all around the school and have regular stops at major shopping centers and residential areas. Convenient, yes? Did I mention that it is only 1-2 yuan to ride the bus one way? Oh, let me put that into perspective for you. One US dollar is equal to about 6.1 yuan. Which means, a round-trip bus ride, at the most, would be 4 yuan….or 70 cents. 

And taxis are pretty decent too (at least the honest drivers who don’t try to rip you off extravagantly because you’re foreign. There are 2 types of taxis: 9 yuan and 12 yuan. That’s the rate the car starts out at. Then, depending on where you are going, it will add money to your total at rates based on the taxi you chose. A 9 is not as nice/clean/new as a 12, but it’s cheaper and the meter doesn’t run as fast. The most I’ve spent on a taxi so far has been about 15 yaun (less than $3 for a one-way ride). Not too bad if I say so myself. 

3.     Fresh Air

Chinese people, or at least the one’s I work with, are very big into the idea of “fresh air.” So much so that it could be 45 degrees Fahrenheit outside (or less), and they open all the windows in the office. Many think it is healthy and quite good for their well-being. That might be true…if the air was actually clean and fresh. Not to sound rude, uncultured, or childish, but China smells. Sometimes it’s not too bad, but other times it’s quite rank. We’re on the coast so our Qingdao fragrance is a mixture of dead fish, garbage, industrial plant smoke, and construction dust. Air pollution is a problem over here, and “fresh air” isn’t always easy to come by. Heck, I noticed such a big difference today coming down off of that mountain. It may be a clear day, but it’s not a nasally pleasing one.

4.    Birthdays

Yes, birthdays still exist in China, albeit 13 hours ahead of American birthdays. However, they celebrate birthdays a bit differently than how many of us are used to. Instead of being showered with gifts and food, the tradition here is that the birthday man/woman takes out his/her friends and family for food at a restaurant and pays for everything. I’m not homesick yet, but I think I might feel a tinge of nostalgia on my own escape the womb day.

5.     Fake Goods

Maybe you already knew this about China, I sure didn’t, but there is such a market here for fake goods. Seriously, you can find them everywhere: on the streets being sold by vendors, outdoor flea markets, some local shops, and the black market. No, it’s not officially called “The Black Market,” but that’s what it is, and the foreigners refer to it as such. Pick a name brand, any name brand, and there’s a good chance it’s being made here for cheaper as a fake. Apple, Samsung, Nike, Northface, Ecko…clothes, electronics, home goods. There’s a serious market here for fakes.

See what I mean? That teddy bear is obviously a knock-off.

Don't you feel enlightened? Slightly jealous? Pity me? Well, I'm ok with all of the above as long as you do me one little favor today...breathe in some of that good American (or Spanish, you know who you are) air. Then, give your lungs a high-five. You go lungs. You're pretty awesome, and don't you forget it.