China

Before starting this semester I really didn’t know much about China. I knew almost everything in my life had a ‘made in china’ label, and that Chinese food was one of my favorite foods. I think I have misperceptions of china, from photos I’ve seen and things I’ve heard it seems like a really unsanitary place. This whole issue of bathrooms is grossing me out. I’m shocked that such a developing and populated city such as Beijing hasn’t figured out how to install restrooms with running water and sewage. The things I have learned about China have been from my professors as well as the internet.

Reading the article about Chinese mothers being superior also makes me think that Chinese people feel as though they were raised better and will look down upon me as an American when I am in China. I feel like I will stick out like a sore thumb being such a tall girl, with incredibly blonde hair and blue eyes. I wonder what it feels like to be the minority. I don’t think I’ve ever been stared at for looking different, because here I am no different. At the same time I think myself and Chinese girls have a lot in common. Maybe our looks and educational background will be different. We may have not been raised the same or have the same cultural values and morals. We do however love clothes, boy bands, and hello kitty merchandise.



I would really love to learn more about Chinese culture. I want to be as prepared as I can before I’m completely immersed into this other culture. I think it will be shocking and overwhelming at first. But I think that’s what I’m looking forward to the most. I’ve only been to tropical resorts and cruises, so I’ve never been out of the country where it’s not predominantly Americans.