The Best and the Worst: #5's

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All the time I've lived in China, people always ask me what I like best and what I don't like. It's a hard question to answer. Frequently, my answer changes. Now that I'm leaving, people ask what I will and won't miss. While similar in nature to the other question, the tone of this one makes it easier to answer. Everywhere I've lived and traveled has had its pluses and minuses, and each of these is a personal preference, usually based off of my own experiences. After much thought, I've decided to tackle this in five entries.

I've been here five years, so five of each seems right. I would like to point out that none of these is meant as a criticism of China or a, "China is better than everywhere else!" statement. After five years here, I know there's still quite a bit I don't understand and probably never will. It's impossible to form a full opinion or judgement for 1.3 billion people, and I wouldn't venture to try. I wouldn't dare--I'm only one person. These are just my opinions, formed both through my personal experiences and how I'm feeling right now.

I'd be lying if I said that leaving China isn't an emotional experience. It's been my home for five years. Part of me will always feel like this is home. But it's time for the next thing.

So here's 2 what I won't misses and what I will miss, The #5's:



Lining up

Lining up is something that seldom happens here. It seems to be such a rarity that I comment when it happens. Or worse, just when I see a line and am thrilled to step to the end, suddenly, the anticipated bus/subway arrives or the doors open and chaos ensues. If you're not careful, you will be hurt in a stampede. I've learned that grandmas have the sharpest elbows.

My least favorite bit about the lines is how there still seem to be special rules that magically appear if someone doesn't want to wait. For example, take the ATMs on campus. There are 2 of them next to each other. Frequently, people will form a line for both of them, which makes sense; then you just proceed to the next available one. But sometimes someone comes along and decides that waiting behind 4 other people is just not in their plan for the day so they form a new line for the ATM on the right. And people get in line behind this person. And next thing you know, three people in the new line have all gotten their cash while you're still waiting for the guy at the ATM on the left to finish transferring his money, one yuan at a time. More than once, when I've been in line and this has happened, I've said something to the student. Based on their facial expression, it's clear they knew what they were doing was wrong, but they figured no one would say anything. They then get in line properly. Sometimes.

It's also quite common to be at the market buying some bread or juice and out of nowhere a man appears, stops at the front of the line and demands cigarettes. Guess who gets helped first. Hint, it's not those in line. I know at least once I had someone tell me that because the line cutter only wanted one thing and I had three, it was okay because it would only take a minute. Because the five I waited for the last three people apparently didn't count in my favor.

Granted, none of these extra minutes waiting has ever been a significant delay, but it's the principle of it. For all that I hear about people here all being the same and patient... well, there are clearly those who don't feel that way.



My other #5 is The sidewalks and tile floors

I agree that having a nice looking, easy to clean surface is a good idea. Unfortunately, somehow all floors and sidewalks--when damp--become so slippery that walking on one can make Ice Capades looks effortless. I wear hiking shoes on sidewalks and still walk like a penguin. Even in my own home or in the classrooms I need to run fans constantly for fear of landing on my bum. (Which I have done. More than once.) I'm pretty sure even ice skates wouldn't stand a chance against these surfaces. Walking to class or down the street shouldn't be an exercise in injury avoidance.



Tea

I love the tea in China. I realize that sounds a bit ridiculous, but it's true. Before I moved here I was an avid coffee drinker with the occasional cup of green tea in the afternoon. Now that I've been exposed to more varieties of tea than I ever dreamed and the culture that goes with it, I'm a convert. My fridge is still full of tea. I drink nearly a liter a day.

Tea in China is like wine in the US or other western countries. There are experts. There are rituals and ceremonies. Proper ways to drink it and savor it. Strict growing seasons and traditions. You can taste it, smell it, and talk about it for hours. The subtleties and changing nuance with each brew are endless. (You can reuse good quality tea leaves up to 12 times. It's the cheap stuff in the dunking bags that you only get one brew out of.) It should be properly stored in a cool, dry place. You can even visit the tea fields; like vineyards they stretch as far as the eye can see, each plant a treasure a bit different from the one next to it.

But unlike vineyards, you can try it before you buy it. Most shops will let you select a few varieties to try. Then they start brewing away, chatting happily with you, talking about the tea and their favorite Korean soaps and asking about where you come from. If they do their job well, you'll end up walking out with at least a kilo of tea and a business card to tell all your friends.

Cheers to that!

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Photos

Preparing the tea
You can try it before you buy it!

Tea shop
Ladies chat happily between customers.

Tiny tea shop
two meters wide, or so. Three at most.

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Love to learn more about tea
A fascinating culture. We've enjoyed following you.

[sunketing]

Thanks!
I hope you continue to do so after I move!