This is something I came across and seems very relevant in my experience to living and working in China (only for a very short time so far).
You know you’ve lived in China too long when…
- - You find yourself crying over a menu in a western restaurant because they serve green salad
- - You haven’t eaten anything baked in months
- - You eat every kind of meat off the bone, and spit the bones on the table or wherever they land
- - You know how to use a squatter potty
- - Grown men and women often say hello to you, and when you reply they run away giggling
- - you see nothing wrong with standing on a white stripe in the middle of a highway while cars whiz past you at 90kph
- - you don’t blink an eye when a complete stranger wants to take a photo of you with his family
- - you actually put some thought into which live snake you want cooked for your meal and don't think twice when they bring your dinner live to the table for your approval before it is cooked
- - you eat soup with chopsticks and drink straight from the bowl
- - you use Kleenex for table napkins
- - you drink warm sodas and find them refreshing
- - you are accustomed to seeing people’s heads popping up and down in the VCD you are watching
- - you no longer use articles when you speak
- - you bargain with the grocer over the cost of a head of lettuce
- You no longer question why the expiration date on the milk you just bought is two months from now - - you buy a movie that hasn’t been released theatrically yet at home
- - you complain about the price of chocolate bars and breakfast cereal
- - a trim at the barber involves two washes, a scalp massage, a shoulder massage, and a crowd of onlookers
- - you go to a park and get a warning from the police because you walked on the grass
- - you’ve come to believe the red stamp is all powerful
- - you find yourself spitting in public places (i.e. the street, restaurant) and not thinking twice
- - you take it in stride when you are offered beer at lunch before going back to work
- - you start wearing a face mask on windy days and wonder at the “silly foreigners” who don’t do the same
- - You can’t find face lotion or cleanser that does not bleach your skin whiter
- - you shove the guy before you in line back to where he stood half a minute before
- - you stand 1 inch from the person in front of you so no-one can cut in line in front of you
- - You have ten different responses to the question, “Do you like China?”
- - You know ten different ways to point out a foreigner in Chinese
- - You point out foreigners to your Chinese friends even though you’re foreign yourself

2 comments:
What a fascinating place to live - and you thought your children would grow up sheltered in a white society!! After this experience, they will probably question few things in life from now on. Love the way you are getting out there and enjoying the experience.
I was at dinner with the Allen's recently. They said all of this is true, you aren't just exaggerating. Amazing!
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