Sydney's Blog Entry 2
My experience as a student and host sibling here in Xian is definitely very different from what I had expected. Annie and I are much more independent than I had expected and I really love and will miss our daily routine. I had thought that my siblings parents may have been with us all the time (other than school) and that we would always eat breakfast at home. Most days we eat on the way to school and I love that feeling of independence where we are alone and getting ourselves to school, etc. Personally I also thought that the family would not have much time for us to bond and be together, but I have been so lucky to have a family who’s schedule allow for us to play Uno, listen to music, and eat meals together which has allowed for me to make memories with them that I will never forget. I also did not realize how much work my host sibling actually has to do for school and how stressful it must have been to have to plan for me. In the U.S. I have heard about the immense school work in Chinese schools and it has turned out to be very true. But still their are many misconceptions of China in the U.S. that I had been told before and I have noticed are just not accurate. For example I think that the U.S. labels the Chinese society as very strict ( in some cases this is true and I have not been properly exposed but in what I have witnessed ) and I had thought that the society as a whole would be very stern and serious, but I have found a much broader perspective of personality in the society here in Xian. For example I see boys holding hands when they are just friends and in the U.S. you can barely see that unless they are very young. I think that competition between the two countries, the U.S. and China, are fierce and both countries point out negative stereotypes of each other, and many of these stereotypes are not true through out either country.
My experience as a student and host sibling here in Xian is definitely very different from what I had expected. Annie and I are much more independent than I had expected and I really love and will miss our daily routine. I had thought that my siblings parents may have been with us all the time (other than school) and that we would always eat breakfast at home. Most days we eat on the way to school and I love that feeling of independence where we are alone and getting ourselves to school, etc. Personally I also thought that the family would not have much time for us to bond and be together, but I have been so lucky to have a family who’s schedule allow for us to play Uno, listen to music, and eat meals together which has allowed for me to make memories with them that I will never forget. I also did not realize how much work my host sibling actually has to do for school and how stressful it must have been to have to plan for me. In the U.S. I have heard about the immense school work in Chinese schools and it has turned out to be very true. But still their are many misconceptions of China in the U.S. that I had been told before and I have noticed are just not accurate. For example I think that the U.S. labels the Chinese society as very strict ( in some cases this is true and I have not been properly exposed but in what I have witnessed ) and I had thought that the society as a whole would be very stern and serious, but I have found a much broader perspective of personality in the society here in Xian. For example I see boys holding hands when they are just friends and in the U.S. you can barely see that unless they are very young. I think that competition between the two countries, the U.S. and China, are fierce and both countries point out negative stereotypes of each other, and many of these stereotypes are not true through out either country.
Anabelle's Blog Entry 2
While there were many things I did not expect to experience before arriving in China, the largest misconception I had was that nobody would talk about politics. Since I assumed this about Chinese culture, I did not bring the topic up myself, and I was very surprised when my host sister did. We were watching the news one evening, and she expressed to me how she feels about the government restricting what they are allowed to hear. Throughout my stay here, my host family has also brought up other topics relating to both American and Chinese politics. I think it is really beneficial that my host parents have educated their children on these issues, so they have a larger world view. Additionally, I expected there to be much more government propaganda. So far, I have not witnessed the government having too much influence on people’s lives, but there is a possibility that I have just not noticed it, or have been shielded because of the language barrier.
Another aspect I assumed about Chinese culture was that no one would have siblings. Many people I have met from China are only children, so I never assumed that so many families would choose to have more children once the One Child Policy was amended. However, my host sister has a younger brother, and a lot of people in my host sister’s grade have younger siblings as well. I have really enjoyed living with a younger brother because I have never experienced that before, and it was a really exciting surprise.
There are also many things that I have witnessed or experienced about people’s everyday life that I did not expect. To start, I found it surprising to see how many students are brought to school on motorcycles. The morning commute can be very hectic and crowded, so taking a motorcycle is one of the faster methods of transportation here. Another thing I didn’t anticipate was the lack of modern toilets. Many public places only have the traditional toilets where you have to squat instead of sit down. Showers are a bit different here as well. Instead of there being a bathtub and a shower curtain, there is an open area in the bathroom with a drain in the floor. These elements took a little more time to adjust to, but I am really glad I have been able to experience using them.
In regard to teenage life, I was pleasantly surprised that many teenagers enjoy listening to the same music we do. I have found that music is an especially great way to bond with other students here. One day after lunch, a few American students and I joined some Chinese students who were playing guitar. I found it amazing that although it was hard for us to communicate through words, we were still able to communicate with each other through music. Finally, I was not expecting to encounter, and try such a vast variety of food here. Some of the most surprising foods I have tried are beetles, and pig ears and intestines. I typically enjoy trying new foods and am a pretty adventurous eater, but at times I have been very glad to discover what I was eating after I’ve tried it.
In conclusion, living here has definitely broadened my view on China, and I am glad how living in a new country has helped me gain new skills. I believe the best thing about being immersed in a different culture is discovering what makes it different from your own, so I have been incredibly grateful to have had so many new experiences so far.
While there were many things I did not expect to experience before arriving in China, the largest misconception I had was that nobody would talk about politics. Since I assumed this about Chinese culture, I did not bring the topic up myself, and I was very surprised when my host sister did. We were watching the news one evening, and she expressed to me how she feels about the government restricting what they are allowed to hear. Throughout my stay here, my host family has also brought up other topics relating to both American and Chinese politics. I think it is really beneficial that my host parents have educated their children on these issues, so they have a larger world view. Additionally, I expected there to be much more government propaganda. So far, I have not witnessed the government having too much influence on people’s lives, but there is a possibility that I have just not noticed it, or have been shielded because of the language barrier.
Another aspect I assumed about Chinese culture was that no one would have siblings. Many people I have met from China are only children, so I never assumed that so many families would choose to have more children once the One Child Policy was amended. However, my host sister has a younger brother, and a lot of people in my host sister’s grade have younger siblings as well. I have really enjoyed living with a younger brother because I have never experienced that before, and it was a really exciting surprise.
There are also many things that I have witnessed or experienced about people’s everyday life that I did not expect. To start, I found it surprising to see how many students are brought to school on motorcycles. The morning commute can be very hectic and crowded, so taking a motorcycle is one of the faster methods of transportation here. Another thing I didn’t anticipate was the lack of modern toilets. Many public places only have the traditional toilets where you have to squat instead of sit down. Showers are a bit different here as well. Instead of there being a bathtub and a shower curtain, there is an open area in the bathroom with a drain in the floor. These elements took a little more time to adjust to, but I am really glad I have been able to experience using them.
In regard to teenage life, I was pleasantly surprised that many teenagers enjoy listening to the same music we do. I have found that music is an especially great way to bond with other students here. One day after lunch, a few American students and I joined some Chinese students who were playing guitar. I found it amazing that although it was hard for us to communicate through words, we were still able to communicate with each other through music. Finally, I was not expecting to encounter, and try such a vast variety of food here. Some of the most surprising foods I have tried are beetles, and pig ears and intestines. I typically enjoy trying new foods and am a pretty adventurous eater, but at times I have been very glad to discover what I was eating after I’ve tried it.
In conclusion, living here has definitely broadened my view on China, and I am glad how living in a new country has helped me gain new skills. I believe the best thing about being immersed in a different culture is discovering what makes it different from your own, so I have been incredibly grateful to have had so many new experiences so far.
Eric's Blog Entry 2
China actually hasn’t differed too much from what I expected. There are a few things that are different and that I have to adjust to as well as other things that aren’t what I expected, but aren’t a bad thing. I knew that the school was longer than ours, but I didn’t expect it to last until 6:30, dinner time! I find myself getting a lot more sleep than I did in Sharon, yet I still get tired throughout the day. It’s been getting easier but a whole four hours more of the day for school is a lot and we don’t even go to classes most of the day. They also have a longer lunch period, nearly two hours, and although the students only have 30 minutes to eat, they get to sleep for an hour after lunch. I usually do work or go out with the other exchange students and we either play ping pong, soccer, basketball, or badminton or go out shopping.
Also, I knew things in China would be cheaper, but things are cheaper than I thought. Things such as fruits, snacks, stationery, drinks, restaurants, etc. are a lot cheaper here and in some cases are better quality. Imported American and other international snacks and goods are obviously more expensive, but at times still cheaper than U.S. prices. I also noticed that they have many flavors of Oreo, Chips Ahoy, ‘Pringles’, and Kit Kat that we have never had in the U.S. Street food and fruit stands seem practically free because they’re so cheap! I’ve tried a lot of different street foods while being here and so far, they have been so delicious and unique. Water here is also so much cheaper than I would have ever thought and I’m glad it is. Something else that I didn’t expect was to live in an apartment, I originally thought that they lives in houses but as Xi’an is a big city, living spaces are apartments. I’m not complaining at all as my apartment is good and I have a lot of room to walk around in.
I also didn’t expect that there was going to be so many shops, bakeries, and coffee shops around, mainly because I didn’t know that Xi’an was such a big and busy city. It’s very easy to get whatever you may need, all you need to do is walk a little and everything is practically on your fingertips. There are many things different from what I anticipated, but different or not, they have been better than I expected. So far, I’ve had an amazing time in Xi’an and I cant believe we’ll only be here for a few more weeks!
There are plenty of misconceptions that Americans have about China, but only one that truly applied to me. The misconception that kids don’t have siblings, I knew that people could have more than one child, however I didn’t know how many people would have siblings. My host brother has a sister that I hadn’t known about until I arrived here, because I thought that it was rare to have more than one kid, but now I see that it is actually quite common. Also my host father has a brother which I was surprised about because if anything, I thought that the change to the one child policy would be recent. Clearly it isn’t and that many people in China have more than one child. I am pleasantly surprised that people in China have more than one sibling and kids. I’m glad that now the ridiculous one child policy isn’t as strict anymore and for the most part, doesn’t apply to everyone That is the only real misconception that I had about China, although there are many more.
China actually hasn’t differed too much from what I expected. There are a few things that are different and that I have to adjust to as well as other things that aren’t what I expected, but aren’t a bad thing. I knew that the school was longer than ours, but I didn’t expect it to last until 6:30, dinner time! I find myself getting a lot more sleep than I did in Sharon, yet I still get tired throughout the day. It’s been getting easier but a whole four hours more of the day for school is a lot and we don’t even go to classes most of the day. They also have a longer lunch period, nearly two hours, and although the students only have 30 minutes to eat, they get to sleep for an hour after lunch. I usually do work or go out with the other exchange students and we either play ping pong, soccer, basketball, or badminton or go out shopping.
Also, I knew things in China would be cheaper, but things are cheaper than I thought. Things such as fruits, snacks, stationery, drinks, restaurants, etc. are a lot cheaper here and in some cases are better quality. Imported American and other international snacks and goods are obviously more expensive, but at times still cheaper than U.S. prices. I also noticed that they have many flavors of Oreo, Chips Ahoy, ‘Pringles’, and Kit Kat that we have never had in the U.S. Street food and fruit stands seem practically free because they’re so cheap! I’ve tried a lot of different street foods while being here and so far, they have been so delicious and unique. Water here is also so much cheaper than I would have ever thought and I’m glad it is. Something else that I didn’t expect was to live in an apartment, I originally thought that they lives in houses but as Xi’an is a big city, living spaces are apartments. I’m not complaining at all as my apartment is good and I have a lot of room to walk around in.
I also didn’t expect that there was going to be so many shops, bakeries, and coffee shops around, mainly because I didn’t know that Xi’an was such a big and busy city. It’s very easy to get whatever you may need, all you need to do is walk a little and everything is practically on your fingertips. There are many things different from what I anticipated, but different or not, they have been better than I expected. So far, I’ve had an amazing time in Xi’an and I cant believe we’ll only be here for a few more weeks!
There are plenty of misconceptions that Americans have about China, but only one that truly applied to me. The misconception that kids don’t have siblings, I knew that people could have more than one child, however I didn’t know how many people would have siblings. My host brother has a sister that I hadn’t known about until I arrived here, because I thought that it was rare to have more than one kid, but now I see that it is actually quite common. Also my host father has a brother which I was surprised about because if anything, I thought that the change to the one child policy would be recent. Clearly it isn’t and that many people in China have more than one child. I am pleasantly surprised that people in China have more than one sibling and kids. I’m glad that now the ridiculous one child policy isn’t as strict anymore and for the most part, doesn’t apply to everyone That is the only real misconception that I had about China, although there are many more.
Juliana's Blog Entry 2
Before coming to China, I subconsciously had expectations about Chinese society based on the conception of people in the United States and the experiences of students who had previously come to China. First of all, I thought communicating with my host sister and family members would be more difficult than it actually is. My host mother can speak really good English and my host sister can speak English, too, so they can understand me relatively easily. Despite the fact that my host father cannot fluently speak English, I communicate with him as well through Chinese and Google translate.
On a different note, due to the fact there are many impoverished people in America, especially in the large cities, I had expected that Xi’an would have many homeless people as well. As far as my observations go, this has proved to be a misconception of mine, for I rarely see homeless people on the streets, though this may be due to the area of Xi’an I spend my time in is relatively rich compared to other parts of the city. In addition, I had expected markets in China to be more common than supermarkets, but from what I have witnessed, people often go to chain stores to buy what they need, be it food or household products.
A common misconception I have discovered is that Chinese teenagers only study and often don’t spend time with friends, and that their parents are all strict, putting pressure on their child to be the best in their class. In my own experience, I have not perceived all this to be true. I admit that my host sister is a very hardworking and intelligent student, but both she and her parents don’t allow school to take over every aspect of her life. I have no doubt that my host mother highly values the education of her daughter, but she once said to me that all she wants for her daughter is that she grows up happy. My host sister enjoys going out with friends on the weekends and we often spend time together. I have deemed this to be true for other host siblings, who enjoy frequently going out to play soccer or to a movie and dinner with their own friends.
Without coming to China, I would not have realized all the misconceptions and false expectations I had about Chinese culture and society. I think it is important to understand that across the world, one cannot know with certainty what a culture is really like; you must physically be there, and even then, you may not know everything there is to know. In these past few weeks I have learned so much about the Chinese culture, but I am sure that there are still so many things left for me to learn.
Before coming to China, I subconsciously had expectations about Chinese society based on the conception of people in the United States and the experiences of students who had previously come to China. First of all, I thought communicating with my host sister and family members would be more difficult than it actually is. My host mother can speak really good English and my host sister can speak English, too, so they can understand me relatively easily. Despite the fact that my host father cannot fluently speak English, I communicate with him as well through Chinese and Google translate.
On a different note, due to the fact there are many impoverished people in America, especially in the large cities, I had expected that Xi’an would have many homeless people as well. As far as my observations go, this has proved to be a misconception of mine, for I rarely see homeless people on the streets, though this may be due to the area of Xi’an I spend my time in is relatively rich compared to other parts of the city. In addition, I had expected markets in China to be more common than supermarkets, but from what I have witnessed, people often go to chain stores to buy what they need, be it food or household products.
A common misconception I have discovered is that Chinese teenagers only study and often don’t spend time with friends, and that their parents are all strict, putting pressure on their child to be the best in their class. In my own experience, I have not perceived all this to be true. I admit that my host sister is a very hardworking and intelligent student, but both she and her parents don’t allow school to take over every aspect of her life. I have no doubt that my host mother highly values the education of her daughter, but she once said to me that all she wants for her daughter is that she grows up happy. My host sister enjoys going out with friends on the weekends and we often spend time together. I have deemed this to be true for other host siblings, who enjoy frequently going out to play soccer or to a movie and dinner with their own friends.
Without coming to China, I would not have realized all the misconceptions and false expectations I had about Chinese culture and society. I think it is important to understand that across the world, one cannot know with certainty what a culture is really like; you must physically be there, and even then, you may not know everything there is to know. In these past few weeks I have learned so much about the Chinese culture, but I am sure that there are still so many things left for me to learn.
George's Blog Entry 2
Embarking on this journey is a life changer, and experiencing the real China that isn’t tagged by the remarks of people who only judge this country based off of its stereotypes. Traversing the new world with a group of friends that understand that China is more than just politics. China's culture is the most gratifying reward of the trip. As the days unfold you learn that China, as a whole, is a landmark of a rich history and art packed away in the traditional sites. Though I thought that staying in Xi'an for a majority of the seemed to be a downfall to the trip, living with the host family makes the disappointment into a surprise. The host family takes you to places you wouldn't have known existed if you didn't go to China and see them yourself. The only downside about coming to this trip is the fact that you have to go home after making a new family. I thought that a host family that doesn't know English would stop me from enjoying the trip, but instead, they teach me Chinese and the meanings of the characters. They teach me the culture and the stories of the past. The give me lessons to carry home, and sayings to take back to my Chinese class. They give me an unforgettable experience and a debt that I can never repay. They give me a second chance in a new world. This trip has been an amazing experience that is full of memorial sites and events that will stick with you for the rest of your life. You should not let anyone tell you or influence your mindset on how you feel about a place. A country is like a person with a rumor, its all a lie, in the end, because when you see what that person or country for what it really is. You make your own decision and your own judgment call to whether or not you have made a good choice. At the end of the day, no matter what trip you go on, and no matter where you go, the possibilities of a great time are endless, and if you go with friends the great times turn into perfect ones. Do not miss an opportunity like this, it's the things you don't do that you'll end up regretting the most.
Embarking on this journey is a life changer, and experiencing the real China that isn’t tagged by the remarks of people who only judge this country based off of its stereotypes. Traversing the new world with a group of friends that understand that China is more than just politics. China's culture is the most gratifying reward of the trip. As the days unfold you learn that China, as a whole, is a landmark of a rich history and art packed away in the traditional sites. Though I thought that staying in Xi'an for a majority of the seemed to be a downfall to the trip, living with the host family makes the disappointment into a surprise. The host family takes you to places you wouldn't have known existed if you didn't go to China and see them yourself. The only downside about coming to this trip is the fact that you have to go home after making a new family. I thought that a host family that doesn't know English would stop me from enjoying the trip, but instead, they teach me Chinese and the meanings of the characters. They teach me the culture and the stories of the past. The give me lessons to carry home, and sayings to take back to my Chinese class. They give me an unforgettable experience and a debt that I can never repay. They give me a second chance in a new world. This trip has been an amazing experience that is full of memorial sites and events that will stick with you for the rest of your life. You should not let anyone tell you or influence your mindset on how you feel about a place. A country is like a person with a rumor, its all a lie, in the end, because when you see what that person or country for what it really is. You make your own decision and your own judgment call to whether or not you have made a good choice. At the end of the day, no matter what trip you go on, and no matter where you go, the possibilities of a great time are endless, and if you go with friends the great times turn into perfect ones. Do not miss an opportunity like this, it's the things you don't do that you'll end up regretting the most.
Mackenzie's Blog Entry 2
As a child growing up, I always thought that there were two types of Chinese. There was Cantonese, the weird one that no one really spoke, and the second was Mandarin, the official language named after the orange. In fifth grade, when we were introduced to Spanish, French, and “Mandarin Chinese,” my belief of this only solidified. It was not until much later on that I really began to understand how wrong I was. In Chinese, there are many different dialects. Cantonese and Mandarin, also known in Chinese as Putonghua, are just the more commonly used ones, and are thus more well known. Although I and many other people know this fact, I still feel that the majority of America is ignorant to this and many other aspects of Chinese culture.
Before heading off to China, I had also heard many tales of the fabled squat toilets, and in my mind imagined them as literally endless holes in the ground. I was pretty anxious that I would pee on my shoe or fall into the hole, but after we had landed in Beijing, I realized that there are actually a lot of western toilets in the urban parts of China. While there are still many squat toilets, they are not as horrible as they seem, and are also pretty easy to learn how to use. The only problem about the bathrooms here might be the toilet paper; some bathrooms have it and others you must bring your own.
Asides from that, I was not expecting how common English is here. In the US, where the majority can maybe say a few simple phrases in Chinese, a lot of people here can speak very good English, especially the younger generation. At our school in China, English is a mandatory course and almost all of my classmates can talk with me in it. My host family also knows some, although not as much, and a lot of popular places such as high end malls, restaurants, and touring areas have translations in English. China is so different and yet still similar to America in many ways, and I am so excited to continue experiencing this culture!
As a child growing up, I always thought that there were two types of Chinese. There was Cantonese, the weird one that no one really spoke, and the second was Mandarin, the official language named after the orange. In fifth grade, when we were introduced to Spanish, French, and “Mandarin Chinese,” my belief of this only solidified. It was not until much later on that I really began to understand how wrong I was. In Chinese, there are many different dialects. Cantonese and Mandarin, also known in Chinese as Putonghua, are just the more commonly used ones, and are thus more well known. Although I and many other people know this fact, I still feel that the majority of America is ignorant to this and many other aspects of Chinese culture.
Before heading off to China, I had also heard many tales of the fabled squat toilets, and in my mind imagined them as literally endless holes in the ground. I was pretty anxious that I would pee on my shoe or fall into the hole, but after we had landed in Beijing, I realized that there are actually a lot of western toilets in the urban parts of China. While there are still many squat toilets, they are not as horrible as they seem, and are also pretty easy to learn how to use. The only problem about the bathrooms here might be the toilet paper; some bathrooms have it and others you must bring your own.
Asides from that, I was not expecting how common English is here. In the US, where the majority can maybe say a few simple phrases in Chinese, a lot of people here can speak very good English, especially the younger generation. At our school in China, English is a mandatory course and almost all of my classmates can talk with me in it. My host family also knows some, although not as much, and a lot of popular places such as high end malls, restaurants, and touring areas have translations in English. China is so different and yet still similar to America in many ways, and I am so excited to continue experiencing this culture!
Xylah's Blog Entry 2
I️ was most surprised about the school. I️ knew it would be different, but nothing like this! There are around 60 students placed inside a classroom, leaving not as much space to move around for the rest of the day. Instead of the students moving from class to class, the teacher transitions into each class. Some teachers are very enthusiastic and nice, but other teachers can be strict. In Sharon, all of the teachers are very understanding and not as stern as they are here in China. For example, the Chinese teacher (who is known as the English teacher to us) noticed that a student was sleeping in her class, so she kick him in the leg: He hasn’t fallen asleep since then. On the other hand, the chemistry teacher calls out the person in class for sleeping and she has the student stand in the back for the rest of the class. After they finished their first class, they need to go outside for morning exercise. In the exercise, each class forms into a rectangular shape. In one row, there are three girls on the left side and three boys on the right side. We wait in formation until we hear the sound of the music come on. Once it starts, we start to jog at a slow paste together for around ten minutes. After finishing a class, they get ten minutes to either buy food, fill up their water, or walk around and stretch. In the building, they have five floors full of interesting classes. What I️ thought was amazing was that once they finish their lunch, they get to take a nap until class starts so that they’re not as tired when they get back into learning. The best part about the school are the people. Everybody knows all of their class mates really well and become close with everyone. It was amazing how girls would hold hands with girls and boys will hold hand with guys and not be called by the word “gay” from others. In this school, it does not only show friendship, but it shows acceptance to their community.
I️ was most surprised about the school. I️ knew it would be different, but nothing like this! There are around 60 students placed inside a classroom, leaving not as much space to move around for the rest of the day. Instead of the students moving from class to class, the teacher transitions into each class. Some teachers are very enthusiastic and nice, but other teachers can be strict. In Sharon, all of the teachers are very understanding and not as stern as they are here in China. For example, the Chinese teacher (who is known as the English teacher to us) noticed that a student was sleeping in her class, so she kick him in the leg: He hasn’t fallen asleep since then. On the other hand, the chemistry teacher calls out the person in class for sleeping and she has the student stand in the back for the rest of the class. After they finished their first class, they need to go outside for morning exercise. In the exercise, each class forms into a rectangular shape. In one row, there are three girls on the left side and three boys on the right side. We wait in formation until we hear the sound of the music come on. Once it starts, we start to jog at a slow paste together for around ten minutes. After finishing a class, they get ten minutes to either buy food, fill up their water, or walk around and stretch. In the building, they have five floors full of interesting classes. What I️ thought was amazing was that once they finish their lunch, they get to take a nap until class starts so that they’re not as tired when they get back into learning. The best part about the school are the people. Everybody knows all of their class mates really well and become close with everyone. It was amazing how girls would hold hands with girls and boys will hold hand with guys and not be called by the word “gay” from others. In this school, it does not only show friendship, but it shows acceptance to their community.
Sam's Blog Entry 2
Xi’an seems to blow my mind everyday. Although I’m doing much of the same thing ,school, I manage to learn and experience new things. When I first came to China, and we were getting ready for school I expected myself to be bored out of my mind and prepared my self to be attentive and productive with other things. However as soon as I got to the class I was actually really intrigued by everything. How the kids react to the teacher or how the teacher is with the kids. The amount of breaks and the morning exercises and stuff. It’s really cool to be apart of this and experience life like this.
I think in America, people have such a bad misconception about the people in China. There is so much that Americans have wrong and those are the stereotypes. For example one would be that government rules with an iron fist and watched your every move which is false. People live life freely and do as they please. Of course government is a large role that is played in many people’s lives but it isn’t ruling their daily activities. China is an amazing place to visit and go but it’s definitely a place to leave your misconceptions behind.
Xi’an seems to blow my mind everyday. Although I’m doing much of the same thing ,school, I manage to learn and experience new things. When I first came to China, and we were getting ready for school I expected myself to be bored out of my mind and prepared my self to be attentive and productive with other things. However as soon as I got to the class I was actually really intrigued by everything. How the kids react to the teacher or how the teacher is with the kids. The amount of breaks and the morning exercises and stuff. It’s really cool to be apart of this and experience life like this.
I think in America, people have such a bad misconception about the people in China. There is so much that Americans have wrong and those are the stereotypes. For example one would be that government rules with an iron fist and watched your every move which is false. People live life freely and do as they please. Of course government is a large role that is played in many people’s lives but it isn’t ruling their daily activities. China is an amazing place to visit and go but it’s definitely a place to leave your misconceptions behind.