When travelling to a new country, it’s natural to feel like you’re the object of everyone’s stares and whispers. The funny thing about China is that you usually are!
In China, you’ll be thrown into an completely new culture where the customs and socials attitudes are entirely alien to your own. Maybe even more so with countries that have strict government and political views. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. There’s no reason to feel like the odd one out with these handy tips of how to live like a local in China.
Learn the lingo.
The most crucial skill you can learn in a new country is their language. It opens up a whole new side of the country that would otherwise be impossible to interact with in your native tongue. It helps you to make friends, barter at markets, and can be an invaluable asset in an emergency. But, that’s not to say that you have to become fluent.
Although it’s now mandatory for children to learn English in China, you’ll find a fair few of the adults know only the basics or none at all. Even speaking a single word of Chinese to them will elicit smiles of delighted surprise at your efforts. People in China are extremely enthusiastic about practising their English with a native, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself frequently teaching outside of the classroom in your everyday life.
Find a couple of key phrases to wield and then build from there. For example an invaluable phrase I found was 'bu yao' which means ‘don’t want’. Perfect for when someone is harassing you to buy their souvenirs, an insufferable taxi driver who doesn't seem to get the idea or at a club when you're receiving unwanted attention.
Hang with the locals.
What better a way to get the local perspective than interacting with the people who’ve lived in China all their lives? They will be able to tell you the best places to go, when to go to avoid the tourist crowds, where and how you’ll be ripped off and much more. The longer you spend with them the more likely you are to start picking up local customs, such as not insisting to pay your part of the bill at a restaurant or trying not to look disgusted when people hack up and send a whopping lob of spit your way. It could be as easy as striking up a conversation in a bar or joining in on a game of football.
While you may feel a little alienated in the beginning, you’ll meet plenty of people. You’ll meet plenty of foreign teachers, you’ll get to know local Chinese people who’ll be dying to show you around the local area, and if you're teaching the headteacher might even take you out for welcome drinks. However, a word of warning; you must always accept alcohol from someone in China whom you wish to impress. Not that we have a problem with that!
There’s an app for that.
China is huge on their mobile phone use. They have an app for almost everything, and downloading a couple will make you look like a seasoned Beijinger. WeChat, their most popular app, is first and foremost a messaging app (think Facebook). But, it has a lot more to offer. It can help with almost every aspect of life in China, from ordering a taxi to checking your bank balance. When meeting a local, you’ll no doubt be asked if you have a WeChat, whether by a stranger at a bar, a friend or work colleagues. Showing that you use the app proves you’re in with China’s social networks and not a bumbling greenhorn.
Baidu is another app helpful for both locals and tourists alike. If you’re in a large city and are prone to getting lost, this handy little app is your ticket to freedom. It’s a maps app very similar to Google Maps, with the benefit of actually working in China. It cannot be stressed enough – using Google Maps in China is a surefire way to spend an evening wandering around lost and surrounded by labyrinthine buildings.
Finally, Taobao; an ecommerce shopping app where you can buy pretty much anything, from Chinese herbs to home comforts such as Malteasers. Similar to Amazon, but for the Chinese population. It’s largely addictive with its cheap deals and Western foods that are hard to come by.
While in China you’ll meet tons of new friends, but with these tips you’ll avoid falling into any tourist traps and skip to living the informed life of the local. You’ll soon have friends coming to you for ideas and advice.
So, what are you waiting for?
No comments:
Post a Comment