I am in stage two culture shock. Everything annoys me. The
heat, the dirt, the traffic, the food, and my inability to understand or
communicate with people. I’m past the glorious ‘Hey, look at that! Hey, look at
THAT!’ stage, and have fully regressed into anger and frustration.
We talked about culture shock during training, and how
different people adjust at different times, and can have any variety of culture
shock symptoms at any given time.
So while I say I’m fully into stage two, I’m also in stage three, the ‘I am just fine, thank you. I’m still
alive, even though everything is strange’ stage.
Things that have become (almost) second nature.
-squatters. Really, not a big issue. But I’m very excited
when I see a porcelain throne.
-on the subject of bathrooms, carrying tissue, throwing used
tp in the trash not toilet, and the fact that you can frequently spray the
toilet with the shower without ever trying.
-trying certain
new brands. I’m still not willing to give up all my home-brands, but for the
most part I’m pretty okay with (hopefully) picking a great one.
-the amount of tea. I am REALLY okay with how much tea gets
drunk here. I also may or may not be addicted to Nǎichá (milk tea).
-the
garbage truck jingle. Dave and I always to look for it when we hear it!
-chopsticks.
Probably the smoothest transition of them all.
-most
of the food. Turns out I love dumpling-type foods. And egg pancake. And the
amount of garlic that is sometimes used. Oh, and shaved mango. Seriously,
best.treat.ever. Oh, and the oranges are green!!
We have been in Tainan almost a week now.
Things I’m getting used to.
Things I’m getting used to.
-the
significant lack of potatoes (hey, I’m a farm kid- potatoes are a STAPLE!)
-the
foliage. They’re not everygrees, but they are always green!
-the
smell. It’s a mixture of dirt and food and I’m not really sure what.
-the
fireworks from the temple. Not an exaggeration to say they happen all the time.
Sporadically, but really at any point during the day you can hear some loud ‘BANG’s
from across the street
-communication.
Dave pulls up google translate on his phone when we’re really stuck. It’s a
quick fix, but we are trying to learn more Chinese! Considering I entered the
country with maybe two words (hello and thank you) and have upped it to a dozen
without any real classes (although the impromptu ones from my new friends
certainly helped!) I’d say I’m on the right track.
Things
I may never get used to.
-the
heat. And yes, I realize I moved to a sub-tropical climate! Doesn’t mean I like
it, nor am I prepared for swimming in my own sweat during the summer!
So
what’s next?
I’m
in branch training right now, and start teaching my first class on Thursday.
Our apartment is really nice, has huge windows and a bathroom (no really, we
have a toilet room and a bath/shower room!), but is probably an hour’s walk
from my branch. We are planning on getting a scooter, but buying and driving
one without an ARC is technically illegal (yet so many people do it, but that's another post in and of itself!), so I either have to break the law, get used to
walking, buy or borrow a bike or take a cab. By the time the summer’s heat
comes driving a scooter shouldn’t be an issue (thank goodness, I do NOT want to
be biking in that!), but it is a little annoying for the time being. Especially
when it comes time to buy groceries (or anything else, for that matter!)
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