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This week Sophia and I are celebrating our six month
anniversary of living in Shanghai, China. Although we’ve out been of the U.S.
for over a year, this is the first place that we’ve settled down and really
started to experience these 3 phases.
I’m sure this is not an exhaustive list of phases I will go
through but I believe that they may be the most important.
Phase 1: Honeymoon
Oohh…ahhhh…this is what I must have sounded like wandering
around town those first few weeks. Everything was so interesting, I mean
everything. I remember the first morning, I stepped out of the hotel and into a convenience store, I saw the craziest looking bottle of Mountain Dew, ever. It
was a completely different shape than any soda bottle I’d ever seen before and
Mountain dew was somehow written in Chinese characters. I hadn’t drunk a
mountain in who knows how long but I had to have it.
A great example is the grocery store, for us this means
Carrefour. Sophia and I were so blown away with this place that we were taking
videos inside the store…loving every minute of it.
The metro (subway) was another great adventure for us…we got
our metro cards, map and we were unstoppable, riding that sucker everywhere and
so happy that we could get around so fast.
Phase 2: Frustration
I’m not sure when this happens exactly; I suppose it’s a
gradual thing. For some reason many of the things that seemed so interested in
the honeymoon phase were now frustrating because they weren’t the way I was
used to them being back home. This led me to believe that I, single-handedly was
responsible for changing these things and showing the world there’s a better
way to accomplish specific tasks.
For example, that grocery store that was once so incredible
is now full of annoyances like, why is there no ground beef or why are they
playing loud music I can’t understand? Why won’t the checker just put my
groceries in the bag rather next to the bag…speaking of…where is the bag boy?
Why are they stocking the shelves during prime shopping time, shouldn’t this
happen at night?
How about those metro trains I loved so much…every time you
get to your stop, your thinking, why won’t the people just let me get off the
train before they start boarding? Why is it so crowded everyday? Why don’t they
crank up the air conditioning? Why does security always make me put my bag
through the x-ray machine when no one else does it?
As for traffic, if you’re like me you grew up being taught
that pedestrians have the right of way. Now you’re in China and it couldn’t be
more different. The pecking order goes – Bus – Car – Scooter – bicycle –
pedestrian…every time a car doesn’t stop for me I’m thinking they are
personally trying to run me over!
Phase 3: Acceptance and enjoyment
I have gotten more enjoyment out of this phase than even the
honeymoon phase. By accepting the culture and environment I now have allowed
the positive benefits to have an effect on me. Of course I still hope to have a
positive affect on my environment as well, but I am not dissapointed if I
cannot change the things that once frustrated me.
I know that the grocery store will be crowded and that some
older woman might run into me with her cart, that’s ok.
I know that the subway will be crowded…but hey, definitely
beats walking!
As for the traffic, gotta look both ways before crossing the
street…but you can’t take it personally if the taxi tries to run you over.
In this phase I’ve also really stepped up my efforts to
speak the language and eat the local food. It’s always easier to order
McDonalds delivery…but c’mon, I could do that in the States…well maybe not the
delivery part.
If you have gone through something similar or maybe you’re
going through it right now, I’d love to hear about it…leave a comment!
Brett Isis
Founder, Teaching Nomad.
