I've been living here in China for about 7 months, and I can say it hasn't been easy at times. There are so many differences between life here and what I'm used to. One benefit from this experience is that it's changed my view on immigrants to Australia or Germany, where I've lived. I used to think they should try harder to blend into society, to speak the language, learn the culture and generally behave more like a 'local'.
When I left my native Australia for Germany I tried to assimilate into the culture. I began to learn the language. I didn't seek out other Australians, I enjoyed the local food, drinks, customs. Sure I still celebrated Australia Day, but I felt like my view of immigrants was justified. They could try to assimilate and blend in. If you want to be there, then learn the local ways.
Then I came to China to work as an English teacher. Things here are just so different to any western ways I've experienced in Australia, Germany or any other country I've been to. I can't even begin to blend in to the local population, and I've foudn that I don't want to. I don't put this down to a belief that my culture is superior, and that I won't take on this 'inferior' culture. I don't have this belief. Modern Chinese culture is as valid as any other, I just don't want to be a part of it. Blending into German culture was reletively easy, because I could adapt my customs to fit theirs, but here in China it would mean throwing away my customs to take on theirs.
I can fully understand now how a Chinaman could feel immigrating to Australia, or any person going to live in a strange and unfamiliar country. You don't want to throw away the way you've learnt to live, or the customs of your home. You want people to speak your language with, who understand you and have a common background to you. You can complain together about what surrounds you, and compare it always with the things you are used to. I know from experience that this can be really helpful in a strange country. It's perfectly natural to not like some of the things about the new country you're in, while still appreciating it enough to stay there and get along with the people.
There have been countless nights over the last 7 months, at home or in a bar, drinking a beer we wish was cold and reminiscing about what we left behind. We know we won't be staying here for ever, and I guess that makes it easier to not assimilate. But the basic fact is, from my point of view and my wifes, China may have once had a long and interesting culture, but they throw it out the window in the last hundred years and it's basically all gone. What they have at the moment is certainly not the 'ancient culture' people talk about, and for us it's just not how we want to behave.
Next time I meet a Chinese deli-owner in Perth who can only speak a few words of English, or see the Chinese community in another country celebrating their Luna New Year, I'll certainly feel a lot more sympathetic about their situation. I hope I won't ever again feel like they shouldn't be there, or that they should make more of an attemp to 'blend in', 'be one of us' or 'stop creating their own foreign community within mine'. It's not easy coming to a different place.
Later I need to try and list the differences between Australian culture and Chinese culture. I think it might be too many to list at the moment.
Next time I meet a Chinese deli-owner in Perth who can only speak a few words of English, or see the Chinese community in another country celebrating their Luna New Year, I'll certainly feel a lot more sympathetic about their situation. I hope I won't ever again feel like they shouldn't be there, or that they should make more of an attemp to 'blend in', 'be one of us' or 'stop creating their own foreign community within mine'. It's not easy coming to a different place.
Later I need to try and list the differences between Australian culture and Chinese culture. I think it might be too many to list at the moment.