Sunday, February 23, 2014

Lantern Festival & City God Temple

Last week was the Lantern Festival.  The Lantern Festival is on the fifteenth day after the start of the lunar new year.  It represents the beginning of Spring and longer days to come.  People can go out in the evenings with only lanterns to light their way.  Also, lighting a lantern signifies a new start for a new year.  Red lanterns mean good fortune and prosperity.
     I was walking in the Nanching Road area by City God Temple, a very popular area for locals and tourists.  This area is full of historic buildings as well as shops, restaurants and street vendors.  The inner square is decorated with Chinese folk characters as well as elaborate lanterns.







But everywhere you go, there are signs of modern Shanghai...


Starbucks is crowded
Starbucks sign in Mandarin



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Changing and Learning in Shanghai

Accept you shall

     I was never a big traveler before coming to China (understatement).  It's not that I don't like to be in new places, it's that I hated the logistics of travel.  Tickets, visas, passports, airports, cabs, etc.  The actual going from one place to another really stresses me out.  But friends would roll their eyes at me, and say that I had never been "anywhere".  Now, I feel that I get what they were saying, but they were off the mark.  It's not the traveling to new country that changes a person's outlook, it's the actual living in a wholly different society.
     The first year living in a foreign environment is so challenging.  The daily struggles to learn the "where"and "how"of life became overwhelming at times for me.  Going to the market could cause my head to spin.  I had to keep reminding myself that everything is harder in China, and everything takes longer.  Of course my frustration was always based on how easy and how long things "should"take, not on how things really are here.  This is a very Western way of thinking.
     As an American, I was trying to "figure out" why things were the way they were.  I wanted things to be better than they were.  I wanted the repairman to come when he was scheduled.  I wanted the food at a restaurant to be the same every time.  I wanted stores to carry the same items one week to the next.  I wanted reliability & consistency.  I wanted it to be America.
      I don't know when it happened, but I have become less annoyed with China for not being America. I'm like the girl who finally stops punishing the new boyfriend for not "getting her" like the old boyfriend did.  I have accepted things that had once bothered me, and now see living here as less of a burden than an opportunity.  I see situations less as "why is this happening?" than "how can I deal with this?" This has been a really slow process for me, a change for the better.

Lessons of Culture, and some generalizations

     I discussed with my Mandarin class what the Chinese believe is the difference between Chinese and American people.  My teacher, Hope Laoshi, agreed that most Chinese feel that Americans are "always in a hurry" and are quick to show dissatisfaction.  But also that they are friendlier and unafraid to take chances.  I know these are generalizations, but I understand that culturally this is an image that we Americans project.  (I was in a taxi once, and when I told the driver that I was "Meiguoren" or American, he responded "shi de, qu GO, GO, GO".  Another taxi driver could only smile and say "Obama" and "Nixon" to us.)
     We observed that Chinese women are much, much more modest than Western women.  Even in the hottest days of summer, women walking outside are never sleeveless.  They will still have their shoulders covered.  Only American and European women and girls are out with shorts and tank tops.  for Chinese women it is ok to dress "cute", but never to dress "sexy".

The importance in China of "saving face" shouldn't be underestimated.  The risk of this makes many Chinese men unwilling to step out of the crowd.  Even the suggestion that someone needs correction or help can cause so much shame a further relationship may be impossible.  The women on the other hand are much more adaptable.  They don't concern themselves so much with "saving face", but are about working hard and getting ahead.  I believe Chinese women are the real future of China.

I am so grateful to have had Hope Laoshi as my Mandarin teacher.  She was a great resource my first year here, and helped in so many ways.  She was always willing to answer any questions about living in China.  She was not only my teacher, but became my friend.  My Mandarin classmates and I are so sorry to see her go.  Hope is a young, modern Chinese woman, and she is moving to Hunnan.  She is educated and making her own way as so many women here are.  We really admire her.



Sunday, February 9, 2014

Happy Year of the Horse!

We celebrated Chinese New Year with friends and neighbors, it was perfect.  We had dumplings and roast pork with our friends the Josts, and they even provided fireworks!  In China, fireworks are sold in boxes that look like a case of wine.  There is one fuse to set off the entire box - and it's crazy impressive.  The fact that we could watch our own display in the driveway is great.  China does not mess around.

fireworks 
fireworks

shoots flaming balls
must haves

People in China spend the week off visiting their family, eating traditional food and celebrating with friends.  It is customary to bring food when visiting, often sweets.  Street fairs pop-up right before Chinese New Year and vendors sell anything you might want to bring home.

dried meats
glazed fruits
Since this is the biggest holiday of the year, there are lots of products promotions.  Disney characters on display at Super Brand Mall were a big hit.  Kids waiting in line to take pictures with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy.  Getting the Chinese public ready for everything Disney!


Not sure why, but Crocs are really big here.  Crocs stores are in all the nice malls here.  These are for Chinese New Year.


The girls's school does a yearly show, and it's coordinated by the Mandarin teachers and the music department.  The students all sing in Mandarin and there are traditional Dragon Dancers.  I am always impressed by the theater at the upper school campus.  The lobby of the theater has the student art gallery for the middle and high school.



 Our family stayed in Shanghai during the week off.  Chris went into work a few days, and the girls and I took a much needed break.  We hung out and they both had friends visit and sleep over.  Very low-key.  I think it was really just what we needed.
     Today was the first day back to school, and the normal routine.  Emily's schedule is busy - she is starting rehearsals again for the school musical.  Katie has a healthy cooking class that begins this week after school.  I am returning to my Mandarin classes next week.
     The weather has been very, very cold and windy.  We had our first snow of the season yesterday.  Not enough to coat the grass, but pretty just the same.  The air quality has been very good lately as well.  Everyone is happy and healthy, but we really would love some warm sunny weather!