Its The Little Things...

I've recently celebrated my 1 week anniversary in China (celebrate = work late, go home alone and reheat frozen dimsum). There are obviously the major differences between China and the US, like language and culture. But, I've been keeping an eye out for those little differences as I find these just as, if not more, interesting.

Here is a list of 10 things that are different in China... in no particular order.

1. Elevators: Rather than pushing up or down before getting on an elevator and pushing the floor number when you enter, China has a different system. As you approach the bank of elevators, there is a keypad. You enter into the keypad the floor you want to go to, and then, a letter flashes on the screen. Each elevator is labeled with a letter and you proceed to respective elevator. When you enter the elevator that the key pad instructed you to go to, the elevator will stop on the floor you entered. There are no buttons in the actual elevator. So, there is no changing your mind. As well, no little kids pushing every button forcing you to stop on every floor.
2. DVDs: While you cannot watch most American TV shows on TV, most every American TV show is available on DVD. And, each DVD is $1 or less. So, for example, you can buy an entire season of Greys Anatomy or American Idol for $3 or $4. Dad - You can buy the entire series of Seinfeld for about $30 (I'm talking EVERY season!).
3. Cars: Nobody stops for you. You know (unless someone is a real jerk) in the US, people let you cross, especially if you've already started moving across a street. Well, in China, nobody stops. Nobody. Even if you are in the middle of a crosswalk in the middle of a street, and you have the right of way and someone wants to make a right on red. Watch out, because they will keep moving.
4. Bodily Noises: Besides being in the privacy of my home with my husband or brother, I'm used to people being private (or stealth) about bodily noises. In China, it doesn't seem to be rude to burp or fart in public. I'm talking at restaurants, in the workplace, everywhere. There are noises-a-flying! I try not to laugh. Or be grossed out.
5. Volume: People are loud. And its normal. At work. On the phone. Talking on the street. To me it seems like yelling, but to them, its normal talking. You'd think I'd fit in well, given my issues with volume control. But here, believe it or not, I'm quiet.
6. Meals: At all of the authentic Chinese restaurants I have been to so far, I have not been given a napkin. And, when you ask for one, you get a tissue (I'm talking like a piece of Kleenex -- not so absorbent when you are slurping noodles with chopsticks! Aside: My Tide-to-Go pen has been quite handy). And, there is no drink served with the meal. Once in a while, maybe tea, but no water, no soda, no juice. Nothing. Even when you ask, most places have a slim selection. I'm so thirsty!

A few points at work...
7. Time: At 8:59 AM, the office is empty. Quiet. At 9 AM, people file in. And same at the end of the day. 5:29 PM, busy busy busy, type type type, talk talk talk (loudly, see point 5). 5:30 PM. Everybody stands up, packs up, and leaves. Mind you, Matthew, Lena and I arrive way before 9 AM, and yes, way, way after 5:30....
8. Miniature: We received our office supplies earlier this week. Everything is small. Seriously. Like travel sized. I have a small stapler, a small tape dispenser, small notebooks, a small whole punch. I have the perfect desk... for Joshua and Eden! I feel like I'm playing "house," or "office" for that matter. Funny thing is, the paper is actually big. Its size A4. I hear that only the US uses 8 1/2" x 11".
9. Clean: There are women who clean the office all day, everyday. They are constantly wiping down counters, watering plants, cleaning the windows, and emptying the trash. I actually have to be careful what I throw away. The other day, I went back to my trashcan to pull something out that I had thrown away earlier and it was gone. Literally, like an hour later, gone.
And finally...
10. Nice: Not that this is necessarily a difference from the US, but something I have noticed. So far, everyone I have met has been SO nice. I met a few young women who work at GE in China. All of them so kind, and so willing to help me get settled in the city. They each gave me their phone numbers... The other day, I was walking with 2 of my colleagues around the office, trying to find a place for lunch. We spotted a young Chinese woman who we heard speaking English. When we asked her to point us in the right direction for a little lunch, she ended up walking us about 5-10 minutes out of her way to take us to a good lunch place that served vegetarian food (one of the women I was with, Riddhi from India, does not eat meat). And even today, I stopped into a Vietnamese restaurant to eat some lunch. The waitress didn't speak English and I only know how to say, "This pen is blue" in Chinese. The manager, whose English was perfect, came over and helped me order. She stayed at chatted with me for about 15 minutes while I waited for my food. She was so kind and so helpful. Its actually quite refreshing to meet so many people who are so willing to help and befriend someone new.