Great Expectations
I LOVE China. Once you get past the filth, fog, and squatter toilets, you'll love it, too. But what I like most about China isn't the exotic foods or the dirt cheap prices. Rather, I appreciate the opportunity to start fresh in such a different environment. Even though I have only been in Beijing for a month, a few of my "American" ways are already a thing of the past. For example, personal bubbles are nonexistent in China. Be prepared to be jostled about if you are in someone's way, or else have your arm grabbed by a saleslady desperate to make a deal. Also, anyone who has a problem with sharing food and mucus with other people should brace themselves for the communal meal experience.
I came to China with ideas of how this would affect my personal and academic development, but I never really expected how real they would be. For the most part, however, I am pleased with the changes my present living conditions have forced me to make. Having to come alone to China almost felt like starting college all over again. Not only did I have to make an entirely new set of friends, but I also had to overcome a language barrier. It really is convenient that some students of the rest of the world have decided that learning English is a good idea. Moving on, I found myself a lot more outgoing than I ever was before, and I was also able to pick up a bit of conversational Chinese really quick. I even found myself more willing to try foods that I would never have imagined eating in the US. Gou rou (pictured above) is a pretty decent novelty street food once you get past the "man's best friend" part.
From an academic stand point, I find myself trying harder for the three classes I have here than I ever did for my twenty-six-credit-hours-per-semester back at home. The classes are entirely in Chinese, although an English word may be strewn in here or there. I am still surprised at my ability to understand the professors. However, speaking and comprehending Chinese are relatively easy compared to having to learn an overwhelming amount of obscure-looking characters. Studying in China has caused me to gain a new respect for the English alphabet. I hope that by the end of my study abroad experience, I can speak Chinese well enough to order from a menu without relying strictly on the pictures. And becoming more fluent in Chinese would be nice, too.
By the way, if you ever find yourself in China, I highly recommend the scorpion on a stick.