So you are thinking about moving to China. Your hopes are up, your luggage is almost ready and you know how to say hello in Chinese. Good.
Now, what you need to know before getting on the plane, these things I wish someone had told me before setting foot in China.
1. Assuming you’re going someplace else than Shanghai and Hong Kong, learn Chinese. Take lessons before you go, and make sure you’re able to ask for simple directions and learn survival sentences because no one speaks English. Not even at Beijing airport. Not only don’t they speak English, but people will avoid you if you seem lost and can’t speak Chinese. Not that they don’t want to help you, but be aware that language is a barrier.
2. Take any medicine you usually take , including things for digestion. Until you learn its Chinese name and/or equivalent.
3. If you’re a woman, take everything related to… being a woman. Wax, tampons, make up, etc. are very difficult to find and fairly expensive. Bringing your own things will save you time, tiresome searches through the city and the quality of your products will certainly be better than those offered in China.
4. Prepare to be patient because you’re in for a lot more than just another place. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, China is… different. Very different. Take a look at this post to help you deal with cultural shock. In any case, don’t let yourself be rude by reacting to things you don’t approve of. Remember, you are the one in China and it is you who must accept and adapt to their culture.
5. Forget everything you’ve seen on TV because none of it is true. It’s as simple as that. Everything people told you about food, about Chinese traditional medicine, about feng shui or landscapes will be a distorted vision of what things really are. Bear in mind what China is: a giant country developing so fast you can’t afford to have habits or routines. A country where traditions and modernity flirt, mix and drive apart…
6. Use chopsticks! It’s not something you only see on the movies, in the “real” China, the policy is chopsticks only! Restaurants usually don’t have forks or knives (we are still excluding Shanghai and Hong Kong) so be aware that you’ll eat noodles, noodle soup and vegetables with slippery chopsticks. I personally loved using them, even though at first it would take me a good hour to finish my bowl of noodle soup.
7. Always take tissues or napkins with you. You’ll never find toilet paper in public toilets, or even in restaurants. Small tissues are very useful to clean your spot on the table before you start eating, or to clean your seat or for whatever other use you can think of.
8. The dress-code is different. Although it is fairly relaxed at work or in other situations, bear in mind that: For women, covering your shoulders and avoiding wearing cleavage will save you trouble and insisting looks. People won’t mind if you wear a short skirt or dress as long as your chest is covered. Men are allowed pretty much anything but I’ve never seen them wearing shorts. In any case, the dress-code is very flexible and there usually is no need to dress in a formal way unless you are going to represent your company in a formal meeting or conference.
9. Don’t be scared of this because people mean no harm whatsoever. Most of them have never met a foreigner and are wondering whether you can speak Chinese. If you can, don’t hesitate to engage the conversation, or smile away, you’ll see how wonderful people are!
10. Check out the average rate of pollution before you move, because it won’t be like anything you’ve seen before. Read other blogs, look for pictures of the sky and decide whether you can take not seeing the sunshine for a year.
11. Learn the language, learn how to use chopsticks, find a reasonably paid job and choose a place where tourists don’t go! It won’t be easy to fit in a place that hasn’t been adapted to western culture but you will learn a great deal about you, about China and its people and above all, you won’t be the same when you come back. Open up to the world and enjoy our differences!
