Culture shock, shock, SHOCK!
These two are the greatest culture shock for me todate...I brace myself for more to come in the days to come.
Culture shock I
Yesterday, brought the kids to IKEA. Wanted to look for a patio umbrella, thought that it be would nice to have our meals outdoor once a while. I am sure, all of us have been to IKEA, at least,once a while. IKEA always display their furnitures at the entrance, sofa set, shelves, cupboards etc...Likewise, for Shanghai IKEA but... I was so shocked to find shoppers or non-shoppers, snoozing, eating, feeding toddlers on the living room display set. It was like they were at their own home. Security guards and staff did nothing to stop them. They just left them to do as they wish. I was utterly shocked and so were Kai and Ann. Came home and related the incident to dh, he said, maybe that's their selling tactic, to show that their products are friendly and long-lasting.Hmm...dh has a very good point.
Culture shock II
Today, the kids and I decided to have KFC for lunch. Back home, we Q up to buy our food and we stay at least one foot away from the person in front of us but here, the people Q up...literally breathing down your neck from behind. My mistake was to go during lunch time. I vowed, never to step into a fast-food restaurant during lunch time.
When you cannot change them, you change yourself and your habits.
Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south, blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out ! The Song of Solomon 4:16.
Trials and adversities often emit the richest qualities, lessons in Life.
Shanghai, Shanghai
We are now into our second week in Shanghai out of our three years' stay. Yes, it is just the beginning. Before the routine sets in, I have been trying to learn as much as I can. The location of various places, the way of life for the locals, their cultures, their not so perfect English, also known as 'Chinlish' and the list goes on.
I have never considered myself a gentle lady. In fact, I have always spotted short hairstyle until I was in my 20s. I play hard, I work hard, I am adventurous and I often vocalise my thoughts and feelings. But here, I am considered one of the meek-est. You see, the locals here speak with a loud voice, "excuse me" is unheard of. It is pushing and shoving your way through, even little children do that. So, when the locals here see me, a Chinese lady who speaks and not shouts, they often give me a second look. I have learned that shouting and yelling do not necessarily mean that there is a fight going on. I have also learned that being pushed by the locals does not mean that they are rude, it's their culture. So, you see, when you cannot change your circumstances and your environment, you have to change yourself to fit in. So, I avoid going to crowded places, I avoid going to small and cramped up places where there is hardly space to walk even if the place is empty.
I have also reminded my kids to always visit the toilet and get their business done before heading out....cos' I have learned that it is no big deal that toilets do not come with toilet papers or soap. That is why, tissues (dry and wet) and hand sanitizer are items that must be kept in my bag.
Going to church isn't about going into a familiar building, meeting familiar faces, singing familiar songs...
I have also discovered that there many families on the move. They are as nomadic as us. I had the opportunity to talk to a man with two lovely girls from San Francisco. They are here for his wife's one year job posting and they will stay in the service apartment for one full year. He looks after their two girls while his wife goes to work. The extraordinary.
Yes, life gets really challenging when you are out of the comfort zone and your surrounding is all new and getting home means flying for five hours...but when you choose the road that leads to the unknown, whether you come out a better person or the same person, the decision is really yours.
Welcome to Shanghai - Times Square
Streets of Shanghai, you have to be a dare devil to cross their roads. Packed buses, we still complain about buses being late,
air-con breaking down....be thankful, be thankful
USA, still with us
Would you think this is Shanghai?
Bookshop in Shanghai...sorry, all Chinese books
Shanghai night scene
The church
The children's church
We are now into our second week in Shanghai out of our three years' stay. Yes, it is just the beginning. Before the routine sets in, I have been trying to learn as much as I can. The location of various places, the way of life for the locals, their cultures, their not so perfect English, also known as 'Chinlish' and the list goes on.
I have never considered myself a gentle lady. In fact, I have always spotted short hairstyle until I was in my 20s. I play hard, I work hard, I am adventurous and I often vocalise my thoughts and feelings. But here, I am considered one of the meek-est. You see, the locals here speak with a loud voice, "excuse me" is unheard of. It is pushing and shoving your way through, even little children do that. So, when the locals here see me, a Chinese lady who speaks and not shouts, they often give me a second look. I have learned that shouting and yelling do not necessarily mean that there is a fight going on. I have also learned that being pushed by the locals does not mean that they are rude, it's their culture. So, you see, when you cannot change your circumstances and your environment, you have to change yourself to fit in. So, I avoid going to crowded places, I avoid going to small and cramped up places where there is hardly space to walk even if the place is empty.
I have also reminded my kids to always visit the toilet and get their business done before heading out....cos' I have learned that it is no big deal that toilets do not come with toilet papers or soap. That is why, tissues (dry and wet) and hand sanitizer are items that must be kept in my bag.
Going to church isn't about going into a familiar building, meeting familiar faces, singing familiar songs...
I have also discovered that there many families on the move. They are as nomadic as us. I had the opportunity to talk to a man with two lovely girls from San Francisco. They are here for his wife's one year job posting and they will stay in the service apartment for one full year. He looks after their two girls while his wife goes to work. The extraordinary.
Yes, life gets really challenging when you are out of the comfort zone and your surrounding is all new and getting home means flying for five hours...but when you choose the road that leads to the unknown, whether you come out a better person or the same person, the decision is really yours.
Welcome to Shanghai - Times Square
Streets of Shanghai, you have to be a dare devil to cross their roads. Packed buses, we still complain about buses being late,
air-con breaking down....be thankful, be thankful
USA, still with us
Would you think this is Shanghai?
Bookshop in Shanghai...sorry, all Chinese books
Shanghai night scene
The church
The children's church
"Mummy, I will be working my butt out!"
Kai made this comment.
You see, once school starts in two weeks time, Kai will move to P4. Yes, he kinda of jump grade. If in Singapore, he would still be in P3. That means, while it is still summer vacation here, I have been giving him his P3 work so that he could catch up on his P4 work when school starts. Back home, he had a 'crash' course. I had a really good lady who was waiting to go into the medicine faculty in NUS (National University of Singapore) to come in and coach Kai on his P3 second semesters' work. She really did a great job. But of course, I must give credit to Kai for being a fast learner which the tutor also commented.
Just in case you think the kids are having holidays (actually one of Kai's classmate emailed him with this, "enjoy your holidays in Shanghai."), they are actually having homeschooling with yours truly.
The kids were asking for a 'spare me' day. I guess I must constantly remind myself that living a nomad life, education for the kids must not be restricted to just going to school, doing school work...it should also encompass other aspects of learning. Ok, mummy's heart has softened. I brought them to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.
Here we go...
Do not disturb, learning in progress. Here, they are discouraging people from eating shark fins. It was an interesting read and Kai thoroughly enjoyed himself.
The Indiana Jones...(Since coming back from Japan, Ann is into showing her peace sign)
The kids find this creature the most interesting...it's our first time looking at one. It is not a sword fish but a saw fish!
Into the deep blue sea
Presenting the sea creatures which we saw....
Finding Nemo
Straight into the shark's mouth...don't play, play...it is the real thing!
Having fun with other 'animals'.
With the penguins and...what are my kids doing in a fish tank?
This is my personal favourite...
Can you spot the crocodile? In case you think this is fake, this is actually real. The kids and I were really amazed by the ducks, fishes, turtles and the crocodiles all living peacefully in the same pond. Really, they are a great example for us...inspite of the differences and not forgetting some are predators, they all can live together without hurting each other.
Kai made this comment.
You see, once school starts in two weeks time, Kai will move to P4. Yes, he kinda of jump grade. If in Singapore, he would still be in P3. That means, while it is still summer vacation here, I have been giving him his P3 work so that he could catch up on his P4 work when school starts. Back home, he had a 'crash' course. I had a really good lady who was waiting to go into the medicine faculty in NUS (National University of Singapore) to come in and coach Kai on his P3 second semesters' work. She really did a great job. But of course, I must give credit to Kai for being a fast learner which the tutor also commented.
Just in case you think the kids are having holidays (actually one of Kai's classmate emailed him with this, "enjoy your holidays in Shanghai."), they are actually having homeschooling with yours truly.
The kids were asking for a 'spare me' day. I guess I must constantly remind myself that living a nomad life, education for the kids must not be restricted to just going to school, doing school work...it should also encompass other aspects of learning. Ok, mummy's heart has softened. I brought them to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.
Here we go...
Do not disturb, learning in progress. Here, they are discouraging people from eating shark fins. It was an interesting read and Kai thoroughly enjoyed himself.
The Indiana Jones...(Since coming back from Japan, Ann is into showing her peace sign)
The kids find this creature the most interesting...it's our first time looking at one. It is not a sword fish but a saw fish!
Into the deep blue sea
Presenting the sea creatures which we saw....
Finding Nemo
Straight into the shark's mouth...don't play, play...it is the real thing!
Having fun with other 'animals'.
With the penguins and...what are my kids doing in a fish tank?
This is my personal favourite...
Can you spot the crocodile? In case you think this is fake, this is actually real. The kids and I were really amazed by the ducks, fishes, turtles and the crocodiles all living peacefully in the same pond. Really, they are a great example for us...inspite of the differences and not forgetting some are predators, they all can live together without hurting each other.
Hot? You got to be kidding
Before we left for Shanghai, everyone was telling us that it is very hot now that it's summer. I have packed all summer clothes and one hootie only. I have been tricked! Looks like we have brought in the cold weather. It has been raining since we arrived and last Thursday, there was a flash flood. Staying in the service apartment reminded me of life in Macungie...yes, you said it, it is cold!
Before we left for Shanghai, everyone was telling us that it is very hot now that it's summer. I have packed all summer clothes and one hootie only. I have been tricked! Looks like we have brought in the cold weather. It has been raining since we arrived and last Thursday, there was a flash flood. Staying in the service apartment reminded me of life in Macungie...yes, you said it, it is cold!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)