March: A normal month…is life in China now the norm?

It occurred to me the other day that I’ve not written a blog entry in over a month. It’s not necessarily that I haven’t had anything interesting happen this month or that I’ve been incredibly busy, it’s more due to how life in China now feels so….normal. It’s got to the point where I’ve been here so long that it’s now what I associate with my ‘ordinary daily life’, and days back in England are like another world to me now.

It’s also because although a lot has happened this month, there isn’t really anything that has prompted one of my 2000 word reflections…

When walking around one day in an area which I thought was familiar, I was surprised to discover this Church!

But nonetheless, it has been a great month and due to that I want it to keep on record, so when I read back in a few months I can reminisce how normal it felt, and how it will soon feel like a dream. So, I just thought I’d list a few of the things I’ve done this march.

Celebrating mine and Yinzi’s 1 year anniversary!

March 18^th marked mine and Yinzi’s 1 year together, which feels great! I’ve never kept a relationship running that long, so it’s great to know that I’m not seen as something to dispose of after a 6 month use by date.

To celebrate we went to pizza hut for the largest meal I’ve had since the Spring Festival! Then afterwards I pestered Yinzi to go with me to the huge toy store next door to play with Lego…I bought some Play-Doh.

As for the gift I gave Yinzi a rather large adventure chest (kind of like a vintage suitcase), containing a framed photo of us both along with a half-full photo album of her travels to England – the idea being that there will be plenty of adventures to come to fill the album when we meet again after I leave China!

Yinzi has not yet got me a present; she says she will get me something great when we go to Beijing next month!

Back up Baiyun Shan/Baiyun Mountain

At work earlier this month I became involved in my first ever ‘team building exercise’. I thought it would be incredibly forced and cheesy….and it was.

Nobody had informed me beforehand, so I just arrived to work for what I felt would be a normal day to be told ‘hey Adam, you’re gonna race up a mountain later!’.

After a typical motivational speech we were split into groups to race to the top of the mountain. Along the way we had to do a series of tasks, and I don’t mean to brag, but I totally led the team to success.

The first task was a jigsaw puzzle, which i’ve always been good at. As everyone crowded round they tried all sorts of methods to no avail. I finally got a space in the crowd and set about arranging the corners and fitting all the pieces – I basically did it all by myself.

The next task was an origami exercise where we had to follow instructions to make a flapping bird, which I already knew how to make off by heart. So instead I just taught everyone how to do it and we set off to the top – and came first! (Wow, I’ve never been so boastful about myself before…)

Unfortunately as it was a surprise visit I didn’t have my camera, so had to settle for a mediocre phone camera. Last time I went to the top of the mountain was December, when the mist was so dense that I couldn’t really see much. This time wasn’t much different, which leads me onto the next subject….

Pollution

It’s not really an activity, but this month I have seen some of the worst pollution in Guangzhou that I can recall. It hasn’t helped that I’ve had a nasty cold as it’s not done any good for my cough.

The above photos I had to screenshot from a video I took in secret as an officer on the bridge spotted me trying to take photos and he refused to let me…

This image is close to my apartment when me and Yinzi went for a wander in an unexplored direction.

Yinzi hates me mentioning the pollution, and while it’s easy to understand I can’t help but be fascinated. It’s something the people here are ashamed about, which too is understandable. But as shown in the past industrial development of Britain (the country which invented pollution) it’s an unavoidable side-effect of a country taking a huge stride in its progression to becoming a developed nation – I feel as an important turning point in the nation’s history is unfolding before my eyes. It’s grim, it makes everything look dusty and under-saturated, but it makes for a powerful image to encourage change – everyone I have spoken to here is now fully aware of the issue, which will be the driving force for an effective movement.

Sending Gifts to friends and family back in the UK

A photo from the top of the international market, where I bought most of the gifts!

As I’ve received some marvellous presents from folk back in the uk, I thought I would return the favour – on a bigger scale! I bought an array of gifts which filled an entire large suitcase to package and send abroad…

In order to achieve this, I and Yinzi had to travel to a place very far out in the city – taking a good 1.5 hours by taxi. I surprised the postman guy with my colourful collection of items, including: A large dragon/lion head mask, a Kim Jong Un mask, fish ornaments, chicken feet snacks and some more high priced goods for my parents.

Upon leaving the post office we realised the area was so remote that we had no means of getting a taxi back…

Eventually we spotted a guy with a motorbike who gave us both a lift, and I think I’m right in saying that 3 people and 1 large suitcase are not supposed to fit on one small bike… Eitherway the guy bombed it down the motorway while I held onto the bike with one hand, and suspended a large suitcase from dragging on the road surface in the other. A third arm would have done good as I also had a hat which very nearly came off…It was scary, and I was happy to be alive – even with my new vertically accentuated hairdo..

Everyone got their gifts, all was well!

Confusion over travel plans

At the beginning of April I will end my internship and begin my last sightseeing before I go back to the UK. The plan was made a while ago with my friend Kexiong: Meet him in Beijing, then to to Xi’an, and then meet Yinzi in Shanghai. But plans never work out….

Unfortunately I learnt that Kexiong couldn’t get work in Beijing and instead moved to Shanghai, and no longer had the money to travel…

So it seems that a lot had to be cut from my ‘to visit’ list, including: Xi’an, Nanjing, Jiuzhaigou and Guilin…Incredibly disappointing…

But I have to work with my situation, so a new plan has been made.

In 2 weeks I’ll go to Beijing with Yinzi for 3 nights, where I shall see the forbidden city, the Great wall and much more. Then later in the month I’ll stay with my friend in Shanghai, maybe for a week or more! Maybe more can be added to the plans, but at least I can still make it to the two major cities!

So plenty to look forward to, and much more to write about in the next month.

Zai’jian!

The Spring Festival - Chinese New Year! | Part 2: A Video Tour of my life in Guangzhou/ The Lantern Festival!

Hoyhoy!

I decided that I should try something else rather than writing and sharing photos, so i've made a 30 minute video documenting my everyday life!

I filmed on the day of the Lantern Festival (February 14th), so it also shows how I celebrated the end of the Spring Festival!

It's pretty long, but hopefully enjoyable.

Zai'jian!

The Spring Festival - Chinese New Year! | Part 1: Celebrating the New Year with Yinzi's Relatives!

I met Yinzi’s family for the first time this spring festival, spending a total of 5 days with them! Including 2 days leading up to the New Year. Everyone who knows me well will agree that I’m quite a shy and reserved person when it comes to meeting new folk, so needless to say I was a little bit nervous – ok that’s an understatement, I was terrified!

Meeting a girlfriend’s parents for the first time in the past has been hard enough for me – but with the addition of being from a different culture, not being able to speak my language AND being joined with about 20 other family members who I’d live with for a number of days. Also prior to coming to China Yinzi told me how her dad and grandparents had frequently expressed their disapproval with her dating a foreigner – understandably driven by fears that she would move country, leaving them behind with only a few visits now and then to look forward to.

However, as always, the build-up was much more agonising than the event itself - I had an absolutely amazing time with them.

Day 1 – 28^th January: Arriving at Yinzi’s hometown

We flew to Hangzhou on the morning to meet her cousins in the airport who would drive us to the destination – which was a 6 hour car journey away. I felt incredibly nervous while waiting for them, while Yinzi bounced with joy as she hadn’t seen them for over a year. They arrived and greeted me well, taking my things and led us to the car to meet more of the family. They were all so smiley! I couldn’t say much, other than ‘pleased to meet you’ in Chinese, and of course the illiterate foreigner’s favourite – ‘nihao!’ I was still on edge and insanely nervous, but having exchanged warm greetings the nerves began to lighten up a bit…until I remembered I would be meeting her parents soon….aaaaahhhhh!

Four of us crammed into the back of the car and I was pressed against the glass for the entire 6 hour journey. That was ok though as it directed my view out of the window to some fantastic views of the province. The landscape was nothing like I had seen in Guangzhou - it was vast and open, green vegetation was replaced with brown grasslands and dusty planes - almost like travelling through the Wild West, or a proper movie-style road trip!

Eventually we arrived at Yinzi’s hometown Hukou, just outside of the city Jiujiang in the Jiangxi province, where I was greeted by her parents. I can’t really remember the first encounter so well as I was blinded by such nervousness that it seemed to paralyse my memory – but I do remember getting the Chinese greetings correct, and them being somewhat impressed. We reached Yinzi’s house where they cooked me a meal and showed me to the bed I would stay in for the next 2 nights. I was scared most of all by meeting her dad as I thought if anyone was going to be unimpressed by my arrival in Yinzi’s life, it would be him. However he often laughed and smiled upon my arrival, and he generously presented me with this fantastic gift!

Later that evening Yinzi showed me around her neighbourhood, when I decided to surprise a barbers shop by paying them an unexpected visit. They were stunned as I walked in, the woman who owned the place never took her smiley glare off me the entire 20 minutes. It was incredibly awkward, but highly amusing – and only £2 for a dashing cut!

As I laid in bed that evening I went over the event in my head – giving it a good 8/10 – could have been improved if I’d opened my mouth a bit more and said more than ‘thank you’ (xiexie) all the time. But overall, I couldn’t fault myself too much.

Day 2 – 29^th January: Shopping in Jiujiang

In the morning we were driven by Yinzi’s dad to the city of jiujiang, where we met some family friends for a meal in a dashing restaurant!

It was a family tradition that they each buy a new item of clothing for the New Year, so I joined Yinzi, her mum and sister for a girly day out shopping. I know it seems bad to say this - but I don’t think Yinzi would mind me saying this so much as we’ve discussed this and she very much agrees with me - Jiujiang city is not very pleasant. I’d researched the place prior to my arrival, seeing some very stunning photos of lush green hills set against blue waters – but I saw nothing from the insanely thick smog. Nonetheless it was an enjoyable day as far as shopping goes! We went to a few malls shocking many shop owners, causing them to point and whisper amongst colleagues while in a fit of excited and bewildered giggles - I was most certainly the only foreigner who had set foot in the city for a very long time, and it showed...

Day 3 – 30^th January: Chinese New Year Eve!

The First night in the village and Meeting the other Relatives

The morning was spent going to local shops to purchase decorations for the house - With fireworks, firecrackers and food galore! Later we returned to the house where I helped Yinzi’s dad put up red banners on the doors and hang lanterns from trees.

Then we set out on the drive to her grandparents’ house in a very remote village, not really knowing what to expect. Being an over-populated country I expected a modern Chinese village to be similar to a UK town like ole Chezzy, as it turns out it was vastly different.

The car turned off the motorway down a single-lane, rocky road which ran through farming pastures, eventually entering an area of narrow shopping streets where I expected we would be stopping – but the car kept on going through the dusty meadows. By the time the car stopped we were miles from the nearest settlement.

Her grandparents’ house was huge, nearly a mansion! But upon entering the home I could tell I wouldn’t be living a life of luxury. The place was cosy, but far from any house I had ever stayed in before, and I began to wonder how I could cope! Especially once I saw the outdoor toilet, which was essentially a hole which formed a pile below – I didn’t take a photo….

Suddenly I was greeted by dozens of family members who flooded towards me with big smiles and hands to shake. They were incredibly welcoming and very friendly! Her uncles especially found interest in me, and I had a great laugh with them as they attempted to learn some English phrases! It turned out many of them including one of her cousins had begun learning especially for my arrival, which was so touching!

The sun set as we all gathered around the table for the traditional New Years Eve meal. Out of the hundreds of dishes displayed in front of me I couldn’t recognise a single one, which for a picky diner like me was rather concerning. But the food was delicious! Every 20 seconds however I had to stand as another family made a toast where they welcomed me into the family, and I even made a toast to yinzi’s grandparents (after practicing my lines extensively beforehand). Her granddad to my surprise replied with ‘thank you’, which he’d learnt just for me!

That night we relaxed outside, watched the fireworks and played some games with Yinzi and her younger cousins. It felt like a traditional Christmas get together where all the family would attend, a Christmas I haven’t ever really had – but that’s how I imagined it would be!

We stayed awake until midnight for the New Year ceremonial firework and firecracker display! Firecrackers are insanely loud, I was about 15 metres away but my ears were still stabbed with each crack! When I went to bed this cacophony continued, and astoundingly was still going when I woke up the next morning!

Day 4 – 31^st January: New Years Day!

In the morning many of the relatives gathered to visit the family shrine commemorating deceased family members. This was something only relatives with the family surname could attend, so many of the wives stayed at home. I was incredibly privileged to be invited to attend, as this was certainly something not many foreigners could witness first-hand.

We were taken on a walk through the fields where we stopped at a number of locations in which a small shrine stood. Here incense was lit, firecrackers and fireworks were set off and along with the family members I put my hands together and bowed before the shrines. It was so fascinating to take place and witness such a traditional practice being played out before me in such a traditional setting – I felt honoured, and above all accepted into the family.

The rest of the day was free for all, where I joined Yinzi and her cousins on a walk through the agricultural lands to a lake they would visit as kids. It was a barren place, yet extremely beautiful and serene.

As the sun set we went to the nearby village centre to purchase some goods, where I encountered the more bewildered stares thus far. I felt extremely uncomfortable walking down the dusty rural paths passing families chilling outside the street shops. These village-folk for definite had never seen a foreigner before – unquestionably - I actually managed to make entire groups of people turn their heads as I walked past, prompting the cousins to huddle around me in case of any unpleasant confrontations. However no such thing happened, I think the village folk were too stunned by my presence to even dare to come close to me…

For my last night we played more games and I spoke with the grandparents and other family members (with Yinzi’s translation of course). I took some groovy night time photos using a starry sky setting on my camera, which look pretty funky!

Day 5 – 1^st February: A difficult parting from the Village

I felt deep sadness to be leaving the next morning, especially as many in the family expressed how they wanted me to stay longer so badly! Unfortunately I had no choice in the matter, but I couldn’t leave without a big goodbye and a family portrait! It seems to be an older generation thing here to not smile for photos though…

Once more I shook hands with the grandparents and thanked them for such a fantastic stay, to which her granddad replied again with the words ‘thank you’!

The sadness of driving away from that home was crippling, it had treated me so well and yet my stay was so brief – but it was never to be forgotten. Before leaving for the airport we drove to a few more relatives houses, had multiple large meals (honestly, if you think we eat a lot at Christmas you have another thing coming) and held a baby! I’d never held a baby before but he seemed rather content with it, playing with the zip and dangly things on my coat - what an adorable lil guy he was!

But the moment I dreaded had come, I had to leave. Since coming to China I’m becoming increasingly aware and concerned that I may not be the most butch man on earth – I was beginning to tear up as I expressed my deepest appreciation to her parents. I set off for Nanchang where I caught my plane back to Guangzhou.

I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for their kindness and how readily accepting they were of me. Every one of them was so gentle hearted, so ecstatic and enthused to see me – and it felt great! It was also brilliant to be surrounded by people again – well, China isn’t exactly short on people to be around, but this time it was people actively engaging with me again; which outside of work and the occasional chit-chat with a people on the street or in starbucks now and again is rare here.

Also, it was fantastic to experience the rural side of China as before I came to China I hope to see the glamour of the modern cities and historic monuments contrasted with the developing areas. It’s something I don’t think many foreigners and tourists are able to witness, and for that I feel extremely privileged.

Returning to Guangzhou alone (Yinzi will spend another week with them before returning) after 5 days bathing in the warming glow of her relatives in the tranquil rural setting, I realised how much I missed being amongst familiar faces - just engaging in a multitude of activities with other people and generally having a laugh. The past 5 days really struck a chord.

With this in mind, I think this was the best time I’ve had in China so far – and it may remain that way for the rest of my time here.