Hello Steemians!
For the past few months I have been living in China with my girlfriend and I thought I would share some of the experiences and culture changes that I have been dealing with. I am a Canadian and have spent the majority of my life living there and while I have traveled the world quite a lot, it is quite different to actually live in another country. I will use these posts to talk about my struggles and some of the major cultural differences I have experienced here and show some pictures that I have taken of daily life for most people in Zhuhai, China.
There are many places in Asia that foreigners can live quite easily without learning the local language but China is not one of them, much like Korea and Japan, the economy is not dependent on tourism and as such most of the locals have very little need for a second language. I can speak enough Mandarin to get by in stores and restaurants but I am essentially illiterate and that causes me a lot of problems when it comes to menus and storefront signs because I have no idea what these places offer.
I am more focused on communicating than I am on reading and writing but that leaves me at a bit of a disadvantage when I am out alone and trying to figure out where to go and what to buy. That being said, the local people are always very helpful when they see I am confused but I lack the skill to articulate myself well and I always end up feeling foolish when I try to explain my thoughts. It is quite a humbling feeling when I have for so long considered myself to be a skilled traveler and I cannot even ask where something is in a grocery store. But I am persevering and learning more every day and hope to be more comfortable and confident in my daily routines while living in the country.
So far I really enjoy living in China, there are a few things that I struggle with but I enjoy the culture and most of all I love the food! I will make more posts like this with more shots of around the city and in some of my favorite restaurants. Thanks for reading!