3 August 2007

Today marks the end of my seventh week here; it’s a bit strange to realize that I’ve only got two weeks of HBA left! Alice Walker writes that time moves slowly but passes quickly—and never has that seemed as true to me as it does here. It’s nice to realize how much I’ve 习惯 –ed (gotten used to) China, but I also feel like there’s so much that I still haven’t seen! I’m going to try to really take advantage of my next three weeks here, see the sights, 等等 (etc.).

Meanwhile, two representative China moments:

In a grocery store…

Me: 可以吃吧？ “Can you eat it?”

(I point to what looks something like a piece of candy.)

Saleswoman: 现代开就吃。 “First unwrap, then eat.”

(Ask a stupid question…)

When you know you’ve been in China for awhile…

Classmate A: 这个米饭没有味道。 “This rice has no flavor!”

Classmate B: 对，喝别的饭馆儿比起来不好。 “Yeah, it’s really not as good as the rice at the other restaurant.”

Following another train of thought, I think I’ve found the Chinese phrase that best describes America: 都可以。This roughly translates as “You can do all” or “All are possible”—though neither of these phases captures 都可以’s concise yet casual tone—and when talking about 美国 I find myself saying it a lot. Our teachers will ask, for example, do people drive cars or ride bicycles to work? 都可以。Do they believe in God or are they atheists? 都可以。Do they support Gong He Dang (the Republican Party) or Ren Min Dang (the Democratic Party)… you get the picture. This strikes a clear contrast with life here, where there’s if not a way that culture and tradition demands (and these rules seem the most rigid), then at least a way that the government “recommends for your benefit.” All I know is, I’m glad that I live in a country where 都可以。

Today I'm headed to the Temple of Heaven. I'll blog about that later!