Studying in a foreign country is so much fun -- and very challenging. Yes, you got that. While most Chinese students would choose to study in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, I picked to go to West Liberty University. Well, there was a misreading on the name, I really thought West Liberty was a west side campus of Liberty University. When I got here, I realized I was wrong. West Liberty University has nothing to do with Liberty University.
Since I already got here, there is no point to go all the way back and decline the offer of being an international student. Being an international student is not easy with the language barrier and homesick feelings, but these are just the small things when compare with culture shocks.
I was aware of some of the culture shocks, but not all of them, so here are my top 10 picks based on my experience:
1. "How are you" doesn't always expect an answer.
I was taught in middle school, even elementary school, that, "How are you?" "I'm fine. Thank you," is a very basic conversation. Well yeah, but not so right. After staying at West Liberty for a while, I found out that most times when other students say, "How are you," they're are not really expecting an answer. It's just a polite way to say hi or hello when you pass by someone. But my English teachers never mentioned this.
2. You can go nowhere without a car.
This can't be truer. The part of China I grew up from is so advanced in public transportation and everything is so close. You can really go to any place just by bus or taxi (it doesn't even require a reservation, just the wave of a hand). Most places can be reached within a 20-minute walk or by bike. Even between provinces, we have high-speed trains. I was so shocked when entering a developed country but couldn't find a convenient way to get around. Every trip started with looking for rides. Without begging for a ride, I could go nowhere.
3. The portions of food tend to be bigger than they are advertised.
The first time I went to Eat'n Park, I ordered two dishes and ended up not finishing either; I had to take them home. While in China, most likely you order different dishes and make it together into a meal. In America, they tend to serve in huge portions.
4. Sharing food is not so common here.
I grew up with the tradition of sharing dishes whenever there is a group meal, while each will have their own bowl of rice. Well, that's not so right in America. You have to order your own food, unless it's between family members or close friends. There is less chance that others will share food with you, while in China, most times, one person in the group will pay the whole then calculate the average and everyone will reimburse the person. But that rule doesn't seem to work in America where everyone was expected to pay his or her own food even when a group eats together.
5. Tips...
While in China giving tips is not a common deal, but in America if someone is serving you are expected to give them certain amount of tip. I'm still having a hard time trying to figure out in which situation a tip is expected and how much would be appropriate.
6. Taxes...
While in China, what you see in a price tag is usually the amount you pay, but that's not so right in America. For certain groceries, there is a charge that adds on named "tax." There have been several times I thought I had enough money to buy certain goods. It was until the check-out point that I realize I couldn't afford it because tax is not included on the price label!
7. Pets...
Americans are crazy about pets, seriously: there are pet stores, pet food, and even pet toys. It's not hard to see families that have dogs or pets. Some may have other not-so-common pets. In China, people do keep pets occasionally, but birds are more common than cats or dogs. We don't have much space for cats and dogs to walk around, and it's kinda disturbing to neighbors when dogs bark.
8. Holidays...
Americans are crazy about holidays. I promise, there is no exaggeration when I say this. There are holiday goodies in markets almost all year round, and one holiday after another. But in China, most holiday goodies tend not to be on shelves until two or three weeks before the actual holiday. But this is changing now because business owners want to make profit during the holidays.
