You’ve lived in China for a few years and you think you haven’t changed.
Here are a few habits you’ve subconsciously picked up by living here!
1. Drinking Hot Water
Most western countries drink room temperature water or even ice cold water, so foreigners moving to China are quite shocked when ordering water to receive a scolding hot cup.
If you have a bad cold, your Chinese friends will definitely suggest you drink some hot water. They may even scold you for drinking cold water. Hahaha.
It warms you up instantly in those below 0 temperatures in the winter!
Now, you may get used to hot water and even ask for it at restaurants! When you return home, you might even complain the water is too cold!
(When Chinese people say hot water, they mean warm water
)
2. Your chopstick skills have improved greatly
Maybe at first, you were dropping food all over the table.
Now, look at you! You’re able to eat with chopsticks with your eyes closed.
3. You believe in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese herbal medicines heal many things from minor stomach issues to sore throats.
If you’ve been here a year or more, you’re likely drinking bǎnlángēn tea (herbal tea) whenever you feel like you are starting to get sick.
You’ve definitely tried acupuncture and Chinese cupping “massage” (you won’t call it a massage after you’ve tried it once!).
4. You prefer a squat toilet
Trust me, if a public toilet is going to be dirty, you’re going to want it to be a squat toilet.
It’s much easier to squat over a squatty potty than a Western toilet!
You don’t even need to wipe the seat before using it, it’s much more convenient!
5. You can shove people on the metro
Remember when you moved to China and thought “wow!”.
Now, here you are pushing and shoving your way with the rest of us!
Bumping into someone is normal on the subway!
Haha, sometimes a little push from behind can be very helpful even!
6. WeChat/ Alipay is Life
Now that you’ve finally got the hang of all things WeChat, you text, send voice notes, videos, pay bills, order taxi’s, mobikes and etc.
You think to yourself, “how did I live before without WeChat?!?”
7. You Defend Against Line Jumpers
Some people may think, “oh there’s a foreigner, can I jump in front of them”?
Before you let it slide or didn’t even notice what was happening. Now you can easily recognize before it happens and slowly shift your body weight or even stick out your leg to prevent it from happening. Letting them know, nope, not today!
8. You are good at bargaining
At first, maybe the language barrier and exchange rate was confusing and hard for you to negotiate. You bought overpriced goods in the markets from clothes to fruits and meat. You’re a pro now, and bargaining a way with the rest of them.