China. No big deal.

The first two and a half weeks in China have been a little bit of everything. Trying to describe it, to capture the true experience, is impossible--like describing a 70% cacao Ghirardelli bar (which is amazing, isn't it?) to a person suffering from Ageusia. I'll give you a second to look that one up.

China has so far been a relatively easy transition, but only because I haven't really done something inadvertently stupid. That moment will come, I'm sure. Let's just hope it doesn't involve getting hit by a motorist, or worse, finding I'm in the middle of a date without realizing it until I've somehow managed to unintentionally propose marriage to the girl. I'm actually kind of expecting that to happen, given my proneness to find myself in awkward situations. Let's just say I'm going to avoid, to the best of my ability, any one-on-one moments with students. 

The honeymoon phase is still strong as I continue to discover my new world, and I suppose it may be a while before China collectively drops me from the honeymoon into the next stage: the valley. Awesome. This is probably the real reason my transition from less honking (the US) to more honking (China) has been "relatively easy." Until the time my honeymoon ends, I'm joyfully appreciating China's many blessings: unlimited access to bubble tea (a favorite), cheap but amazing food, and the joy of discovering the myraid ways a car horn can be used to communicate to others. I jest of course; there's only one way Chinese drivers use a car horn, which is interestingly the only way that I deem to be annoying. Well, maybe it's endearing. 

But not at all, actually. But to be fair to China, the superfluous use of horns is just about the only thing that I haven't enthusiastically embraced. I do love the country so far. Like everyone says, the food is unbelievable. And just wait until I figure out how to order more than just the five dishes I've been ordering. 

One of my concerns about being here was that my pre-existing knowledge of Mandarin (all two years of it) would be too far gone to be of use, since I've tucked that knowledge away neatly in my brain, right next to my knowledge of how to iron...anything. But I've been pleasantly surprised at how quickly it has started to come back, largely because I have had and will have plenty of chances to speak it. Still, my knowledge is limited, even to the point where a successful purchase of a drink from the store is tantamount to the feeling of getting that one toy you really wanted for Christmas. I usually feel like I'm surrounded by a wall of the unknown. I hear you speaking Chinese. I see you staring at me as you speak Chinese. I can clearly tell your talking about me in Chinese. But I have no idea what you're saying. Probably something reasonable like, "I suppose this chap is a Yank" and, "His height, while only slightly above normal for an American, gives him substantial leverage on the basketball court here in China, especially against the Chinese opponents who invariably don't understand back-side defense." You can tell a lot by hand motions. 

Still, my joy for being here has eclipsed the potential frustrations that come with not knowing the language well enough--but I am still curious, and oblivious. I wonder what all these signs say. What does she mean when she points to that part of my body? I wish I could tell them that clothing may be optional (or so it seems), but it's not necessarily a good thing.  

It's all part of an incredible adventure though, and I look forward to anchoring here. I'm no visitor. This is my home--perhaps forever. Just kidding...but maybe not. We'll see. Before I get ahead of myself, I need to focus on adjusting. There are certainly a number of similarities with the US, especially in light of the extensive Westernization, but there are three times as many differences. Some of them are great and funny and beautiful. Some just don't make any sense. And some will only be discovered when I'm in the middle of them. One of my greatest excitements for living in China is a chance to see the world, experience the world, from a very different perspective. I can't wait to discover the subtleties. Sure, they may annoy, frustrate, and infuriate. But that's part of this life I've jumped into, and I am eager to find out for myself what that entails. 

Enough with the waxing reverie. I don't have many good pictures to post yet, but to at least give you a taste of what my apartment is like, I've decided to dabble in the field of video posting and made this little one:

You'll also be glad to hear I'm slowly collecting some good photos of the college where I teach and the city (Qinhuangdao), so I hope to post some in the next post or two. And of course, I've already got some photos of my students, not to mention plenty of good stories. They are a funny, endearing, earnest, odd bunch--and I think I'm going to love them.   

Justin

P.S. I know you're a smart bunch, but I just have to be sure to realize that the "JC" in the title refers to more than just myself. Think about it. 

P.P.S. Please share this blog with others! It's not private like my NYC one was, so invite others (and maybe even list this little project of mine on your own blog's "Hey, check these other blogs out too!" sidebar). Just a little shameless self-promotion for you.