MAN-icures

I have considered writing about this matter since I first arrived in China.  It’s something that really troubles me and even though I once vowed to a friend I would never share this on my blog, over recent months it has been such a pet hate that I feel the need to write this.  It’s something that has also disturbed many of my fellow expats and has repeatedly been the focus of many a conversation in both public and private spaces. 

What am I referring to: Men with freakishly long, strong, witch-like fingernails.  It’s a strangely common sight here in China, usually only found on pinky fingers, but sometimes thumbs or in very rare, stomach churning cases: all ten digits.  It’s more prevalent in middle aged men, but some people of my generation still adopt the look.

Asking Chinese friends about this sheds little light on the situation.   Some say fingernails were traditionally grown in years gone by as something of a status symbol, an indication you didn’t do manual labour and were wealthy enough to pay to have such tasks done for you.  But these days this explanation seems rather redundant.  People now apparently grow them for a number of reasons.  A Chinese friend of mine grows them for superstitious reasons, believing they bring good luck, as his commission based job suffers when his nails are cut short.  During busy sales events and crucial times of the year his nails always stay long, to give him the edge over his competitors.  Others just grown them to poke and prod in any available orifice.  Yes… I’ve witnessed it during many metro journeys in full view of everyone and it’s shamelessly, stomach churningly disgusting!
 

Whatever the reasoning behind it, the sight of such claws truly shocks newcomers to the country upon first glimpse and still entirely freaks the rest of us all out.  No matter how many times you see men with nails like this, you never become accustomed to it.

Men of China, do us all a favour – invest in a pair of nail clippers and slice off those talons.

A xx

Mid-Autumn Festival

National Holiday is upon us, for most expats here in China it means a week off work and time to enjoy the last of the summer sunshine by taking short breaks around Asia.  I however am staying in sunny Shangers to explore yet more of this great city and catch up with friends.

 

There is some confusion about Mid-Autumn festival, numerous tales about it origins and how people celebrate.  The extent of my knowledge could previously have been summed up with one word ‘mooncake’.  These are round pastries filled with anything from red bean paste to salted duck eggs, which are consumed in vast amounts over this period.  I first encountered them in Vietnam, offered as gifts from my students.  It was a shame I just couldn’t bring myself to like them, choosing instead to give them to my hard-working, mooncake-loving colleagues.

 

So what is mid-Autumn festival?  It’s a lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people.  The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese calendar, which falls in September or early October and was recently made a Chinese public holiday.  It is associated with the legend of the Moon Goddess of Immortality.  Celebrations include carrying brightly lit lanterns, lighting lanterns on towers, burning incense to honour deities, and Fire Dragon dances.

 

My Director of Studies has introduced a role of Cultural Mentor, one of our local teachers who will not only have the unenviable task of teaching the foreign teachers Chinese, but also educate us about life in China: traditions, celebrations and customs.  It’s a fantastic initiative, which I’m very much looking forward to beginning.

 

Happy Mid-Autumn celebrations to my friends in China & Vietnam.

A xx

Helpful & humbling

The friendships I have formed during my time in China have undoubtedly played a massive part in making my time here so enjoyable, particularly where my Chinese friends and colleagues are concerned - never failing to astound me with their generosity and selflessness. 

 

Over the past seven months I have found myself being invited to a whole host of social events by the local staff from my school.  This is especially flattering as they only invite those whom they feel particularly close to.  I pride myself on my ability to get along with a wide variety of personalities and always find it so touching when I’m accepted in new social circles.  I built similar relationships with my Teaching Assistants in Vietnam, many of whom I am still in contact with now; but working more closely alongside local teachers, sales staff and interns at my school here has opened up more opportunities for closer bonds to be made.

 

I have lost count of the number of times my Chinese friends have surprised and humbled me during my stay here.  They do all they can to make me feel welcome in their country, from bringing me home cooked local food to sample to gifts after their vacations.  Last week was Teachers' Day in China, some of my smaller students made me gifts and one of our staff members was kind enough to give me a pair of shoes.  Finding footwear big enough in Chinese shops is possible, but provides a limited number of styles.  Having a Chinese friend buy them via Taobao (China’s version of eBay), however, eliminates such problems; A wonderful and much appreciated present from a fabulous fellow.

 

I am always most grateful when my friends act as translators.  My Chinese is limited to say the least and in certain situations you just can’t get by, having a fluent Chinese speaker with you is a godsend.  At first I found it very difficult to ask them for help with translating etc, but now I know they are more than happy to help and will often feel a little disappointed if they find out you need help with a basic task and haven’t approached them for assistance.

 

The friendships the Chinese make with expats runs deep.  Friendships seem to be valued far more here than in the west.  People keep their word, put others before themselves and pride themselves on doing things for others.  No matter how much you try to return their favours you never really feel you are doing as much for them as they are for you, even though the other party never feels that way.  These are very special relationships, that I find myself valuing more and more with each passing week.

 

My single greatest moment in China to date came when a friend asked if I would be Godmother to his newborn son.  This title doesn’t carry with it the same religious significance as in the west, but is still a great honour, particularly for a laowai.  We chose to mark this, not with the typical western ceremony, but with a day spent together in the park, followed by a fabulous meal in the evening.  A perfect day, with wonderful company, making lasting memories.

 

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome in your communities, you’ve enhanced my time in China more than you could truly know.

谢谢

A xx