Elizabeth Heinrich

The University of Adelaide, Australia
Exchange to Shandong University, China

Since my arrival in China in August 2005, I have discovered a completely different world. China is quite unlike any other country I have ever visited, and I was immediately confronted with a whole new array of sounds, smells, sights and tastes as well as a culture and customs completely different to those of Australia.

Studying Chinese language at Shandong University in Jinan, I was initially surprised by just how many different nationalities had come to Jinan to study, from places as unexpected and far afield as Palestine, Algeria, Congo and Bolivia, among many others. It’s quite a unique experience to be able to go to dinner or lunch with the international students and listen to several different languages spoken at the one table. Speaking of language, this is probably the greatest challenge for foreigners in China, a country where English and other foreign languages are not widely spoken. Mastering the intricacies of Mandarin Chinese is not easy. Not only is there the seemingly impossible task of memorising thousands of Chinese characters and remembering the tones, but there is also the problem of the countless regional dialects specific to the various provinces or even cities. Nevertheless, due to intensive classes at the university and being continually immersed in the language and culture, slowly but surely my Chinese has improved, and my use of the phrase “tingbudong” (“I do not understand”) has thankfully become less frequent.

University is much different in China than in Australia. Not only is the teaching style based more on rote learning, exams and hard work, but teachers held in great esteem, and in many cases have proven to be quite friendly and helpful. In fact last semester my grammar teacher was kind enough to invite the entire class to her house for dinner and taught us to prepare Chinese dumplings.

In addition, the vast majority of students in Chinese universities actually live on the campus in dormitory accommodation as I also did in the beginning, before moving into a flat outside with other foreign students. The dormitory accommodation, although convenient, was more expensive than a flat outside and had an unreliable supply of hot water during mid-winter, which at times caused tempers to fray, particularly with a head full of shampoo. There are many aspects of China which foreigners may not be accustomed to. The first thing I noticed were the constant stares in the street. In China, and particularly outside the main cities, foreigners are quite uncommon, and as a result Chinese people are very curious about them. I discovered it is not unusual to be surrounded by onlookers when bargaining in a market, or approached in the street, shop, train or university by Chinese people eager to practice their English, offer teaching or modelling jobs or simply to satisfy their curiosity and ask the inevitable question: “Ni shi na ge guo jia de ren” (where do you come from)? I soon realised my blonde hair, blue eyes and pointy nose make me quite an exotic creature here.

Spitting on the ground, crowds, beeping car horns, the aversion to forming a queue, pollution and large amounts of red tape when dealing with bureaucracy also take some getting used to, as does the traffic which drives seemingly at random- it’s a challenge just to avoid all the bikes, not to mention the drivers who use the footpath as a convenient alternative to the road. The public toilets are also always a new and pungent experience.

China is a very cheap country to live in compared to Australia and almost anything is available to buy, from fake brand name clothing to more traditional commodities such as Chinese silk, paintings and other souvenirs. Bargaining in the markets is imperative but is often a fun and satisfying experience and a chance to mix with the locals.

Food is also inexpensive and very important in Chinese culture. As such, China is a paradise to a food lover like me. From the ubiquitous street sellers vending pineapple on sticks, pork buns, dumplings or barbecued meat on skewers, to the many different cuisines including spicy Sichuan, yak curry in Lhasa and the famous Beijing Duck, in China there is always something new to try, even if it does include some perhaps less palatable items such as scorpions, turtles, frogs on skewers and dog meat.

I have now travelled quite extensively in China, and my travels have led me to experience the modernity of Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai, the history of Beijing, Xi’an and Shaolin, the poverty of the countryside and the sub -20 degree temperatures of the Ice Lantern Festival in Haerbin during the winter and Suifenhe on the Russian border. One of the highlights was my journey overland to Tibet via Lanzhou and Golmud. This was truly a fantastic experience in which I discovered a mysterious land with friendly people, spectacular mountain scenery and a deeply traditional and religious culture completely different to that of Eastern China.

Sometimes I think it’s the simple things that will stay in my memory of China- the early morning taichi in the parks, the frigid air of Haerbin, the smell of yak butter in the Tibetan monasteries, the colours of Lhasa, Russians in shapkas in Suifenhe, the seller sleeping on his trailer of watermelons in Jinan, the call of the corn sellers in the street and people doing the rumba in the city square in the evenings. My stay and travels in China have revealed to me a vast and diverse country and people, yet a country of contrast, very much focused on the new and modern, yet with a long history deeply rooted in the past. Even after nine months here I still feel there is still so much to see and learn. It has been a rewarding, interesting and unforgettable experience, and, given the opportunity I would definitely like to return here in the future.

Since my arrival in China in August 2005, I have discovered a completely different world. China is quite unlike any other country I have ever visited, and I was immediately confronted with a whole new array of sounds, smells, sights and tastes as well as a culture and customs completely different to those of Australia.

© Copyright 2018 CK Group. All rights reserved.