I never really liked spicy food. Why would you want to have the same one constant burning flavor in your mouth when you could make your taste buds pop with fruity, salty, sugary, and cheesy flavors? My parents know me too well – they never seasoned our food with peppers and spice, mostly because I just couldn’t handle it! I was so weak. I couldn’t eat a bite of something spicy without drinking tons of water and complaining about it incessantly. So, you can imagine my horror when I learned that Yunnan’s cuisine is known for its spiciness, its red hot peppers, and its ability to make people sweat. When I first got here, instead of eating one regular bowl of rice, I consumed at least 6 bowls of rice to subdue the absolute FIRE that was continuously burning my mouth. They are so used to hot peppers in their food that when you say “bu yao la jiao,” or “no hot pepper spice please,” their version of not spicy is my version of really spicy.
Two months and some change later, I’m in love with the food here. I absolutely adore it. Confession: I’ve gained 10 pounds. But actually, I’m not even exaggerating a bit. Part of this weight was gained by eating too fast (trust me, the speed at which you eat really does a lot.) Mostly because Chinese food is presented family style at meals, where you order a bunch of dishes and place them in the middle of the table. In order to get food fast enough before the boys eat all the meat, you had to grab. If you sucked at using chopsticks, your loss! You had to seize quickly and eat swiftly in order to get the food you wanted. The other part of the weight was simply the sheer amount I ate. But you know what? WHATEVER! I was sad about it at first, but hey this is as much a two-month vacation as it is a school semester. I’m indulging in the most delicious Chinese food ever. It’s going to be impossible for me to eat Panda Express without wanting to puke. I’m really going to miss the food here.
Speaking of eating, chopsticks are the bomb. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because they are made of wood and not metal, but they make food taste a million times better. I would try to bring it back to Duke, but I can’t really see myself eating quesadillas and a salad with two pieces of wood. Either way, I’m really going to miss eating with chopsticks.
You also can’t forget those darn low prices. It’s absolutely ridiculous how affordable everything is here. It’s not custom to pay tip to waiters or cab drivers (if you try, they refuse.) I’ve gotten my haircut here for less than three US dollars, and I can spend 9 dollars a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Heading back to the states where I would spend more money on filling up my gas tank than an entire month’s worth of meals here, is going to be pretty rough. Talk about reverse culture shock! I’m really going to miss the spanking low prices.
Aside from food and expenses, China really surprised me in terms of its people. Maybe it’s not China in particular, but just being a foreigner living in a foreign country. Back home in the states, I can confidently say that most foreigners aren’t exactly treated equally, those from Asian, South American, and Middle Eastern countries in particular. If a French student walked up to a typical American girl, his poor English would probably encourage flirty smiles and reassurance from his soon to be friend. On the contrary, if a Chinese guy did the same, his strong Chinese accent would most likely warrant a different reaction. I just feel like in America, foreigners aren’t met with the most welcoming hands, and are often written off because they just “don’t understand” or are “too much of a hassle” for anyone to handle. Here, it was the complete opposite. Random people on the street were so willing to help us out with directions to get somewhere. The waiters at restaurants always patiently helped us order food. Except for the occasional senile old woman or the awestruck guy who had never seen a human being with blonde hair or black skin before, we were constantly met with smiles and words of encouragement. My roommate and the Chinese university students here never failed to stop whatever they were doing if it meant giving us a helping hand. I absolutely adore the friends I’ve made here and I don’t even want to think about what it’s going to be like when I can’t hang out with them back home. It’s weird. They feel so much like family – never any judgment or insecurity… only acceptance and good times. I’m probably going to miss LaaLaa the most. She’s sarcastic, silly, kind, caring, and extremely fun to be around. She never fails to make me laugh, and I know we’ll stay in touch once I leave. I’m really going to miss the people here, and the friends I’ve made.
I remember how awkward all 8 of us were when we first arrived in China. We sort of knew each other? But not really. Now, these 7 kids (6 Duke and 1 Vassar) have grown to become my family. We are all so different but complement each other so perfectly that it’s going to be surreal not being around them 24/7. It was comforting having a group of people who were experiencing the exact same situations as I was. We all had to adapt to new food, unfamiliar culture, and random crises such as no hot water or disturbing hole in the ground bathrooms. We all had to complete a 20-page research paper, learn new Chinese characters every day, and still get by on 5 hours of sleep. It’s also strange because you would think that living with the same people would get tiring or annoying after about a month tops, but I never got sick of these cool kids. We all laughed and suffered together, and that comradeship was the best part. Even though I am ecstatic to return to Duke, and I will obviously maintain the friendships I have here in China, back at Duke, I know it won’t be the same. Of course we’ll get meals together, but I know that busy schedules, different living locations, and old friend groups will make it hard. I’m really going to miss our group dynamic.
Even though China has definitely posed difficult situations (getting my wallet stolen, getting sick, living in a middle ground between a Chinese and American culture), I’m going to miss a TON about living here. I might not have partied every weekend like other students from different study abroad programs, but I can confidently say that this was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have learned SO much about myself, about other people, and about this beautiful and interesting country, China. I can’t wait to return.
Next week is my last blog! So stay tuned for one more drop in by yours truly… and until next time,
Not your “freshman fifteen,” but “junior ten” friend,
JWOO
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.