When preparing to travel or work in China, you’re sure to suffer some culture shock that you didn’t anticipate. You won’t feel at home in China since it’s a fast-paced, continually evolving nation.
Having a plan in place can help minimize the effects of culture shock and make your life more enjoyable.
In order to avoid culture shock in China, here are some samples of what you may expect.
Understanding Fun Fact about China
Be ready for a large number of people
The claim that China has the world’s largest population is not exaggerated in the least.
If you have to go to work during peak hours in a large city, you’ll have to deal with a crowded bus or train every day.
Traveling across China during Chinese national holidays, such as the Chinese New Year, is a huge challenge. The traffic is worse than normal, and there are several delays.
Avoiding travel at this time if you dislike large crowds might save you time and aggravation.
In the end, you’ll grow accustomed to it. It’ll be a huge part of your experience living in China!
On the street, expect to be glanced at.
People in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shenzhen have become used to seeing foreigners on the streets.
However, if you visit a tiny town, you may be the only foreigner there, and you may feel constantly scrutinized.
Never fear; it’s primarily out of curiosity, and you’ll grow accustomed to it soon enough.
As a result, take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts!
Be ready to deal with a significant language barrier.
The majority of Chinese still use a “quiet gaze” while trying to communicate in English, despite recent improvements in English literacy. Even if you’ve been studying English for a long time or have previously passed a few examinations, this is still the case!
Because of this, you had to fully open your mind to learning the “Chinese method” and attempting to comprehend their language and ways of thinking.
Make sure you’re prepared to work with Chinese technology
Every year, the number of Chinese people with access to the internet grows. In most metropolitan regions, internet coverage and speed are expected to be excellent.
China, on the other hand, has created its own online ecosystem in place of relying on Google and Facebook because of the internet firewall. They use WeChat to keep in contact with family and friends, as well as to do business.
Alternatively, you may always download a virtual private network (VPN) and access most of the websites you’re familiar to at home (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook, Google etc.)
When you return to your home country, be prepared to experience reverse culture shock.
This phenomenon known as “reverse culture shock” is in fact genuine!
It affects people in varying degrees. For some people, returning to their own culture after living in China might be a challenge since they’ve been so acclimatized to the Chinese way of thinking and doing things.
After then, it’s a lot like adjusting to a new culture, and it will take some time.
It may be a life-changing event for some individuals. One of the main reasons individuals travel is to broaden their perspectives and stimulate their creative juices is because of this paradigm change in perspective and behavior.