My host family, and Hsiao-mei before we got to China, said that Chinese culture is very reserved. They’re not so into the hugging and overt “I love you”s, but I think it’s the small interactions that show their care. It’s touching when my host grandfather moves from the seat facing the door a few minutes before my host grandmother calls us to come and eat and how my host parents move the plates with meat farther from themselves and closer to the children and me. I think that it’s equally important that we, their extended guests, embrace these customs and extend these small gestures back, whether it’s helping to clean up after dinner despite their protests, trying to speak more Mandarin (I’m very impressed with all the “non-speakers” on this trip!), or anything else of that nature…
It has been fun learning more about China and Chinese culture especially this week because of the Dragon Boat Festival. I got to learn how to make 粽子 (although mine looked ugly!) and learned about other 端午节 traditions! I remember learning about the Dragon Boat Festival during my high school Chinese classes, but it’s a whole other experience to actually be here during this time and to be a part of it. For the Dragon Boat Festival, my host family and I went to Zhongshan city to see Sun Yat-sen’s old home and museum, and we spent some time with their relatives. For dinner, we ate with these relatives and other people, many of whom my host mom and brother didn’t recognize. I thought that was interesting because my family’s/relatives’ holiday gatherings, although large, are completely or mostly comprised of relatives I know well. On another note, I think my spice tolerance is increasing here in China, and I really enjoyed the Hunan style food we had. I’ve learned quite a bit during this holiday, and it makes me interested to learn more.
Over the weekend, my host mom, two host brothers (one of them only 2 years old! See picture below), and I went to the beach. It was beautiful! The surrounding area, the blue sky, the sunset, the opera houses, and seeing the city in the distance were beautiful to see; pictures do it no justice.
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