I never thought I’d say this but damn, it’s now almost a month since I’ve started my UWC journey in China. If I had to use one word to describe it, I would say it’s been overwhelming for all of us. I’ll tell you about how I got here, the first weeks and emotional stuff in the next article. For now, these are only 5 things of the many things that make you instantly say „China”:
RO: Nu m-am gandit niciodata ca o sa spun asta, dar fir-ar, e aproape o luna de cand am inceput calatoria UWC in China. Daca ar trebui sa folosesc un cuvant ca sa o descriu, as spune ca a fost coplesitor pentru toti. O sa va povestesc despre cum am ajuns aici, primele saptamani si lucruri emotionale in urmatorul articol. Pentru acum, astea sunt doar 5 lucruri dinre multe altele care te fac instant sa spui „China”:
1. Milk bubble tea
There used to be a milk bubble tea shop a couple of years ago in the city center of Bucharest and even though it was super expensive I loved getting a cup from time to time. And as a confession, I was kinda disappointed when they closed down. Now that I am in China, I can literally find milk bubble tea anywhere in an urban area (I’m not so sure about the villages but I wouldn’t say no). It’s become my day-to-day treat and I love it! You can try lots of different flavours and the best part are the bubbles, of course. Drawback? Lots of calories, but whatevs. We can make a sacrifice.
RO: Acum cativa ani era un magazin care vindea milk bubble tea in centrul Bucurestiului si chiar daca era super scump, iubeam sa iau un pahar din cand in cand. Si ca o confesiune, am fost cam dezamagita cand l-au inchis. Acum ca sunt in China, pot sa gasesc milk bubble tea chiar peste tot intr-o zona urbana (nu sunt sigura de sate, dar nu as spune nu). A devenit deliciul de zi cu zi si iubesc asta! Poti sa incerci multe sortimente diferite si cea mai buna parte sunt bilutele, bineinteles. Dezavantaj? Multe calorii, dar ma rog. Putem sa facem un sacrificiu.
2. Paparazzi
From the moment that you exit the terminal at the airport you are going to become a total weirdo for most of the Chinese people. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a celebrity, this is your chance to shine. Lots of pairs of eyes will stare at you and it doesn’t stop here. Some of them will ask for pictures, they will point at you, laugh etc etc. Endless possibilities. Some of my friends say that they find it annoying but I’m enjoying it for the moment. Maybe a little too much. Funny story that a second year shared. She was in a shop, smiled to a little boy and he started crying. But then again, I think it’s normal for them to be curious.
RO: Din momentul in care iesi din terminal la aeroport o sa devii un ciudat pentru majoritatea chinezilor. Daca ai vrut vreodata sa te simti ca o vedeta, asta e sansa ta sa stralucesti. Multe perechi de ochi o sa se holbeze la tine si nu se opreste aici. Unii dintre ei o sa iti ceara sa faci poze cu ei, o sa te arate cu degetul, o sa rada etc etc. Posibilitatile sunt nenumarate. Unii dintre prietenii mei spun ca li se pare enervant, dar eu ma distrez deocamdata. Poate putin prea mult. Poveste amuzanta pe care a impartasit-o o fata din anul doi. Era intr-un magazin, a zambit la un baietel si el a inceput sa planga. Dar totusi, mi se pare normal ca sunt curiosi.
3. Fireworks / Artificii
Chinese people know what the right way to celebrate is. Whether they’re opening a local shop, it’s for someone’s birthday or anything else, basically everyday is a good day for fireworks here. It can go for days or weeks in a row. If you go to the village and catch a specific moment like this, you’ll notice others don’t really mind it or pay much attention to it. It’s nothing special for them. Ahem ahem, basic.
RO: Chinezii stiu cum sa sarbatoreasca calumea. Fie ca se deschide un magazin local, e ziua cuiva sau orice altceva, pe scurt in fiecare zi e o zi buna pentru artificii aici. Poate sa dureze zile sau saptamani in sir. Daca mergi in oras si prinzi un moment specific de genul, o sa observi ca ceilalti nu sunt deranjati si nici nu sunt atenti. Nu e nimic special pentru ei. Ahem ahem, „basic”.
4. Taobao
If you think Amazon-like websites are not for you, when coming to China you will become totally obssesed with Taobao. You can taobao everything. And when I say everything I mean it. From clothes, computers, light bulbs, notebooks, Oreos, trash cans to ice. I really don’t know how that works but you can do it. This is definetly one of my favorite parts of living in China by far. Do we really need all of the stuff we taobao (yes, I made it a verb, it’s a thing now)? Hell no. But it’s soooo cheap!
RO: Daca ai impresia ca site-urile gen Amazon nu sunt pentru tine, o sa devii total obsedat de Taobao cand vii in China. Poti sa „taobao” orice. Si cand spun orice vorbesc serios. De la haine, calculatoare, becuri, caiete, biscuiti Oreo, cosuri de gunoi pana la gheata. Nu prea stiu cum merge asta, dar merge. Asta e cu siguranta una dintre partile mele preferate din a trai in China pana acum. Chiar avem nevoie de toate lucrurile pe care le „taobao” (da, l-am facut un verb)? Cu siguranta nu. Dar e asaaaa de ieftin!
5. Street food / Mancarea de strada
If you get the chance to go out to the village or visit the city, you will find street food for sure. Emphasis on spicy. But if that’s not your thing (I know it’s not mine), you can go the softer version. Noodles, so many noodles! Don’t miss the noodles. I got mine fried with egg, veggies and then they added some seasoning. Oh and to answer the question. Yes. You can buy and eat cockroaches, but I’m not adding a pic of that here. You can Google all you want.
RO: Daca ai ocazia sa mergi in sat sau sa vizitezi orasul, o sa gasesti cu siguranta mancare de strada. Accent pe iute. Totusi daca nu iti place iute (stiu ca mie nu), poti sa mergi pe varianta mai usoara. Taitei, atat de multi taitei! Nu rata taiteii. Ai mei au fost prajiti cu ou, legume si apoi nenea a adaugat condimente. Oh si ca sa raspund la intrebare. Da. Poti sa cumperi si sa mananci gandaci, dar nu o sa adaug o poza cu asta aici. Poti sa cauti pe Google cat vrei.
This was it. Next post is going to be all about this past almost-month and what it’s like living in a UWC community from the point of view of a firstie at the beginning of the year. Until then, zaijian (that means bye btw hehe, I’m already a pro).
RO: Asta a fost. Urmatoarea postare o sa fie totul despre aproape-luna care a trecut si cum e sa traiesti intr-o comunitate UWC din punctul de vedere al unei fete la inceputul primului an. Pana atunci, zaijian (asta inseamna la revedere apropo hehe, deja sunt profi).
Disclaimer: The pics are taken by some friends and by me.
RO: Pozele sunt facute de niste prieteni si de mine.
Great article!!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!