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Adjusting To Beijing's Cultural Differences
I am finally able to sleep through the night here in Beijing. The time difference is 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles so for the first several days, waking up every few hours during the night was normal. I'm on the other side of the world, which has been very isolating at times. There are a lot of NBC shows here covering the games and for the most part, you see them traveling as a large group which seems like a lot of fun and can only add to the joy of being in another country. The people I'm personally traveling with usually separate into their own socially comfortable groups and I often find myself solo. You probably heard the news that an American tourist here for the Olympics was stabbed to death and his wife critically injured in a random knife attack in Beijing, so I am very mindful of that when I venture out by myself, especially as a single woman who can be a target no matter where in the world you are. A lot of my family and friends have been calling and e-mailing, making sure that I'm OK and I tell them that I am fine and will keep my wits about me.
I oftentimes feel like that person in a strange land who, on one hand is very scared and nervous about their new surroundings but on the other is overwhelmed by the exhilaration of new experiences. I would certainly rather have a traveling partner to explore new areas but, I don't want to miss out on anything this Asian city has to offer.
It's interesting because, even in the States, being an
African-American, you often look up and find that you are the only one
in the room. Imagine how I feel here in Asia where, in this skin, I
certainly stand out in the crowd, especially walking by myself. There
are not many of us over here and oftentimes native Chinese will just
come up to me and ask to snap my picture as though I am a novelty,
which I guess I am. I think they think I'm one of the athletes because
for many who live here and never been out of Beijing, much less Asia,
the games have been their first real exposure to various people of
color.
So, while I am here, I think we will all learn a lot about each other. And, when I am back home and see a person from another land traveling alone - just her, her camera, and wonderment in her eyes, I will never look at them the same. I will always greet her with "Welcome, friend."
So, while I am here, I think we will all learn a lot about each other. And, when I am back home and see a person from another land traveling alone - just her, her camera, and wonderment in her eyes, I will never look at them the same. I will always greet her with "Welcome, friend."
You are a brave woman. There are many many more to experience outside of the olympics. Whatever you do I hope it is truly a life changing experience. I wish I was there to experience it myself. I have a few friends who are also live blogging from the olympics. I'm jealous to say the least.
I feel bad that your colleagues didn't include you in their group.
Hopefully by chance you'll run into the Mandarin-speaking African American guy who works for a Chinese website in Beijing.
I was reading your blog and I can't believe how negitive it is. You are in Beijing China at the Olympics which is a once in a lifetime experience. Many people would feel so lucky to be in your shoes. You shouldn't rely on other people to create your own rich experience. Go out on your own and enjoy it for yourself. There is no need to feel scared, I'm sure there is plenty of security there to keep you safe. Stop complaining and enjoy the experience to the fullest!
Wow, I never expected to find such honesty on a page dedicated to "entertainment", but it's certainly much appreciated. I don't believe you were being negative, but simply articulating the difficulty of adjusting to a new environment. Trust me, as a seasoned traveler, I understand. Travel books rarely address the real (or imagined) fears of minority travelers. Nevertheless, I'm sure it will become somewhat easier as time goes by. Take care and keep your head up.
P.S. Maybe you should look into socializing with U.S. athletes' families. They appear to have a lot of downtime between events.
Thanks for your honesty. Many people put on a brave face and are never real about what they are going through. It goes to show what a genuine person you are to write what you wrote. It's very easy for people who are not there to experience what you are going through to judge and say tough it out. I say good job on making your experience your own and doing the best you can (safely) to enjoy the Olympics and your trip.
There's not much to say other than you sound ignorant and fearful.