One thing is certain: no matter how well I can speak and understand Chinese, I would never be able to completely assimilate into this culture. I will never look Asian.
Every day I am approached by different people saying the same thing: "Hello! Watch? Bag? Shoe? DVD?" and the occasional "Lady?" If you keep walking they usually leave you alone, but some are pretty persistent. Sometimes I just speak in French or Spanish and they leave me alone, but one time one of them knew Italian, Spanish, French, English and some middle eastern language. That's dedication.
It's funny how things are so opposite here. The Chinese love the parts of animals that Westerners find detestable. Chicken feet, duck tongues, ligaments, tendons, and other internal organs are delicacies. In the westernized supermarkets all the plain chicken breast tenders and ground beef are very cheap because no one eats them. Lucky for me.
Another thing you won't find much of here is blunt honesty. You can't tell someone their design is weak directly, that is not acceptable. You have to work your way around with pleasantries to get to your point. With architecture, they start at the end and work backwards. Whereas I am used to starting with a concept or sketch and moving from there, they want pretty, finished looking pictures at first, and design it later. Different ways to skin a cat I guess.
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