Tradition

We got to go to our old school, Shuren yesterday. It was both good and exhausting, like most things in China. We got to see a lot of our old students! We met them at a coffee shop on campus and got to catch up! Well, one of the things that is important to understand about the Chinese culture is they are huge on tradition. That statement doesn't even do it justice. haha! So when my former students saw that I had cut my hair, their reactions were:

"(Shriek!) Juliane! You cut your hair! Oh no!!!"

"Juliane! Why you cut your hair?" I told her I wanted to, and was tired of having long hair. "She pointed to her pony tail and said, "But you can do this." Oh yeah, thanks. I had never thought of that!

"Oh no! I can't believe you cut your hair! It was so beautiful long!" I said, "So, you do not think my hair is beautiful now?" She said, "Oh yes...both are...maybe beautiful." she was reluctant, as you can see. haha!

These reactions did not offend me because I understand what is behind them. They thought my hair was pretty before, so it is the wrong thing to do to cut it off. They think I should keep it the way it is because of that. They think having long hair is the better way to do it, and if I do something else, it is wrong. Outside the long hair box, I literally become a different person to them and they don't know how to handle it.

Other examples of tradition in China have to do with the idea that there is only one way to do something. These examples are:

Being left handed is wrong. (They are trained not to be left handed if they show signs of this as children.)

We are fortunate enough to have a "Coldstone Creamery" in Hangzhou! One day I was ordering the "Founder's Favorite". This ice cream mixture comes with Sweet Cream Ice Cream. I asked the girl behind the counter if she could replace the Sweet Cream Ice Cream with some Chocolate Ice Cream. She looked so confused and said to me, "No, you can't." I said, "I can't? I will pay you extra money." She said, "No, I don't think it will be very delicious." That was her reasoning for not wanting to give me what I asked her to give me. Not because it is not allowed, but because it was outside the box. She'd never tried it and therefore thought it wouldn't be very delicious. She "knew" better that I did. So I said, "Yes it is! I have had it in America. I love it. Please give it to me." She was surprised at this that someone else had given it to me. So I got what I wanted! haha!

Before going back to the States this summer, Stan and I were trying to exchange some bigger bills for smaller ones to use as souvenirs for people back home. So, we went to the nearest bank. The girl at the window spoke a little English, so we asked her to exchange the amount of money for us. We told her we wanted the paper form of that amount of money. She went to the back and came out with coins for that amount. Stan told her he wanted the paper money and not the coin. She said, "Oh, but I think the coin is much more beautiful to give as a gift." And handed it to him.

Even though he told her what he wanted, she "knew" better. Things like this happen just about every day. It's literally hard to count how many times it has happened. It's interesting how different just two cultures can be.

Well, I hate to end this abruptly, but I just don't have anymore to say, and you all aren't grading me on my writing abilities! :) Thanks for reading! I love you all!