I can honestly say that China is probably the weirdest place I have ever and will ever go to in my life.
Aside from the people, who are incredibly curious about westerners (I had to have photographs holding so many Chinese babies...) and find us hilariously funny (especially the concept of flip flops, I don't think they have ever seen toes before) I imagined China to be a clean, technologically advanced, busy hub of excitement with chicken balls galore and pandas on every corner.
I probably should have done some more research beforehand.
The cities I travelled to, Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou were all ridiculously busy with communist caps on one in every three chinese tourists. The air felt like it needed to be filtered before I willingly let it into my lungs and the concept of squatty pottys still sends shivers down my spine. Another hilarious revelation was the fact that they don't believe in babies wearing nappies. Instead they have cleverly designed every trouser, skirt and pair of shorts for children to have a sly little flap around the bum to make for easy squatting whenever and wherever they so desire. At the time all I could do was laugh.
Something else that really tickled me and the people I was travelling with whilst I was there were the English translations and phrases splattered over all their 'hip, stylish' tshirts. The one on the left is a particular favourite of mine : David, providing moustache rides since 1906. Brilliant.
In all fairness, the views, their general way of life and granted, some of their cuisine (aside from bloody noodles, all my super noodles have swiftly been removed from my uni cupboards) were like nothing I have seen before. They even had intricate designs and carved dragons on the roofs of mcdonalds found on every corner, good old globalisation. (Might I add at this point that they do mcdonalds delivery over there?!?! I don't think any hangover food will ever compete!)
I also learnt some mandarin whilst staying at Zhejiang University for 2 weeks. Phrases of particular interest included I love ice cream and I have a horse definitely will come in handy in the future. (Wo ai bing bang he wo you ma for those ever considering going to China).
To be honest, despite their lack of cheese and bread, the overwhelmingly disgusting smell of bean curd EVERYWHERE and the constant noise of car horns, I had an amazing time. If I wasn't accepted onto study China I probably never even would have considered going there and I'm so glad I've experience it.
I've also smuggled back some Chinese delicacies including nutritious chicken feet, pea cakes, regenerated elbow ham and a whitening face mask if anyone would like to dabble in some far east culture. Zai jian.
