Guest Blogger: American in China
China is a hot topic these days in business and political circles worldwide. After living and working in China for almost four years and marrying a Chinese national, it has become clearer to me that China is on its way to being the superpower of the world - a position that America has held onto for decades. There are similarities and stark differences between the cultures today. Some of these have significant ramifications, while others just make life interesting. I’d like to share a few observations through the eyes of one American.
As an American, I am very proud of my country, the freedom for which it stands, and for the identity it brings me. I think of our 'melting pot' ideology, the differences of all the people that make us all strong. My wife and most of those I meet in China are also very proud of their country, for it brings to them a unique sense of identity as well.
When Chinese reflect on their country, they reflect specifically on their shared culture. They think of their appearance that sets them apart from most of the world, yet unifies them. Black hair, yellow skin, wide narrow eyes, a symbolic language, a variety of cultures found mainly in China, like architecture, tea, painting, and dance, just to name a few. Growing up, I was implicitly taught that everyone in the world yearned to be American. But that’s not true, and it took time for me to swallow that while living in China.
The cultural expectations for Chinese and Americans share some similarities but have many differences. As Americans, we are encouraged to excel in our personal interests, go to college, to become independent, self sufficient, and unique in what we do and say. We are encouraged to have a voice and be a positive change to the world we live in, demonstrating the freedoms we have. Most Chinese citizens are encouraged to memorize everything important to the country’s progress, learn English as well as standard Chinese, sacrifice comforts and environment for practicality and progress, go to college, get married to carry on the family support system, and to not stick your head too high or it may get cut off. Chinese have a deep sense of duty to support country, family, and friends, focusing on the bottom line - money - despite the sacrifices made. Americans and Chinese strive for education these days, but for different reasons. For Americans, it’s to support ourselves. For Chinese, education is equally important for themselves and for the strength of their society as a whole.
As food consumers, we have similarities, but many differences as well. Of course we all eat. Chinese eat more fruits, vegetables, and fish, and they are significantly cheaper to buy here, because you buy directly from the farmer and the butcher, little micro economies of their own. Cooking at home is preferred to eating out. Though eating out is a fun thing to do among modern Chinese, it’s not the norm. Most Americans are about convenience and comfort, and I would say we eat out at least one meal a day, if not more. Americans also eat more processed meats where Chinese eat meat straight from the butcher. There is no idea of ‘dessert’ in Chinese culture. Instead, it is common practice to share fruit together in the living room, about 30 minutes to an hour after a meal. As an American, dessert is expected. We have it right after a meal, and we expect it to be rich and sweet. One of things that I have noticed about the Chinese is that they are pretty healthy people. Though I have seen modern Chinese families introduced to KFC, McDonald’s, and high fructose corn syrup products like Coke, Snickers, and Lays potato chips. Some are beginning to look a little more round like us.
As product consumers, both Chinese and Americans desire to have the latest and greatest goods on the market. Coming from my Christian perspective, I believe that it’s our human nature to covet, and that is not limited to just our two cultures. Both cultures struggle with the “I want to have….” syndrome. The big difference is that Americans don’t want to sacrifice anything to get the things they want and will put themselves in debt to get the products they desire, making no up-front sacrifice. Chinese will sacrifice heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer, and eat less quality food to save for the items they desire. Very few in China use credit cards, though to spur the economy, China has introduced them through Chinese banks. Very few believe in acquiring debt for a luxury item in China, where it is the norm in America.
I’d like to close with some commentary about my own country, the United States. I now feel that big business, as great as they are at offering us great products, should not rule our lives, nor control our politics, or ultimately our livelihood. It seems that business has been lobbying our country to the benefit of their shareholders at the expense of the country they in which they were founded. Most of our ideas, inventions, and processes are being given to our rivals so that these corporations can show continued quarterly growth. Americans are being stripped of their jobs, which are then given to others who are eager to work for significantly less pay and no benefits. We are helping China and other countries to develop in twenty years what took us a hundred years to do. It’s great we can share with the world. One day, however, when foreigners have the same demands as Americans in the work force, our companies will not be able to continue the same bottom line growth. Ultimately they may not be as competitive as the newly advanced Chinese companies that are emerging with the experiences gained from the foreign companies around them. China is certainly on a the road to being a superpower. They are a country that takes pride in being friends with everyone, and a country that will be ushered to the top by all its friends.
