Tessa Chiu, Political and Economic Development in China, Summer 2012
As I finish off putting the last of my things in my suitcase to go home, it is actually starting to hit me that we’re soon all going off on our own ways. Thinking about leaving my dorm in Peking University’s ZhongGuanXinYuan, I realize that I’m really going to miss Beijing and everything about it. Particularly speaking, as odd as it sounds and out of all things, I’m going to miss the local Beijing people.
When I first arrived here, I immediately noticed that there was a noticeable difference between Beijing and Chicago (or even larger America), and it wasn’t the large amount of pollution that was present in the Beijing air. It was more so the whole vibe of the two cities, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Beijing was modern enough; it has plenty of high risers, malls, too many taxis and cars, traffic, smog, flashing lights, etc. just like any large American city. But at the same time, everything felt different to me. It was not until maybe last week that I discovered what that difference was.
While discussing with several friends, we came to the conclusion that it is the locals that set Beijing apart. There is a common negative stereotype attributed to the Chinese people, saying that they have no manners, are extremely rude, and inconsiderate. In contrast to the social norms of America, this may appear true, but upon closer examination, one will realize that it is not that simple. In China, there are different social customs, and I’ve noticed that people often will say or do what they want, with no inhibitions. To me, this does not amount to being rude, but rather, straightforward, and I find this extremely refreshing. In America, there is so much social pressure to be “the norm” or “politically correct” that it is extremely difficult to tell what others are actually thinking. In China, if a merchant wants you to buy his goods, he will make it aggressively obvious, but also, if someone wants to give up his seat on the crowded subway for you, you will know that his gesture is sincere. To me, this makes every random act of kindness more meaningful because I can be sure that they are genuine, and I can honestly say that while Beijing has its fair share of rude people (as in every country), I’ve also come across some of the most kind people here. I will really miss this once I go back home!
My favorite street vendor! We came here so often she began to recognize us.