One thing that has taken our entire group some getting used to, is that we are a spectacle whenever and wherever we go. The big group of American students catches almost everyone's eye. When sitting on the bus, walking the streets, shopping, going into restaurants, and nearly everything we do, you can really feel the eyes of people on you. Most are not discrete, nor do they show any embarrassment about starring either.
A few days ago, during the culture time of our day, we took a walk to the Zhaolin Park a few blocks from the school. After we had explored and walked around the park, we all got together on a lawn and began to play a Chinese version of duck duck goose, which is significantly more interesting than our old American kids duck duck goose game. Within 5 minutes of starting our game, we literally had people gathered around us in a circle, the way people gather for a show. They had cameras out and were taking pictures and recording our game. It was of course innocent and they certainly meant no harm, but it was at that moment when I realized the amount of attention our group draws. While in Beijing, we were often asked to have pictures taken with us. This happens in Harbin as well, although a bit less. I got used to it quickly, but at first it seemed so strange to me that people I had never met before wanted to take a picture with me only because I was American.
I have also felt this attention just within the home setting. Last night my homestay grandmother came over to visit. It was not the first time I had met her, (last week she taught me how to make dumplings) but even though there was a conversation going on around us, she had her hand on my arm and was just starring at me the entire time. I felt a little awkward to say the least. Then she said something in Chinese and my homestay mother translated it, saying that the grandmother had just told me that I looked like a doll. It was of course meant as a compliment, but it also made me realize how different her view was from mine. I look American, but to her that is what she associated with looking like a doll. It was something that I found very interesting. In Chinese the word for America is Meiguo, which literally translates to meaning “the beautiful country”. America truly is respected all over the world and it makes me so proud to be American.
This picture shows me and my homestay grandmother in the kitchen making vegetable dumplings.
This picture shows Fefe and I enjoying those same dumplings.
Until next time....
Zaijian Goodbye
