{"id":755,"date":"2017-12-09T05:27:23","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T21:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/2017\/12\/09\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/"},"modified":"2025-01-01T20:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T12:06:51","slug":"5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Epic Examples Of Culture Shock In China"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p>Everyone is likely to face some form of culture shock when they move to a new country but those who come to China may experience the worst shock of all. China is famous for confounding expats in surprising ways&#8230; delicious <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"inside_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/tag\/food\/\" title=\"View all posts in food\" >food<\/a>s at bargain prices may se<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;\">Everyone is likely to face some form of culture shock when they move to a new country but those who come to China may experience the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/jobs\">worst shock of all.<\/a> China is famous for confounding ex-pats in surprising ways&#8230; \u00a0delicious foods at bargain prices may seem delightful until you realize what oil it&#8217;s prepared in!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/FiGHnEhNSbTiAgeTi_6QmyFn6eZ4?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"1.jpg\" width=\"589\" height=\"349.47333333333336\" title=\"\"><\/i><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Most cities in China have very convenient and economic <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"inside_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/tag\/transport\/\" title=\"View all posts in transport\" >transport<\/a>ation to help you reach your destination. (Watch out for traffic while crossing the cross walk!) Chinese people are famous for being friendly to expats (but obviously, restaurant servers are not included).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;\">Here we list 5 ways that will leave most <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"inside_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/tag\/foreign\/\" title=\"View all posts in foreign\" >foreign<\/a>ers in shock when arriving to the \u201cMiddle Kingdom\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/#1_Learning_%E2%80%9CPotty_Training%E2%80%9D_%E2%80%A6Again\" title=\"1.\u00a0 Learning \u201cPotty Training\u201d &#8230;..Again\">1.\u00a0 Learning \u201cPotty Training\u201d &#8230;..Again<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/#2_Its_All_About_Chopsticks\" title=\"2.\u00a0 It\u2019s All About Chopsticks!\">2.\u00a0 It\u2019s All About Chopsticks!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/#3_Dance_Grannies_Dance\" title=\"3.\u00a0 Dance! Grannies, Dance!!!!\">3.\u00a0 Dance! Grannies, Dance!!!!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/#4_Sunflower_Seed_Cracking_Machine\" title=\"4.\u00a0 Sunflower Seed Cracking Machine\u00a0\">4.\u00a0 Sunflower Seed Cracking Machine\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china\/#5_No_Long_Pinkie_Nails_Are_NOT_for_Drugs\" title=\"5.\u00a0 No, Long Pinkie Nails Are NOT for Drugs\">5.\u00a0 No, Long Pinkie Nails Are NOT for Drugs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Learning_%E2%80%9CPotty_Training%E2%80%9D_%E2%80%A6Again\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #e33737;\">1.\u00a0 <strong>Learning \u201cPotty Training\u201d &#8230;..Again<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/FmvcZk8FCwBgwEFagyDGhPts51-B?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"2.jpg\" width=\"589\" height=\"208\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;\">Using the toilet becomes a difficult issue &#8212; squatting toilets are common in China, so you\u2019ll have to learn the \u201cAsian squat\u201d first!!!! Doing the \u201cAsian squat\u201d could be tricky for some foreigners, for you\u2019ll have to squat flat-footed instead of standing on the front sole.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;\">Many foreigners find the stance required to use Chinese toilets difficult, hence they choose to only use their toilet at home or claim the disabled toilet in public without <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.cambridge.org\/dictionary\/english\/hesitation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hesitation<\/a>. Fo some, learing to &#8220;hold it in&#8221; until they can locate \u00a0a proper squatting toilet (not for the disabled, no dirty foot prints or &#8220;left overs&#8221; from the previous user), may be more difficult than the actual squatting position!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Its_All_About_Chopsticks\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #e33737;\">2.\u00a0 It\u2019s All About Chopsticks!<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/FuYO-kVvTXmc6CP1nGeH-bqlS6JF?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"3.jpg\" width=\"606\" height=\"457\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: start;\">#\u201cCan I have a spoon for the beans?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: start;\">\u201cWhy? You\u2019ve got chopsticks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: start;\"># \u201cDon&#8217;t turn up your finger while using chopsticks, it&#8217;s like pointing, and it&#8217;s rude\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: start;\">\u00a0 \u201cOk\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon&#8217;t leave food stuck to your chopsticks. It&#8217;s like placing incense at a funeral. where are your manners?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: start;\">\u00a0 \u201cGot it\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: start;\">\u00a0\u201cDon&#8217;t stick your chopsticks straight up in the rice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 \u201cYeah!!!!! I&#8217;m going to kill myself if you keep talking!!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/Fpx8R-sdJWIjzLWGysGjV-FP9VY5?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"4.jpg\" width=\"589\" height=\"373.1032028469751\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p># \u201cI need something to tie my hair.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, here you go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s a chopstick?!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, I know\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/FmfLu5DBh7AoSOOIEnpVZac2ik8X?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"5.jpg\" width=\"589\" height=\"884.3536231884058\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">(Picture is from the movie \u201c\u5251\u96e8\u6c5f\u6e56\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>#&#8221;What\u2019s the weapon they used in that Kungfu movie?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Chopsticks!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\u2026\u2026&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Dance_Grannies_Dance\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #e33737;\">3.\u00a0 Dance! Grannies, Dance!!!!<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/FsAKJJUcWbEITrcifaLB4mErOYSC?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"6.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"406\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;\">The \u201cSquare dance\u201d is quite popular in China, especially for Granny&#8217;s. Different from typical flash mobs, these organised grandmothers operate at a whole new level. The volume of their music is enough to wake you from the deepest sleep no matter what floor \u00a0you live on and their choice of music-on loop- is enough to keep most people far away. These famous dancing grandmas would be easy to dislike unless you have seen them, their happiness is contagious as they groove to their awful music and shine brightly as some of the happiest looking people in all of China.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Sunflower_Seed_Cracking_Machine\"><\/span><b><span style=\"color: #e33737;\">4.\u00a0 Sunflower Seed Cracking Machine\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/Fg0pUj303pQZvnwc32D2HiMgdV7w?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"7.jpg\" width=\"589\" height=\"786.4682080924855\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">(Sunflower seed shell art, hope you&#8217;re teeth are alright\u2026)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunflower seeds are a popular snacks in China. What shocks people is how skillful and fast Chinese people can crack open and eat them. \u201cCrack! crack! crack!\u201d\u2026they can eat a whole package in no time, seemingly with little effort \u2026\u2026like cracking machine!<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_No_Long_Pinkie_Nails_Are_NOT_for_Drugs\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #e33737;\">5.\u00a0 No, Long Pinkie Nails Are NOT for Drugs<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/Fly4YoqWrB4nCXTWobPod_S83EfH?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"8.jpg\" width=\"589\" height=\"537.6585956416465\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;\">A popular question among foreigners is \u201cWhy do Chinese men have that long pinky fingernail?!\u201d Many assume this nail is for the white powder Columbia is \u00a0infamous for and feel disgusted when they discover the truth. Long Nails are often used to scratch or pick hard to reach places like nose and ears to name a few, in addition to the more traditional reason. Some Chinese people believe a long picky finger nail is a sign of longevity if the nail reaches or passes the first joint of the adjacent ring finger, hoping to achieve a longer life. It&#8217;s unlikely this trend will catch on with foreigners anytime soon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Are there any other examples of \u201cCulture shock\u201d in China that have amazed, stupefied, or horrified you?Please share with us in the comments below!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.hiredchina.com\/FlXXlKXBxtykYAuKbjvAxKMwIbVH?imageView2\/0\/format\/webp\/q\/75\" alt=\"GIC.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"543.2937181663837\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Everyone is likely to face some form of culture shock when they move to a new country but those who come to China may experience the worst shock of all. &#8230;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[3618,60,1780,1972,306,29,34,1782,3205],"class_list":["post-755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-funny","tag-5-epic-examples-of-culture-shock-in-china","tag-china","tag-food","tag-foreign","tag-hiredchina","tag-jobs","tag-jobs-in-china","tag-transport","tag-transportation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=755"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25682,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755\/revisions\/25682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}