Writing Feedback / From China to America: Culture Shock (food, manner) - living in a new country [7]

I remember before I came to America, family members and friends all said that I wouldn't experience any culture shock, since I like KFC, McDonald's, Pizza, steak and salad already, and the fact that I speak fluent English is going to make my life in America a lot easier. All those things my family said to me were true, my capability to speak fluent English undoubtedly make communication with local people a piece of cake for me. But the food was not as easy as I thought. Besides culture shock doesn't limit to food and language, there are a lot of others things will be shocking to a foreigner.

Food is a big element in culture shock. A lot of times, when go to a new country, the ethnic cooking can be very difficult to adjust. I indulged myself with the western food long before I came to America. But after I came here, I found the American food I had in china has few similarities compare to the real American food here. The way they cook the steak, the excessive sweetness of the cake, the bitter saltiness of popcorn, the deep fried sea food was beyond my imagination. I watched American people eat cheese with apple. I remember the combination of the two was very disturbing to my stomach at the time. One time I went to restaurant wanting to eat some mushroom. When the food came, I looked at my dish, puzzled and asked "What is this?" "Fried mushroom." The waitress said. I laughed hysterically. Does American have to fry everything? I am not complaining about American food, I am just pointing out the "shock" I experienced when I fist came to this country. However after living here for almost 6 years, I love cheese and crackers, still unable to eat cheese with apple, somehow thinking the two together still make me vomit in my mouth a little bit. But who knows what will happen next year? I used to dislike American breakfast, now I love it so much. I had my fist bagel this year, and it was delicious. I still don't like pan cakes, but everyone else seems to love them, maybe one of these days I will try it, you never know what will happen.

Manner is another culture shock for me. When I just came to America, I was living in the town of 2000 people, which is very strange for me, due to the fact that I came from china where is extremely populous. I remember thinking beggars wouldn't be able to make a living here. Everyone was so friendly to me, strangers would say hi to me in supermarket, people would wave to me as they drive pass my car. I've never seen a person litter on the street since I came to this country. The fact that this country is so clean they wear the shoes they walk on the street inside the house was astonishing to me, because in china I've never been to a house where I don't have to take off my shoes at the door. It is considered to be very rude to walk into people's house with your shoes on. So I learned to ask the host if they prefer me to take off my shoes. Growing up mom always tell me to be humble, when people say I am smart, I am supposed to say "oh, no, I am not that smart." If I go to people's house, they offer me an apple, even if I want the apple, I am supposed to say "No, thank you." Unless they constantly offer it to me, then I can accept the apple. But in America, if a person come to me and says "You are very pretty." I would say "Thank you so much!" And if a host offer me an apple, if I want it, I'd better say yes, because they won't ask me several times like a Chinese person would.

Living in another country can be very difficult. A lot of things are going to be different in another country. If you want to adjust yourself to the culture, you almost have to brainwash yourself, learning whole new ways of living and socializing. There were so many things were strange to me, but now they seem so natural. I am not forgetting how to be a Chinese, I guess I am just Americanized a little bit.