China Week

I don't have alot of time to write, so here is my feedback to my trip leader:

What I gained:
I have never been in a “second world country.” I love in a fairly developed country where luxuries are quite apparent, and I have spent time in less developed countries where not only is luxury scarce, but infrastructure is also weak. In Shao Guan, there is not much luxury, yet the infrastructure is very present. This “second world” culture opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking about how society can run. I was able to discuss this during our family dinner (the family of the student of the school we visited) which was a very fruitful cultural exchange.

Did I enjoy it? / What was interesting to me?

I enjoyed our trip very much. I was amazed at how much less culture shock I felt in China than in Hong Kong. I felt especially at home during our stay with the Yao Tribe, who’s people reminded me very much of the characters in my rural childhood. This made my think that perhaps 2 people who live off the land, or 2 people that live in a city have more in common than 2 people of the same nationality or race. Furthermore, it made me feel that perhaps economic class is, in the globalized capitalist world, is, for good or ill, becoming more important that race or culture. Long story short this trip got me thinking about thing more important than strange meat and alien toilets.

Personal evaluation
At times I felt subjugated by the unavoidable environmental-unawareness of the group. For example, many people were very noisy and or taking a lot of pictures at times that I felt was inappropriate. However I realized that I can only control my own actions, and that I cannot force people to conform to my definitions of sensitive or considerate. After controlling my emotions everything went much smoother.
I forgot to double bolt the door in my room, and in consequence some of our host’s property was stolen. I feel that I did my best to take responsibility and resolve the problem. I received a reality check, and I hope that the consequences were not too harsh negative for my leader, LPC and the Shao Guan University community. This experience has brought to light my deeper need to adapt to urban culture from a very different upbringing, and my new world in Hong Kong with more assertion.