What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the word, “China?” Is it expensive dishware? Giant pandas?  Whatever your thoughts are, they are probably completely different from the image the United States brings to mind. Even with the cultural differences, it’s possible to navigate through Chinese culture.

There are countless differences between the United States and China, so I’ll touch upon the basic cultural differences I noticed during my month abroad.

The first and one of the biggest differences you’ll notice is hygiene.  Typically, after stepping off the plane, you head straight for a bathroom break. After departing my flight I did just that. I stood in line waiting for an open stall. As I inched closer to the front of the line, I noticed a woman handing out a pieces of tissue from a dispenser on the wall.  Weird, I thought after receiving my piece, what’s this for? Within five seconds I found my answer.

Surprise! Most Chinese bathrooms don’t provide toilet paper. Instead, you bring your own packets of tissues everywhere. In China, tissues aren’t just for blowing your nose but are used as toilet paper and napkins at restaurants too. The bring-your-own mentality extends to soap as well. Most bathrooms only provide a sink, so if you’re an American it’s a good idea to stock up on hand sanitizer and baby wipes.

On the bright side, nothing brings a group of strangers together like relying on each other for toilet paper and soap. Whenever anyone in my group was out of a necessity, we could thankfully rely on someone else to have our back.

The next largest difference between China and the United States is that the former heavily relies on mass transit. Taking a bus to the store or next town over in the States can be a chore, but in China it’s far easier than driving. Buses, cabs, and metros are cheaper alternatives to commuting via car. Cities in China are cramped with limited living space, so having a car on top of that is a hassle. Still, knowing someone with a car can be a plus, especially when you want to take a long or impromptu trip.

Other alternatives to traveling short distances are walking or riding bikes. Many people own mopeds or motorbikes instead of cars since they are easier to store.

The last, most noticeable cultural difference, combines language and food. Menus are written in Mandarin and don’t always have pictures of the food. Going out to eat can be a real struggle without anything to point at. If you know a bit of the language, even if it’s just spoken, ordering food becomes much easier.

Though it’s easier, it still can be quite difficult.  A girl in my group spoke Mandarin but couldn’t it, and felt terrible when the confused waiters or cashiers had to read her the menu after finding out about  her unique problem.

The food selection is, of course, different from common American foods, so while trying new dishes is a good way to embrace a new culture, it can also be negative to one’s health.  My personal tip is to be wary of cold foods, such as noodles and meats. My friend got sick twice after eating cold noodles, so it can pay off to be a picky, yet polite, eater.

Other cultural differences include the very common practice of smoking, girls who are friends holding hands, stylish outdoor wear, blunt or rude advice, and a large police and military presence.

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Christina Van Otterloo is a summer intern for Voy. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in anthropology at Arizona State University. After graduating she hopes to be a cultural journalist, educating all ages about various cultures and lifestyles both abroad and stateside. She enjoys learning about different cultures, studying languages, and listening to others’ experiences. Born in India, she was adopted into a Dutch family and raised in a Dutch community. Growing up in an ethnically-uniform bubble led her to explore cultural diversity through means such as television shows, video games, and books. College provided more cultural insight through friends and classes, which encouraged her to write for the sake of cultural awareness. Christina has traveled to many different states in America as well as China and Canada abroad. Her pastimes revolve around manga and foreign music. She currently resides in Modesto, California.
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