When I first moved away from the UK in 2019 it was a huge shock to my system. Even after months of what I thought was in depth research, I still felt completely out of place when I finally arrived in China. Over the 2 and a half years I spent there, I learned an enormous amount about Chinese culture and how to live and work with my colleagues and friends. It seems quite simple, but the differences are huge and can be very daunting especially for newcomers. Some obvious cultural differences would be things like food and money, but we often don’t consider changes to the tone of our voice, body language and facial expressions. What I considered to be totally normal turned out to be awkward, and in the worst case offensive. One that stands out to me is sticking your chopsticks into your bowl of rice. In the UK, if you are eating something and leave your spoon or fork in your bowl it doesn’t mean anything, but in China leaving chopsticks in your bowl of rice is a tradition at funerals.
Immersing yourself in an unfamiliar culture is already daunting, so what are some things we can do to help settle in quickly? The fastest way is always to make friends with someone who is from a different culture to you. Talking with someone about their life, how they grew up and what they like to do with their family will tell you a lot about their community. Watching local TV or social media is also a great way to understand body language, tones and gestures, and learn about popular topics.
By William Hopkins