It is a rumor that was born from a period of time in Chinese history where people suffered from famine and starvation. In modern times, as society is becoming more globalized, food is definitely one aspect that draws people from all around the globe to different countries. China should be no exception. Every day, we have a tutoring session where we talk to our tutors about anything. The topic most often discussed is food. Much of the food in China has exotic-sounding names so this makes it fun for me to try new foods, especially when I have no idea what to expect. Personally for me, growing up in Hawaii has also shaped my expectations around food. I am prepared to always expect the unexpected.
One thing I have learned in China is about the societal concept of harmony. I believe many people accept this as one of the most important aspects of Chinese society. I have made friends in restaurants just talking about how my daily life differs here compared to back home and they happily helped me if I had any difficulty adjusting to the language barrier. Another point many bring up is that it's hard to converse because locals are not good at English. However, while taking classes, I have met many students who prepared entire presentations in English. Although college students are not necessarily representative of the entire population, I found that many people know English to some degree. As a visitor to this country, though, I should not expect people to speak English. Instead, it would be better to learn Chinese to the best of my ability so I am able to adapt to my environment and speak to the people here in their own language.
It's not until you put yourself in another person's shoes that you can try to understand their perspective.
