(Literally rather than figuratively) — Oh China…

Since I’m living in Shanghai (the world’s largest city) and can’t do without some nature every now and then – but what living thing can? – I’m a regular park walker. Even after many walks they’re still special, because I see things here that I would never see back home.

These are some wonderful Chinese habits you’ll most definitely be able to witness during your weekend stroll through the park:

People playing games

In most parks in China you’ll find locals socializing over a game of cards. Especially the early mornings, late evenings and weekends are busy times. The places they pick for their games seem to be very random: I’ve seen them on benches, rocks, tables, next to toilets and in bicycle parking lots.

Since they are local men and women and (most of them) thus don’t speak English, I never found out which games they’re playing. One of the games I do know is Mahjong. We’ve got the Western version, they have the Chinese one with a completely different set of rules. Therefore, joining them might be a bit tough!

People singing

It’s hard for me to judge if their voices are any good, since after 6 months of studying I still can’t express much more than ‘你好’ and ‘谢谢’ (‘hi’ and bye’). Sometimes they’re just singing to empty air, sometimes some people gather around and take turns singing. Mostly they’re accompanied by some Chinese tune. It’s like advanced outdoor KTV. I love KTV, but somehow one of the few Comfort Zone Challenges I didn’t dare to complete yet is ‘Sing a song in public’.

First of all, my singing voice is not great – thanks mom, for those genes 😉 – , second of all: many Dutch people are kind but quite modest or shy when it comes to these things. We have a frequently used saying “Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg”, which means something like: “Just act normal, you’re acting crazy enough as it is!”.

However those people’s voices, I have to give them credit for trying!

People dancing in China

Groups of local people gather daily in the parks and streets to dance a typical Chinese dance. Sometimes they’re solo dances, sometimes it’s more like couples ballroom dancing.

I joined them a few times and had so much fun. Everyone will be happy to teach you, so don’t be hesitant to try! Often they dance to Chinese tunes, but sometimes to surprisingly modern day music. Once I heard Rihanna’s ‘Only girl in the world’ (OK, already came out in 2010, but still not very Chinese) blasting out of the speakers in the park, only to find about 40 women dancing their Chinese dance to it.

It’s not for nothing that in most parks you’ll find decibel meters to measure noise levels.

People playing the èrhú

Of course I’ve seen people play instruments before, but here I’ve seen them way more often and also playing a very populair Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument, much like a violin: the èrhú. I would describe it’s sounds as basic but beautiful, and relaxing.

People practicing Tai Chi

Of course: Tai Chi, the Chinese martial art. Although people in China generally don’t do sports like I know them (read: swimming, running, playing soccer), they do exercise. Popular sports for youth are basketball and gym for guys and badminton for both guys and girls. I got invited for some badminton myself a couple of times during my time in Shanghai and enjoyed picking up this sport I used to do when I was younger.

If kite-flying is considered a sport: always kites to find in open park spaces. The older generation likes to walk, stretch and practice Tai Chi. Sometimes alone, sometimes in groups. They don’t seem to care much about an audience. They seem to practice it mostly for the health benefits as strength, coordination and flexibility.

People walking backwards

The first time I saw someone walking backwards I was stunned. What on earth was he doing? I remember thinking: It must be for some kind of challenge.

But the more I saw this appearance, the more I realized I was the weird one here for finding this strange.

When talking to my Chinese friends and colleagues I found out their reasons. Again they mentioned health benefits, which Chinese people care about a lot. They assume walking backwards to be good for improving coordination. And they do have a good point. Compare it to our convincing research about using the ‘other’ hand. It’s supposed to increase connections between our hemispheres, improves our creativity and even make us more open-minded!

Interesting… I know using my left hand for eating and brushing my teeth is difficult; using it for writing and putting on make-up must be downright impossible.

Should I make friends with Lefty? Challenge accepted!

People sleeping

This doesn’t just happen in parks, but basically everywhere. Restaurants, cars, scooters, sidewalks, you name it.. Where you probably get arrested for it in some parts of Europe, here it’s nothing but normal. Can’t say I hate this habit of taking naps in random places 😉

There are many other ‘strange’ habits you’ll encounter in China. But when you think about it: not so strange after all. Tapping arms and legs, stretching, walking backwards.. Surely will bring us something good.

One last thing.. Since at least 90% of the people engaging in those activities and habits belongs to the older generation and the newer generations are not picking it up much, I’m afraid those things are slowly becoming less and less.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually – unfortunately! – disappears completely.

Have a wonderful day 🙂

In 2017, I left my old life to become an English teacher in Shanghai.

I was lucky enough to find a school – within a day! – that really cares about the quality of the classes. Up front I’d heard so many horror stories about rip-offs, payments that were never made, gossips in the office and visas that weren’t valid… But none of this happened to me. Either those things don’t happen that often after all OR I was just very lucky. Either way, my teaching in Shanghai has been an amazing experience. Most of the time.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job.

But dealing with 70 tiny humans every single week can sometimes be slightly exhausting

(I now understand how my high school teachers got burned out)

Even though it’s not always a bed of roses, I’m surely gonna miss my wonderful colleagues and most of all: the kids!

During this last year, every now and then there would be some special moment where I suddenly realized how every single one of my young learners has his or her very own unique personality. Even though sometimes characteristics could be perceived as tiring, it’s what makes them… well… them.

My students in Shanghai

That little boy who’s always quiet but smiling.

The boy who seems to be in puberty at 7 and keeps grabbing my ass. Once he asked us for the English terms of boobs and dick. We told him maybe in a later class we would cover this. We never did.

The 3-year-old boy who knows everything but pronounces nothing the right way.

The girl with only one wish: to sit next to her friend in class.

The girl who’s always pulling my shirt in search of some attention.

The girl who is incredibly tall for her age, like her mom.

The popular boy in class, never afraid to say something.

The leading girl: whatever she does, every other girl follows.

The boy who keeps answering: ‘I’m 7, I’m old’ instead of ‘I’m 7 years old’.

The little boy who looks and behaves like a miniature adult.

The little boy who gets naughtier every class.

The girl whose only desire, from class 1, is to dance.

The boy who, after 7 months, finally joined us in dancing and playing games.

The boy who likes pink and is therefore always wearing something pink. Pink even became his second name.

The little boy who is still too shy to greet me after 8 months, but nevertheless always is happy.

The boy who, after many months of fighting, finally stopped running out of the classroom every 5 minutes.

The 3-year-old girl who is the perfect student: quiet, but always excited and happy. Except for that one time she forgot her workbook. She quietly cried for 1,5 hours.

And also…

The boy who takes us to hell and back when he gets fewer stickers than other children.

The barely 3-year-old girl who’s still a baby and more often than not is sleeping in her chair. Luckily, some of the older girls in class like to play mommy and take care of her.

The older girl that knows every answer to every question.

The boy with too much energy, and never ever sits down.

The girl who always tries to help everyone.

The boy who, after 7 months, can finally survive one class without the comforting presence of his mom.

The girl who’s always wearing the most beautiful dresses.

The girl who – for unknown reasons, lays down on the floor for most of the class.

The little girls whose nerves make her cry every time we have to take a test.

The boy who’s always just mumbling a lot of not understandable things in Chinese.

The little boy who never answers but just smiles at me.

The boy who’s super cute because of his big head. I tried to pick him up once and almost broke my back.

The girl who doesn’t understand much but just sits quietly to watch.

All the girls who just want to dance to Elsa from Frozen.

All the boys who never agree.

Sweethearts; Thank you for the wonderful times we had playing, dancing, laughing, crying, asking and answering, reading, listening, writing, talking, screaming, whispering, learning and discovering.

I’ll miss you!

** For anyone who’s considering to do the same: I would highly recommend it. It’s such an adventurous and rewarding experience. And: Shanghai is a very special city.

Keep on reading:

The Yellow Mountains: a beautiful 3-day getaway from Shanghai