Observations from China

May 10-20, 2006

Julie Gahimer PT, HSDKrannert School of Physical Therapy

University of Indianapolis

Provinces and Cities Visited

ProvincesJiangsuZhejiangShandongHebei

CitiesShanghaiHangzhouNingboQingdaoRizhouQufuBeijing

Health and Fitness

Prevalence of the martial arts, Tai Chi and calisthenics in parksUmbrellas to protect skin from the sunLots of pollution Lots of dust due to sandstorms in Siberia(car wash at the airport)They eat tomatoes and cucumbers for snacks routinelyOlder adults look very youngNo obesity, starting to see it in the younger kids

Health and Fitness

Spitting in public is acceptableEveryone seems to smokeSeems to be a lot of emphasis on the body, mind and spiritFen Shway

Nutrition/Food

Tea leaves, not tea in packetsFruit at the end of each meal, no dessertsNo empty glasses of wine or beer at banquetsTea served at every mealBanquets with 13-28 dishes on a lazy susanTsingtau Beer at lunch and dinnerChopsticks used at every mealLots of varieties of food

Nutrition/Food

No diet drinksNo decaffinated coffeeDon’t routinely serve coffeeStarbucks, McDonalds, and KFC everywhere7/11 stores everywhere in Shanghai

Nutrition/Food

Interesting preparation of vegetablesPresentation of food was beautifulWet wash clothes in paper at each mealLack of diversity of things to drink: lemonade, sprite, diet cokeNo ice in the drinksCan’t drink the water or rinse toothbrushYogurt milk, soy milk, warm milk, warm Tang

Driving Habits

Lots of honking, come to intersection “honk and go”Close calls with bicyclistsSheer number of bicyclesCyclos- push bicycles

Bathrooms

Women’s toilets are holes in the groundNo toilet paper in bathrooms, you must bring your ownNo paper towelsNo soap for hand washingKids don’t wear diapers, slits in clothing kids squat and use the restroom anywhereFoot pedal type flushers

Hotels

Slippers provided in hotel roomsStick key in the wall to activate and deactivate electricity in the roomTurn off the hot water between 11pm and 6 amDifference in price from University lodging and a 5 star hotel is only 50.00

Disabilities

Less acceptance of disabilities, not ADA accessible

Saw very few WC’sArchaeic types of crutchesGroup begging and pooling or assets

Interesting Seafood Eaten

EelSnailsScallopsJellyfishSquid/octopusShrimpCrabs

CrayfishAbaloneSea cucumberOystersSeaweedRock lobster

Other Interesting Food Eaten

DonkeyGoosePigeonQuail LegsDuck

Miscellaneous Cultural Differences

Little smiling, a sign of embarrassmentWomen hikers wear high heals to the Great WallThey take lots of pictures, everyone has a digital cameraSincerity of the peopleA desire to take “westerners” picturesMop the carpet

Miscellaneous Cultural Differences

Number of VW’s and ToyotasHeight of thresholds and tubsNumber of motorized vehiclesRickshawsPool tables located outsideWashing clothing in the riverA small city is one of 5 million

Miscellaneous Cultural Differences

Red lanterns denote a restaurantCan’t really tell that it is a Communist CountryA country of the very new and very old, traditional and modernGombay with toasting at meals means to chug your drinkThey call us Foreigners

Miscellaneous Cultural Differences

No clothes dryers, hang clothes to dryThey take great pride in their historyNo English Speaking TV stations, even in the big citiesJapanese television shows with Chinese subtitlesPeople are pretty much the same as we are

Miscellaneous Cultural Differences

Haircuts given on the streetGirls holding hands and having their arms around one anotherExpandable stools for persons to sit on in the streetAmericans cannot drive in ChinaBargaining in the marketplaceFlight delays due to the Chinese Air Force performing maneuvers