At first ,I thought, do they just not care about the environment here? What is the point of a recycling bin if people don’t use it accurately?
Instead of asking these questions, I chose to keep silent and assumed that Chinese people don't care about protecting the Earth. But a few days later, I saw a cleaning lady go through the bins and sort everything. She put the plastic bags and bottles into the recycling bin, and all the waste into the trash can. After talking with my Chinese friends, I had a realization. It’s not that people don’t care; it’s just that most people don’t know which stuff goes into which bin. So to make it easier, the cleaning folks help sort the waste properly.
3. Learn the language
People always appreciate it when you try to speak their language. It shows a sign of respect--that you care enough to learn about their language and culture. Plus you won’t get ripped off for being a foreigner.
So just a quick lesson:
English: Hi, I am ________(insert name).
Chinese: 你好，我是________(insert name)。(ni hao, wo shi _______)
Sometimes I find China so strange that I feel like I'm living in a totally different universe. It's as if I rode on a magic carpet to a different galaxy and am so far from home! But it's been a very special journey, and China will always have a special place in my heart.
