First full week in Beijing

By Alex Matthews
July 17, 2008

Upon landing in this country 10 or so days ago, I had no expectations. China seemed unreal to me -- unfathomable really.  Who was I to know what to expect from a nation so far removed, both geographically and culturally from the U.S.? While I’ve traveled to Europe and Australia as well as tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean, I knew what I was about to experience in Beijing wouldn’t be even remotely comparable.

My initial nerves have settled for the most part, although every day presents a new adventure. Exploring all that the city and its surroundings has to offer has been incredible, but at the same time, exhausting. The language barrier continuously presents problems, yet these struggles are simply obstacles of navigating any new place.


I can say, however, that I’ve never felt so foreign and so far removed from an entire group. With 17 million people in Beijing, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but I find here that I stand out among the masses as well. At any given time in any public place, a quick scan never fails to confirm that almost all eyes are on me – studying, yes, but also staring. Especially outside the city, or in touristy areas where people from China’s countryside come to visit, I’m more than a white blonde, I’m some alien thing with dark skin and yellow hair – the cartoon Patty Mayonnaise come to life. Hey, I’d be scared too!

I’m steadily adjusting, and the long looks I receive have become more comical than frightening. We’re all one in the same with our fascination, our puzzlements and our fear. People here are just as weary of me as I am of them, if not more so.

China’s debuting itself and its people to the rest of the world, and the prospects of letting so many foreigners in at one time come with uncertainty. Hopefully, the Olympics will open up a new avenue for interaction and lessen the divide between cultures.

Yes, the language issue will persist, but perhaps people will connect on the most basic human level -- with a smile returning a smile, and a look of confusion being answered with someone willing to help. It’s taken me about a week to see it, but I’ve discovered the hospitality.