Even in the land of China nothings really blown my mind and really freaked me out in the, "culture shock" sense. I didn't even lose it when I casually found out that most Chinese women don't shave their armpits but still wear tank tops to the gym (but that's a story for another time).
Now that I've been here for two weeks I figured there was nothing major left to shock me. Yeah, I still expect a few, "whoa, that's different" moments but nothing that would truly make my jaw drop to the floor and make me yell OH MY FREAKING GOD WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?!
Keep in mind that I started writing this post at 9:29pm on September 11th...do you know when I realized it was the September 11th? Sadly at approximately 9:20pm when my iPhone lit up to show me today's date.
The last time I went through the eleventh day of September without a single care in the world was in 2000. Ever since then on this day I've done something in honor of those who had fallen on September 11, 2001. When I was younger it was something simple, wear a red, white, and blue shirt and have a moment of silence throughout the school. To much deeper ways of remembrance like singing the National Anthem a cappella in one class and talking about every detail everyone could remember from 2001 in most of the others, and joining in large group prayer sessions when I was in high school.
What did I do today? I spoke Chinese, I took dictation, I ate at my favorite food stand on campus, and had time to take a nap. Until now, I did nothing based on the fact that it was 9/11.
Now that, I believe, is true culture shock. For over half of my life this day has been filled with remembrance, prayer, discussion; at the very least a few more American flag pins/shirts being worn in public than on the average day.
And today, my first 9/11 out of the country - I was almost oblivious to it.
It totally blows my mind that right now, in China billions of people had "just another day"; and right now in my home country billions of people are dealing with the fact that today is the day.
It just makes me wonder...how many people in China realized the significance of today's date? How many people in American realize when it's the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre (It's June 4th btw)? I'm constantly reminded of what a small world it is - but today the world has never seemed so large. I feel like my hometown is in a different solar system. I think I know what culture shock feels like now.
So America, while my the day is coming to a close, your's has only just begun. And to you I say, I love you. I will always keep you and your military men and women in my prayers. I miss you much and always wear a huge smile on my face whenever I get the chance to say 我是一个美国人 (I am an American).
One thing I love about Chinese is if you translate 美国 (America) literally is that it comes out as the beautiful （美）country （国）.
Until next time -
xoxo,
Princess Jessica
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