“你的中文说得非常好!” (nǐ de zhōngwén shuō de fēicháng hǎo)

This is the statement any non-Chinese person will hear by uttering a simple “你好” (nǐ hǎo, hello). It means “You speak Chinese extremely well!” and people say it whether it’s true or not. One of my biggest surprises arriving was hearing this from the front desk lady (阿姨, ā yi) of my dorm building. Since then, I have heard it said all throughout my time here, and it has made me think more deeply about Chinese culture and the implications that come with being a foreigner here as well as around the world.

While I believe my Mandarin is relatively good and has improved in the almost two weeks I have been here, there have been conversations I have had with 当地人 (dāng dì rén, locals) in which my vocabulary and tones have been plain messy and subpar. Yet still, I seem to always receive the same appreciative smile and respect for my efforts. I greatly appreciate this aspect I have seen regarding Chinese culture. In contrast with the United States, advanced English language skills tend to be more of an expectation than a special initiative one can take to connect with the local culture. Here, a smile earns you respect, and a “你好” gets you the world. While the completely Mandarin-dominated environment may not make this the easiest place for a complete newcomer to the Chinese language (a few of whom exist in my program), it certainly stays livable, as the people that surround you will almost always be willing to help. You may even be asked by locals to take pictures with them!

To be in an environment further from home than anyone in my family has ever been would usually come with some pretty heavy culture shock. And I can’t say that I have been completely immune to it. But I can confidently say that none of it has come from the attitudes of those around me.