After a two hour train ride, we arrived in Guangzhou. When I passed immigration and customs, something greeted me in the women’s restroom: a hole in the ground.
It’s strange how, though this city isn’t too far from Hong Kong, many of the customs and habits of the population are so different here. Though Guangzhou has experienced urbanization, increased trade and the creation of industrial zones over the past few decades, there are still stark differences between this city and the more westernized Hong Kong.
1. For example, the language barrier: Communicating with cab drivers, restaurant servers, and retail workers is extremely difficult if you don’t know basic words in Mandarin (or at least have a translation packet with you).
2. Being stared at: Speaking honestly, we were the only American crowd I saw in Guangzhou, and the locals realized this. Being spotted by passersby and having our photos taken were not an uncommon occurrence.
3. Plumbing: Many locations in Guangzhou didn’t have “western” toilets, and I had to get used to keeping my mouth shut while I showered (the tap water isn’t exactly potable).
4. Supporting beggars: Though there were beggars in Hong Kong, it was quite disheartening to see poverty in Guangzhou. Sadly, we had to learn the hard way not to donate much to them. One night, after I gave a small donation to a young girl holding flowers, a horde of other beggars followed my group for a few blocks.
Standing in front of Guangxiao Temple in Guangzhou.
I don’t mean for this list of barriers to sound like complaints. In a huge way, these barriers served as learning lessons – experiences that taught me how other populations perform day-to-day tasks. After all, the trip wouldn’t have felt like much of a “trip” to a foreign location if it weren’t for cultural differences. These differences are what makes the trip worthwhile; they’re what create the global experience.
I’m not saying traveling to Guangzhou suddenly turned me into an adaptable traveler who understands what it’s like to live in foreign countries: This city is still one of the most westernized in China, and there are plenty of places that live in extremely lower circumstances than those in the west. However, this trip was a small step in learning how to adjust to different customs. It gave me a taste of what it’s like to be a foreigner, and by the time I left Guangzhou, I couldn’t help myself from wanting more of these diverse experiences.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll travel to other countries some time soon. If anything, I hope to expand my understanding of how others in this unique world live.
