Updates from Denny and April:
Denny and I have country hopped from a year in China back to the United States. It’s been about a week of traveling. We flew from Qingdao to Shanghai, China. We visited for a few days and enjoyed the international city’s elite third wave origin coffee shops. From there we flew to L.A. and was there for a day layover and of course again, we went coffee tasting for flavors of the month for Denny’s new business, Third Wave Coffee Club. We’re currently now in IL visiting Denny’s family for a couple weeks.
Best International Flight
This trip Denny and I experienced our first best international flight. Listen closely, we slept comfortably on the plane. Yes, actually slept and had no disrupted sleep. This was my first international flight where I actually had leg room because I was laying in a recliner. The other best part, the person in front of me didn’t disrupt my space. The other times I flew economy I always had the person in front of me recline their chair to where I would have very little space. My husband is a genius and knows how to travel hack. Our international flight cost us a total of $35 each and we flew business class.Hallelujah, praise to God for business class.
Before the flight we had the privilege of whizzing through airport security because we were business class. Yeah, for skipping long lines. We enjoyed ourselves in the business lounge which had a meal, snacks, and a vast variety of drinks. (With complimentary mood lighting to set us at ease for our 13 hour flight. It’s the details that make a difference.) During the actually flight we had incredible service by a woman named Susan. It was refreshing to experience customer service because it’s really difficult to find in China; tips are not expected in the service industry. In business class you should expect: a comfortable recliner, your own personal television that you can hand select any movie, television or music option you desire, really expensive headphones (that block out the noise of flying an aircraft), esquiste meals/ drinks and the options of snacks (Did I mention Denny got to eat a large sundae?). If you are interested in learning how to land this kind of sweet deal contact Denny at Denny@3wave.cc. If he gets enough interest he might write a book on it. Travel hacking is the way to go! Our next stop is hopefully somewhere in South America.
Below I list 15 ideas I miss and appreciate about the Chinese culture.
15 Positive Attributes to love About China:
- Life in the streets. Houses in China are typically what Westerners would consider apartments and because they are small they encourage people to do life in the streets. It’s a common site to see Chinese hanging outside drinking tea and watching their offspring or dog. I love that I had the opportunity of knowing my neighbor. One of my favorite sweet surprises was seeing the toddler across the hall. He was usually butt naked and would play peek-a-boo with me behind his front door.
- Being able to witness the many creations that God made. I can’t explain the feeling in words on how it feels as a Westerner to see so many different people on a daily basis in China. Sometimes my mind would be so shocked that I had to stand back and just admire on how each person was different. This positive trait of China was really obvious to me when I walked the streets of Los Angeles, it felt like a ghost town compared to the streets of China. I asked Denny, “Where is everyone?” When we got on the elevator of the Sheraton in L.A. Denny said, “You could fit 30 Chinese people on here.” Space is used efficiently in China.
- Time to rest while being being transported. I usually preferred the bus for short routes because then I could read. During my walks to work I had the opportunity to listen to podcast. I love using my time to it’s maximum potential.
- Having the ability to fill my stomach at cheap restaurants buy cheap food. I assure you the quality of food isn’t the same as it’s in America but it got the job done. I found a juice bar in China that would make me veggi juice for about $2. When I returned to the states I got one and it was $6 for a smaller version. Pocket book prepare to cry.
- There is easy accessible produce on the streets, aka farmers’ markets. Ya know, the expensive quality local produce vendors in America? Yeah, it’s half the price in China, sometimes not great quality but maybe it has less pesticides. That’s a guess in the ballpark, but some of the produce was smaller than what you would see in an American grocery store. Food shopping in China is simpler. As a grocer you don’t have as many options. This simplicity feeds a calming life.
- Space to wander uncharted territory and the promise to be out of your comfort zone. I love this idea even more now after reading that being uncomfortable spurs a person’s creativity. If it wasn’t for China I wouldn’t have been inspired to start the 10,000 Smiles Project. If your an artist flee your country and get uncomfortable, creativity will follow you.
- Witnessing and surrounding myself with continuous exercise. Many cities in China promote biking. It’s a blessing to see the elderly out and about moving, even if it’s slow at least they are moving. It was one of my favorite pastimes saying hello, smiling (of course) and making their day. Americans could learn to adapt this active cultural lifestyle. I pray to God I don’t forget to implement continuous motion like the Chinese.
- Being in an environment that encouraged family style dinners. If you ever visit China you will notice that each dish comes out at different times versus all at once. If your the type that is always wanting a little of what that person is having, hey you might be Chinese like me. =)
- Being surrounded with like minded adventurous people. Denny and I had the opportunity to meet people who share the same vision as us of really traveling the world. Not just dreaming but actually making it a reality. I will miss knowing so many expats. This year I basically met half of the countries in the world. Even countries I had never heard of; blame my geography teacher.
- Being accustomed to city life. We met a guy on the plane. Imagine that? And he commented that because of Denny and my personality he was surprised we didn’t live in a major city like L.A. or New York. I am starting to agree. The city has so much going on.
- Having to rely heavily on my sense of reading body language. My skills have improved above the average person, beware. I loved how body language bridge the gap communicating with children. Charades was a common game I played with the elderly.
- Being completely shielded from advertising. When you don’t understand the language you can’t get advertised. I love leading a less distracted life. Can you imagine that? If not, live in China.
- Being protected from promiscuous ads. Sex is not in your face which I am sure helps protects everyone’s mind.
- The ability to not know what people are saying. It keeps life simple and less distracting. You can’t understand a neighboring conversation. People talking in this foreign language that you don’t understand puts you in a world of your own.
- The number one attribute that is in your face that I recognized while going through the cultural shock of returning to my home is how much space there is in the American infrastructure. In China space is used to it’s fullest potential. We went to an AT&T to get a sim card and I noticed the store was 4 times the size of a mobile store in China and with a 5% density of people. We went to a Chipotle and I noticed how far the tables are from each other. WOW, Americans we have so much space. The United States is a home on the range, a “home where the buffalo roam”.
Now Denny and I are in the reverse cultural shock phase. It’s weird seeing the U.S. through the eyes of a Chinese. If you have been an expat, what attribute(s) did you miss from the country you left? Which ideas do you relate to or would add to the above list? If you have never traveled abroad which cultural aspects do you like from the above list?
10,000 Smiles
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