|
by LAUREN BRIGMAN
Intern News Reporter
While studying abroad at Suzhou University in China last summer, junior global studies major Amanda C. Clark experienced life as a typical Chinese student, sharing a room with six to seven girls who were lucky to have one shower on the hall.
“If you go somewhere and don’t know the language, you’re stuck in your own bubble,” Erin L. Runyon, junior global studies major said.
Runyon also participated in the study abroad experience.
Accompanying her
Harvard-bound husband, foreign language and literature professor Wei
“Wendy” Xie first came from China to the United States in 2000.
Xie said being a minority in a new country allows individuals to start from scratch, and both Clark and Runyon can relate.
After living in Germany for almost three years, Xie became a resident
of New Haven, Conn., attending Yale University and earning a degree in
German literature.
Xie then moved to Arkansas, where she was a visiting professor at Hendrix College for one year.
Though Xie experienced a snowstorm during her job interview in March,
it did not sway her desire to become a professor at Appalachian State
University.
Upon her arrival and after encountering a foreign language barrier, Xie began introducing herself as “Wendy.”
To
diminish pronunciation errors, Xie said she often introduces herself by
saying, “I’m the Wendy,” referring to the mascot from Wendy’s fast food
chain, believing it is more convenient to adapt to the American culture
than become offended.
Now a Boone resident, Xie said there are many differences between Chinese and American culture.
She was
shocked when her colleagues did not ask personal questions, including,
for example, how much money she paid for her house.
She said
no topic is off-limits in the Chinese culture and many have no problem
asking questions regarding ones weight, age or salary.
In
China, having close contact is not out of the ordinary, whereas
American citizens feel violated if one enters their personal space, Xie
said.
In
China, she said, the concept of public fundraising is unheard of, and
most families support their family members but do not extend their
support to strangers.
As far as Xie’s future plans go, she hopes to travel back to Germany to teach and brush up on the German language.
She is
currently beginning to familiarize herself with Boone and has visited
several local restaurants, including New China Buffet, Hunan Chinese
Restaurant and The Peddler Steak House.
She has yet to dine at Wendy’s.
Trackback(0)
 |
Lifestyles 
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments
