P Is *So* Chinese.
One of the many things I’ve yet to figure out about the Chinese is their love of having their photos taken while standing in front of largely insignificant landmarks. I think this icon by Liu Young does a great job of depicting Eastern versus Western ways of experiencing travel.
When we first arrived, P was clearly Western in her orientation toward travel photography and vehemently protested every time I tried to take any sort of staged photo of her. For example, this is the best shot I could get of her back in February standing in front of Tsinghua’s Grand Auditorium.
Four and a half months of Chinese living have obviously changed P. As we were walking home from lunch yesterday, she stopped and said, “Oh, Look! Take my picture in front of this big circle, please.”
Before I took the picture, she handed me her doggy bag and said, “This pizza will make the picture look bad, so you hold it.” She seemed to have no problem with the mountains of garbage behind her big circle, though.
I suppose this particular effect of Chinese culture on P is harmless enough. With digital photography, it’s not like I’ll have to pay to develop all the photos of her posing in front of every trash can and manhole cover we pass. I will, however, have to work on changing her newly-acquired Chinese habit of dropping her drawers and relieving herself outside every time the urge strikes her. The grass on our lawn back home is probably in bad shape right now, but I’d still like to preserve what’s left of it.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:22 am
Jack got in trouble (not too bad) for going to the bathroom on the playground his first week at his new school – poor thing probably waited until the last minute and had no idea where to go. I’d like to see the savvy four year old that can relieve herself outside without messing up her shorts/dress. I am sure that is P.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I ain’t sayin nothin…. ;-P