Culture Shock Knocks on My Front Door and Says "Ni Hao!"

OR HOW BERKELEY, CA IS NOT REALLY KENSINGTON, MD OR OBERLIN, OH FOR THAT MATTER

Welcome to my new blog! I am a Shansi fellow, destined for two years (2010-2012) of teaching and traveling in Asia. I will be teaching at Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China. I am currently at UC Berkeley studying Chinese for my upcoming adventure! For all of you who followed me in Germany, Mexico, England, and Ghana; please continue to expect the same amusing anecdotes, silly stories, and anthropological insights. This blog is meant to document my two year stint as a Shansi Fellow.

I graduated Oberlin College 2 weeks ago. The ceremony was fabulous. My biggest complaint was that the graduation outfits were rather mild. I am used to seeing graduates in tutus and bunny outfits or rollerblades and 60s garb. This year, my black graduation robe with silver combat boots and a blue sunhat with a black tassel was almost scandalous. Even though my class chose not to be as crazy as past years, I was proud of my outfit. Luckily, many of my relatives came out to support me, even my cousin Sophie! After rushed goodbyes and even more rushed packing, I headed to West Lafayette, IN, where I spent some brief days with a fellow graduate. Finally I put myself on a plane heading for Washington, D.C., my home city! At last I was on my family's huge, red, leather couch in front of a TV, thinking of nothing. My dream all semester!

It was hard being in the DC area for only a few days. There were lots of quick goodbye and even more packing. It all felt like a continuation of senior week, which was emotionally draining experience already.

Kensington, MD -- the suburb I grew up in -- is an interesting place. For example, the neighborhood I grew up in has a huge Catholic church with an adjoining K-8th school. A place that most of the families (mine excluded) spend much of their time. This fact led to experiences like having a family of 8+ kids living across the street, and god-fearing neighbors settling private disputes by inviting over one of the priests from the church. My family does not participate in these Catholic lifeways, though I did graduate from a Catholic high school, which I begrudgingly admit, was originally my choice to attend. For all that know me, you will know I am not religiously-minded and have quite a skeptical view of the Pope and the Catholic church.

With Liberal Oberlin and Catholic Kensington in my blood, I headed out to Berkeley, California on June 6th. On the plane ride over, I saw the most beautiful scenery. Most of the west coast is foreign to me. Flying over the Rockies was amazing! I moved into I-House, UC Berkeley's International House, where students from the US and abroad can live.

I came to Berkeley thinking I would know what to expect. Berkeley is a liberal place, full of hippies. UC Berkeley is a huge state university who would know me as a number. Little did I know how unprepared I was! Berkeley may be full of progressive people, but it is also full of homeless kids around my age, who beg for money for food for their pet dogs and for weed. Berkeley also has lots of non-hippies. I know this because I have the good fortune of living on one end of Frat Row -- I still can't believe that I go to a school that has fraternities and sororities! Also many of these hippies seem to be some of the original founders of the movement. Almost every day on my walk to Chinese class I see a protest held by people older than my parents. The kids here seem on average less liberal in dress, and maybe attitudes, than Oberlin. I didn't expect Oberlin to stay my shining beacon of Liberalness.



Already I have made friends here. My closest friends so far are two older Canadian women who are auditing classes over the summer and living in I-House too. I also introduced myself to some djembe players busking on the street and hope to be playing with them soon.

It is strange to work so hard to graduate and then find yourself in school 1 week after the ceremony. My current task is learning to NOT be a student who follows the syllabus in Chinese class but instead to become the driver of my learning. It's harder than you'd expect folks.