Blog#1: Culture Shock

       It's been almost two years since I moved to America from China. When I look back on it now, there were so many funny, embarrassing and painful experiences because of cultural differences. The first culture shock is that many Americans don't have slippers. Once I invited an American friend to my home, and I prepared slippers for her as soon as she entered the door, but she didn't wear my slippers and walked barefoot. I was confused. I asked her, " Why don't you wear slippers?" She said, "I never wear slippers at home." It's not just her, a lot of Americans don't have either. Chinese people have all kinds of slippers. We have slippers for the living room, slippers for the winter and sippers for the outside. We feel that wearing slippers at home can keep your feet clean or safe, and also keep your feet warm. The second culture shock is hot water and ice water. The first time I went to an American restaurant was in December 2021, and it was very cold and snowing outside. So when I went to the restaurant, the waiter gave me a glass of water full of ice. I said I'd like hot water, please. And she said, " So you wanna hot tea?" I said, no, just hot water. And she looked at me like I'm a weirdo. It surprised me. In China, we drink hot water or warm water all the time because we think it's better for our health. In America, no matter whether they are in a period or not, no matter if they are sick or not, no matter winter or summer, they always drink cold water. Young people, old people and children all drink cold water. Although the culture shock makes me difficult to adapt, it also makes me better understand the differences between Chinese and American cultures.