Don't stand so close to me!

I have recently come to China, and let me tell you, the way they use personal space here is out of this world!

As a Westerner, I'm used to having a certain bubble of personal space around me, but in China, that bubble gets seriously invaded.

The other day I was in a crowded market, trying to look at some goods. Suddenly, a man pushed past me so close that I could feel his breath on my face. I was so startled, I dropped my shopping bag! But then I realized, this is just how they do things in China.

Yesterday, I was in a restaurant, enjoying some delicious dumplings. But when I looked up, I realized that a stranger was standing right next to me, waiting for a table! I mean, I was practically in the next seat over. I was so shocked, I almost stuck my chopsticks in my nose instead of my mouth.

And let's not even talk about the public transportation! When I first got on a crowded bus, I felt like I was in a sardine can. There were people pressed up against me from every side, and I couldn't even lift my arms to hold onto the handrails. I just had to hold my breath and hope for the best!

But you know what? After a while, one sort of gets used to it. I have even started to enjoy the closeness of it all. It's like we were all in it together, you know?

Plus, it was a great excuse to practice my Mandarin. I mean, if you're going to be that close to someone, you might as well make small talk!

I have a feeling the density of population in China is one of the factors that contributes to the reduced personal space in many situations. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, China is the most populous country in the world, and many cities are very crowded. In places like markets, public transport, or even on the street, it can be difficult to find enough space for everyone. As a result, people in China have developed different norms and expectations around personal space than people in other countries, where population density may not be as high.

But at the end of the day, when I get back to my guest house, I'm exhausted... and suddenly feel terribly lonely, while all around me life was being exchanges from person to person.

So, if you're a Westerner traveling to China, don't be too freaked out by the personal space situation. Embrace the closeness, and who knows? Maybe you'll end up with a new friend... or singing an old song by Police (Don't stand so close to me!)

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