Most of you know Chinese culture views privacy differently than American culture, most easily explained as 'there isn't any expectation of privacy in Chinese culture.' I knew this affected personal space, family and friendly secrets, neighbors knowing what you're up to all the time, everyone always in your bidness, etc. but I didn't realize it also extended to the body.
It does.
In my experience, bodily functions aren't considered private in China. Sneezing, burping, coughing, passing gas, peeing: all these things are viewed as natural functions of the body, so you don't have to say excuse me, you don't God Bless anyone, and you definitely don't feel embarrassed when they happen...if you're Chinese, that is! Many North Americans...it might take a while to get to that point. (I think this is also why babies and little kids pee everywhere and no one freaks out. Babies pee and poop...why NOT on the sidewalk?)
When you first get to China, you're probably going to get sick. I can't think of anyone in my group who didn't get sick, but we have doctors available 24/7 and they will ask you all kinds of questions about the quality and quantity of your poop and whether or not you see anything weird in the toilet bowl. After a while, you kind of get used to talking about these things. (Some more than others!)
I knew I had become pretty comfortable when I was handed a bag of medicine at our January training conference, just prior to my trip to Hainan Island. (Sidenote: before we went on vacation we had to submit an itinerary; the medical staff checked it to give us any special medications we might need before going to that area, like malarial drugs.) I was sitting with a bunch of my guy friends when I opened my bag, which included a box of Chinese brand vaginal yeast infection suppositories. I pulled it out to inspect more closely. "Um, why do I have this? Why did the medical office give me vaginal suppositories??" Now, usually the last thing a group of 20-something guys wants to discuss is vaginal suppositories, but they started firing questions at me:
"Let me see it...yup, that's what it is."
"Hmmm...DO you have a yeast infection?"
"Is there anything weird going on down there?"
"It includes a finger glove? Open it up, let's see it!"
"So THAT'S how you say 'vagina' in Mandarin!" (He was joking, he already knew!)
I wasn't embarrassed at all to be discussing what the medical office thought was possibly wrong with my vagina with a table full of guys I see on a regular basis. Thanks China, for giving me the gift of no shame.
(Endnote: my friend C., who is super awesome but lives in another province so I hardly ever got to see him, piped up with the correct answer: "Wait-- did they also give you malaria meds? You need the suppositories in case the malaria medicine gives you a yeast infection." C. was the hero that day!)
It also made me laugh when a good friend went home and literally the first thing she said to me when she got back was, "I have diarrhea." Only in Peace Corps...
Yes, that's definitely a BIG change from the U.S..... I can't even imagine saying the "vajayjay" word in casual conversation with my male friends.... isn't that sad? It's just a body part... and 50% of the population has one!
ReplyDeleteSo I would guess that all the Chinese moms nurse their babies in public too? That would be awesome. I think people make too much of a big deal about normal bodily functions.
ReplyDeleteYup, they do. No cover cloth either, just out and open. It did surprise me the first time I saw it, I'm so used to it being a covert, stealth event in America.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to think my family might be from China....we have bodily function conversations all the time. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting. My family is a lot like that as well (they won't burp and fart in front of everyone but they will discuss just about anything under the sun with no shame), which still shocks my American husband! :)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I wasn't drinking anything when reading this post, it would have been messy :-D
ReplyDeleteOh girl, you crack me up!