Shoe shining and reflecting
on Tina's Journal (China), 17/Dec/2009 12:19, 34 days ago
One of the great things here is the informal manner in which so many things are done. For example, whilst sitting in the restaurant waiting for your food to be served, you can get your shoes shined by one of the local shoe shiners from the street. He or she will pop in and offer their services. Last night whilst we were sitting in our favourite local Muslim restaurant, Jayne got her boots cleaned and paid the equivalent of about 40cents. I love the fact that the restaurant owners have no qualms about someone coming in off the street to try and earn a bit of cash. Simao has so many local conveniences too, which I'll definitely miss. Repairers of all kinds who sit along the street or the local squares will fix what they can, be it a broken shoe or zip on your handbag. Shops and banks open all day, everyday. And the food stalls, where you can get freshly made snacks anytime of the day. The college is in the heart of the town, so just walking out of the front gate you can find all the stalls and shops you need.I am wondering whether I will ever be back here again. I would like to think so, the place and many people here have been a big part of my life for most of the past year. I feel like so much has happened and I have been here much longer than I actually have. I am a different person too, of course I am still Tina, but I feel I have a much deeper understanding about a life and culture I only had ideas about before and yet I have only touched the tip of the iceberg, there is still so much to experience and learn. For me, the biggest difference in culture to my own, is the way authority has to be respected and not questioned here. It is such a deep rooted belief, that I am not sure if it would ever change. If a boss asks her employee to do something, then he will do it. If a student gets told to do something he will do it, no questions asked even if he or she thinks it's unreasonable. However, being here as a foreigner, if we'foreigners' don't like something or don't want to do it there seems to be more flexibility, we can get away with it! As I have got closer to friends here, I realise that people are not so happy with the way things are, but do not believe life could be another way. But one thing is for sure, we all have the common desire to be happy in life and we all just try and find the best way to do it. We may not agree with the different ways people try to be happy, but I believe that is most people's motivator. Even if you sacrifice things in your own life to make someone else's life better, you are being altruistic to please yourself. So, even if we may feel very different to others we meet, deep down we are all the same, just trying to live our lives as best as we can no matter where we are in the world. I know for sure the things I do are about what pleases me. I try to follow my heart in all that I do, I try not to be influenced by what others think I should be doing or not doing. Of course, I listen to people's suggestions, ideas and advice but ultimately it is I that decides. Unfortunately, some people do not know how to listen to what their heart is telling them, they are controlled by what their thoughts are telling them or influenced by others expectations of them. In fact, they are so used to listening to their fears, that they can't hear what their heart is telling them. Many people I have come across here are perhaps more influenced by others expectations so have lost touch with what's in their heart. Perhaps, by not listening to their heart they then feel they are coping with life much better. As I said before, we are all just trying to live our lives as best we can. I am pleased that I grew up in a place where I am respected for expressing my views and following my dreams. Although, so many people I know generally in life don't really know how to follow what's truly right for them. I just hope I never forget how to live and always keep doing what my true self is telling me to do.