As I arrived to Shanghai I have immediately noticed that only a very few natives could understand and speak English. So, that was a big issue for me because I don’t speak any Chinese. Also my friends who study Mandarin and have been living in Nanjing for more than six months find it difficult to fully interact with the natives. They explained, some Chinese would react weirdly whenever they meet foreign people and especially from the West. I find that quiet normal since everywhere in the world you would come across many clichés and stereotypes. Just to mention a very simple example: Italians are believed to have a high sense of fashion and quality, which is partially true but that does not necessarily apply to everyone. So, during my stay in China I was stopped many times and asked questions about my provenance, etc. Some locals took pictures with me, others invited me to take a cup of tea with them. If you think this is odd, then you will find it rude when some point their fingers at you or just stare at you or they would simply run away from you if you try to stop them and ask for information (even in Chinese). Crazy!!...Well, that was my first impression too! :D
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