Myths and Facts: Living Overseas

When Americans learn about China, we hear these crazy stories that we think are true. I believed them just as much as the next guy but found out they were myths! I thought it would be educational, so I am putting it in my post.

MYTH: Religion is illegal there! You will go to jail!
FACT: Religion is highly regulated here. There are churches in every city and some offer the service in English. The top religions in China are Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Basically the goverment figures out the population of the city and states how many churches can be be built in that area. What is illegal are underground churches without licenses and evangelizing. You can't tell random people about how dope your god is, you will get in trouble. If you wanted to walk into any church and convert to that religion, that is fine.

MYTH: People eat dog there!
FACT: There is a region that eats dog but it is frowned upon by many Chinese people. Dogs are the number one pet here! The people of the dog eating area says it is part of their culture while others think it is cruel. In my PERSONAL OPINION I think eating dog started to take care of the stray dog problem here. I can't go five minutes anywhere in China without seeing a stray.

MYTH: Everyone speaks English!
FACT: Teachers and business people speak English. That is it. Generation X most definitely do not speak English as during their childhoods the poverty was so bad that some didn't even finish middle school. Shanghai and Beijing will have the most English speakers but other than that, you are out of luck.

MYTH: There are a ton of Americans over there you can befriend!
FACT: I have seen a record of 20 different foreigners in my city thus far. In a city of 4 million I might be one of 100 foreigners.

MYTH: Bring chopsticks to restaurants, they won't provide them.
FACT: People got to eat, they have chopsticks, dude.

MYTH: White is the color of death, don't wear it!
FACT: Just like black is the "color of death" in America, we still wear black all the time. White lace is fashionable right now in China.

MYTH: You can only have one child in China.
FACT: It varies by region. My city can have two or three but rural areas can have up to six. The Y Generation is made of one child kids but Genertion Z do have siblings.

Do you have any questions about China or heard crazy stories about it? Feel free to ask below!