The United States is lovingly known as a “melting pot” for people with different ethnic backgrounds. The degree to which they’re actually “melted” together varies across the country, with the density of cultural mix easily one of the top reasons why New York is an infinitely intriguing place.
Without getting into exposure to foreign languages or delicious new foods, one thing we’re used to looking at is different body types. Certain ethnic backgrounds have a propensity towards the curvy, the tall, the broad-shouldered, the hairy, the overweight, or bright colored features like blue or green eyes, red or blond hair. China for the most part, hasn’t integrated other genetic types into its pool, so there is much more similarity between people’s physical attributes.
Clearly there are exceptions everywhere, including some differences between northern and southern Chinese, but the majority of people are slim, not tall, narrow boned, small breasts and hips on women, minimal body hair on men, with pin-straight, jet-black hair.
After living China for a while, I too became very used to looking at only narrow bodies without much excess fat. I distinctly remember flying into the airport in the United States and arriving with widened eyes. “Woah. Fat people.”
It’s something I had grown up with, so I adjusted back pretty quickly. But what if you were never exposed to anything else and had no precedent for how to interact with someone who was so different?
In the autumn of 2006, I was with some friends out in Guangxi province, taking a trip to Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng. We got cheaper return tickets from a slightly out-of-the-way train station, in a small place called Liuzhou, China. Before our train left, we stopped into the snack store to get some food for the ride.
We were walking through the store, picking out snacks, and the snack store manager noticed my friend Stephanie, who is heavier than the rest of the group.
Out of nowhere, the snack store manager started poking Stephanie in the butt. She was quite amazed, and exclaimed:
“Your butt is so big!”
“It’s bigger than mine and I’m three months pregnant.”
“Are you pregnant?”
“You’re not pregnant!”
“Have you already had children?”
“No? Well, having a big butt is very fortunate. you will be very prosperous. Find a handsome husband and give birth to many strong boys!”
Then she cupped Stephanie’s butt in her hand, while repeatedly exclaiming “So big! So big!”
Luckily, Stephanie was not offended at all, and thought the whole situation was off-the-wall hilarious. I guess it’s kind of like if you see a stranger who is over six and a half feet tall, people will stop and ask “how tall ARE you?”
Not quite the same, but with the same intention…
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