Day 5: Today I went to BCH3 all day and learned that I have raised around 6,000 dollars with more checks coming in. This could become 12 cleft surgeries, leg braces for tian Hui and many other great life-changing things. In this journal I will try to reflect on culture differences that were made clear to me today.
In the morning Tian Ci, Lily, Tian Hui, Zhai Khan, Tian Cheng and I played an enthralling game of Chinese ring a round the rosy which I was taught by an ayi so that she could focus on changing Tian Duo Duo's diaper. I also learned another interesting aspect of foreign culture. In every country besides the U.S. when an individual sings he/she tries to sound good and have something common with the notes of the song. Whether it is an ayi singing ring around the Rosy, our French Au- Pair singing a melodious Frere jaques or my former hebrew teacher singing a random song, everyone outside of the U.S. sings to sound good. In America we sing to either make fun of the song or pretend to be up to date with the current radio songs but very rarely to sound good.

In my History class last year we were taught about China's incredible poverty without being there. There are many people: lying on the street, smoking, walking for 45 minutes to save 35 cents on a diaper etc. This is all in an upper middle class neighborhood. I've learned that to understand a culture really well you have to be there. If this is an upper middle class neighborhood in a city suburb imagine a lower class farm neighborhood. I can't. Being in China has given me incredible perspective on a chinese life.