I have lived in China for 17 years and came to San Francisco, USA in December 2024. It has been 5 months now. During this time, I have deeply experienced the differences between Chinese and American lifestyles, especially in daily life, such as cooking, language, communication methods, and pace of life.
Cooking
The differences in eating and cooking habits In China are that cooking at home is a very common thing. Food is easy to buy, supermarkets or vegetable markets have all kinds of fresh vegetables, meats and condiments, so it is not difficult to make a meal. Moreover, Chinese cuisine pays attention to color, fragrance and taste. Many dishes need to be fried, stewed, and boiled, and the taste is rich.
But in the United States, especially in cities like San Francisco, I found that although the ingredients can also be bought, some Chinese seasonings are difficult to find and prices are expensive. Americans usually eat simpler meals, and many people eat cold food, fast food or takeout directly. Their cooking methods tend to be grilled, fried or eaten raw, such as salads.
I miss the stir-fried vegetables, braised pork and hot rice from home.
Communication
My English is not great, which makes shopping in supermarkets, taking buses, going to hospitals, and even ordering food difficult. Sometimes people speak too fast and I can’t understand them, so I can only rely on translation software or gestures. I never had to worry about communicating in China.
In the United States, if you don’t know English, it’s easy to feel lonely, because it’s hard to make friends if communication is not smooth. In China, friends and relatives are all around, and life feels safe and has a greater sense of belonging.
Community
In China, neighbors know each other, and sometimes they send each other food and chat. Friends often get together for dinner and have a close relationship. In the United States, the neighbors in the apartment where I live basically don’t communicate with each other. Everyone is relatively independent and quiet. Sometimes even if we pass by face to face, we just say hello and rarely have in-depth contact.
China has a fast pace of life, the streets are crowded and lively, and there are night markets and snack streets at night. Although San Francisco is a big city, the streets are relatively quiet at night, and many shops close early. People have a more regular schedule and pay more attention to their own space and privacy. This lifestyle made me feel very uncomfortable at first, and I felt lonely and uneasy.
Coming to the United States from China is a huge change for me. What I miss most is the taste of home, the friendly language and the familiar environment. In the United States, I am slowly learning English and trying to integrate into local life. Although it is difficult, I know it is an opportunity for growth and becoming stronger. I believe that as time goes by, I will adapt more and more to life here, and at the same time I will not forget where I come from.
When I first came to the United States, I didn’t understand why it was completely dark in the United States at 4pm in December. It felt so magical. It turns out that there is a time difference between summer and winter in the United States. Winter has one more hour while summer has one less hour. China is 15 hours ahead.
Today in the United States is equivalent to yesterday in China. It feels like the dates are opposite to those in China. But the dates are not important. What is important is that I am on my way to adapting. And I know that this will take time.
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我在中国生活了17年，2024年12月来到美国旧金山，到现在已经有5个月了。这段时间里，我深刻体会到了中美生活方式之间的差异，尤其是在日常生活方面，比如烹饪、语言、交流方式、生活节奏等。
饮食和烹饪习惯的不同在中国，家里做饭是一件很常见的事情，做饭的材料也很容易买到。超市或者菜市场有各种新鲜的蔬菜、肉类和调味品，做一顿饭不算难。而且中国菜讲究色香味，很多菜需要炒、炖、煮，味道丰富。但是在美国，特别是在旧金山这样的城市，我发现食材虽然也可以买到但有些中国调料比较难找，价格也贵。美国人平时吃饭更简单，很多人直接吃冷食、快餐或者外卖。他们做饭的方法偏向于烤、煎或者直接生吃，比如沙拉。我很想念家里的炒青菜、红烧肉和热腾腾的米饭。
我现在英语还不好，这让我在超市购物、坐公交、去医院、甚至点餐时都感到不太方便。有时候别人说话太快，我听不懂，只能靠翻译软件或手势。相比之下，在中国我从来不用担心这些问题，沟通很自然。
在美国，如果不会英语，很容易感到孤独，因为交流不顺畅就很难交到朋友。而在中国，朋友、亲人都在身边，生活有安全感，也更有归属感。
在中国，邻居之间互相认识，有时候还会互相送饭、聊天。朋友之间常聚会吃饭，关系很亲密。而在美国，我住的公寓邻居之间基本不交流，每个人都比较独立和安静。有时候即使面对面走过，也只是简单打个招呼，很少深入接触。
中国生活节奏快，街上人多热闹，晚上还有夜市、小吃街。而旧金山虽然是大城市，但到了晚上街上比较安静，很多店铺早早就关门了。人们的作息比较规律，更注重自己的空间和隐私。这种生活方式让我刚开始很不适应，会感到孤独和不安。
从中国来到美国，对我来说是一个巨大的变化。我最想念的是家的味道、亲切的语言和熟悉的环境。在美国，我正在慢慢学习英语，尝试融入当地生活。虽然这很困难，但我知道这是一个成长的机会。每一次的不适应，都是我变得更强大的过程。我相信，随着时间的推移，我会越来越适应这里的生活，同时也不会忘记自己来自哪里
