Of course there are downsides to all this but many foreigners like the attention- at least for a little while. People who would be considered unattractive, boring, or typical in their own countries are all of a sudden as interesting as movie stars in China. This feeling can go to peoples' heads. Ugly white men with gorgeous Chinese girls are a typical sight in China. Men who would usually be passed over by women in America become the target for more Chinese girls than they can handle. Chinese men are less forward with white women, but one still sees plain looking white women called after and getting requests for photos.
My impression is that most Chinese men would rather date Chinese girls than date foreign girls. But this predisposition does not stop men from staring. I often see men with their girlfriends getting hit for staring too long at me. It interests me that in a world of homogeny the things that stand out are seen as beautiful. Chinese girls, like girls all over the world try to conform to a set look of what is beautiful. In many ways features that are seen as beautiful are ones that resemble white people. People strive to have light skin and big eyes along with lighter hair and lighter eye colors.
This predisposition I've noted does not extend to every man. I've had many men try to get my number, take me out on dates, ask if I need a Chinese tutor, follow me in an attempt to make contact with me, and my personal favorite- ask their female friends to befriend me so they can get to know me. Many others are more shy and only ask for a picture with me or try to get my attention by helping me, speaking English, or playing English music.
Everyday events like eating, going to a bar, shopping, or even riding the bus are made difficult just by being white. While at a bar or restaurant groups of Chinese people will interrupt my friends and I just to drink with me and any other foreigner in the group. Often Chinese people have the misguided notion that we're flattered by them trying to make contact with us. Often high ranking officials or government workers will think that we will see the compliment in them coming to our table to cheers with us. Yet, when I'm with my Chinese fiends and I ask them how they view the interruptions they role their eyes at the drunk old men in the exact same way my foreign friends do. Though at first events liket hese can be funny and even flattering the novelty of these events ware off, there are only so many encounters one can gave with extremely drunk old men spilling beer on you while blowing cigaret smoke into your face while drunkenly asking "how do you say cheers in English" and then hear them repeat strange English sounding words that resemble the word cheers over and over till they finally leave.
Though living while foreign can sometimes be fun in China. One afternoon with a friend got transformed into a photo shoot when I simply walked into a cosmetic store. I also end up meeting a famous local TV star because I held an English corner that she showed up at only because she knew I would be there. I've gotten numerous free things from nice store owners and had friends of friends drive me places or treat me to different activities just because they want to spend time with the American. I never have to be bored because people always want the American girl around and are more than happy to invite me a long anywhere they go, even birthday parties of friends I don't know. I get stopped in the street or grocery store by people I've only met once and don't recollect at all just to ask how I am or invite me to join them where ever they are going.
For me the attention is a lot to handle and not something I like. But for many westerners the attention makes them feel special in a way that they don't feel at home.
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