Tropical Rains and Other Learnings from Guangdong, China

My departure date is nigh, and I have been reflecting on my experiences and lessons in a strange and foreign land. This was my first trip off of Continental North America and to a country where I knew nothing of the language. As such, I went through periods of culture shock, isolation, frustration, curiousness, fear, enjoyment, and so forth. I've been trying to pare down my learnings to a few short quips because, honestly, what's more consumable than a saying? China has millions of them.

Learnings of a White Girl in China

1. One person's corruption is another person's legitimacy
2. Living to work is a stupid idea, and most likely propaganda. Be prepared to compete with people who believe in it whole-heartedly
3. Teenagers should not grow up quickly, they should be teenagers
4. The "One Child Policy" sounds like a crazy law that directly intrudes on a person's reproductive rights. That is, until you've been in a country with 1.6 billion people and you can spot 12 pregnant women in a 1 block radius.
5. English is not that great
6. Capitalism in China is unchallenged, there's just no voting or downing on the Communist Party
7. News is biased, irrelevant and sensational crap in countries with or without free speech.
8. You're white. Face it, get over it and start realising that we are a SIGNIFICANT minority that has managed to convince the world of our superiority.
9. Massive economic growth means massive environmental destruction. Sustainability takes too long and its too expensive for people who used to have food stamps and relocation programs
10. Being required to have a permit to live in a city is an odd idea to any person from the west.
11. Children can be annoying no matter where you are.
12. Don't spoil your child, everyone will hate them, they will have no friends and they might end up narcissistic bastards who feel entitled to everything.
13. A fishing village can turn into a city overnight.