I call Colorado my home. It is not because I’m ashamed that I grew up in China; quite the contrary. I’m very thankful that the Lord gave me that experience, but it is just easier to explain that I’m from Colorado. For monolingual Americans who have never been out of the country, there are so many things about China that are nigh impossible to explain. Trying to explain how China is different from America is like trying to describe what an orange tastes like: You can’t explain it; you have to experience it. At the same time, a couple of things come to mind that are both understandable and hopefully edifying.

I considered writing about some of the many awesome experiences I had growing up in China, or writing about culture shock in America and not fitting in, or about some other aspect of my life. However, many of these things are common to everyone’s experience. Most people did sweet things as a kid, and many struggled with not fitting in; so I decided to write about something else. Here are a couple thoughts on the culture and language of China that I hope will be edifying.

Anthropologists call people like me who grew up in a culture that was not their “home” culture Third-Culture Kids (TCKs if you want a fancy acronym). So I have the unique privilege of viewing both Chinese culture and American culture as an outsider. One thing that I have observed about those cultures over the years is that they are both screwed up. Americans often think that Chinese culture is very polite to elderly people and very strictly Confucian. This is true in part, but all too often I have seen elderly people ignored and pushed around. The major problem with Chinese culture is its widespread disregard for human life. It is not as if the Chinese go around murdering people, but many of them don’t value life very much. I have heard many Chinese people say, after a natural disaster, “It’s not that bad, I mean somebody needed to die. After all we have an overpopulation problem.” What a disturbing thing to say!

Americans have a problem with entertainment. We live as if we are entitled to it, and often orient our whole lives around entertainment. It is all that we are good at talking about. These are just single examples from each culture of the many deep-rooted problems that exist.

One of the most disturbing things that I observed as I grew up was that evil elements of both cultures are creeping into the other. The Chinese have become much more focused on entertainment, and Americans seem to be growing apathetic towards human life. These rampant evils are a reminder that we must be in the world, but ever critiquing it and being very careful what we participate in.

I don’t want this to be completely negative, so let me tell you of one of the greatest blessings of growing up in China and America: getting to worship and pray with fellow brothers and sisters in multiple languages. Seeing the Great Commission being fulfilled and all the nations and peoples and tongues coming to Christ is an amazing and encouraging experience. Although there are serious problems with every culture, some of God’s handiwork is still there. It is beautiful to see the diversity and wonder of God’s creation in people as well as in nature. Growing up in China has allowed me to see both the rampant evil in this world, and the glorious spread of the kingdom of God. Praise be to Him! Come quickly, Lord Jesus.