So how do you prepare for China . . . I really do not know?

So, when I decided to spend the next year in China I was rather unsure that my current knowledge would suffice. When you go to another culture even the simplest things such as counting numbers with your hand (and China does do this differently, check out this video to see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CbIUrBzMd4) can be a challenge. So how do you prepare for something like that? My solution as many of you who know me would guess, was books, so I made a trip to the library to find books that would give me some basic information about the country I was about to spend a part of my life in. The books I gathered ranged from a short history to the specifics of Chinese etiquette written especially for foreigners. The three that I especially enjoyed were:

It's All Chinese to Me: An Overview of Culture & Etiquette in China

This one was a favorite both for its bluntness in its deliver of Chinese culture and the fact that it used cartoon like pictures to present a visual as well as a written description of China.

China Condensed: 5,000 Years of History and Culture

A very quick overview of Chinese history, allowing you to learn about China's many dynasties in one afternoon!

China A to Z: Everything You Need to Know to Understand Chinese Customs and Culture

Written by an Asian-American father-daughter team it delves more into important historical events and people that are both long dead as well as those still influencing China. Even though it was written in 2007 (there is a newer 2014 edition as well) it presents a rounded view of modern China. 

Along with these books I also watched several Chinese movies which included: 

Curse of the Golden Flower

This gave insight into the lives of a Chinese Emperor and the lack of power women, even the empress, had over their own lives as well as the treason and family issues that can occur within a royal family.

Farewell, My Concubine

Spanning a large amount of Chinese modern history, especially the Cultural Revolution, a story of two men unfolds. Trained to be actors in Chinese Opera from a young age they form a lasting friendship that is tested when one of them marries a brothel woman. 

 Hero

The setting is the unification of the Chinese empire under its first dynasty. The Hero, a nameless man,   gains the emperors favors by killing three assassins but you find out he has plans of his own. This movie looked into the ideas of honor and desire for a stop to endless war.

Raise the Red Lantern

A young college women finds herself unable to finish her schooling at the death of her father so she agrees to marry a man with three other wives. The peace that is portrayed in this house hold is not what it seams and she has to work through her emotions of being the fourth wife. 

Red Cliff

A two part movie the Red Cliff tell of an epic battle where Southern Warlords have to defend their homeland agains a corrupt general who desires to grab the emperors power for his own. 

These movies and books gave some insight into the values held by Chinese individual, however, just like all movies or media published they are also biased by the individuals making them, either intentionally or unintentionally just as this is done with media within the United States. I found these books and movies interesting and helpful however, do look into them more deeply to make sure you would enjoy or approve of watching them for your own benefit. This was part of my preparation for travel to China, we will see if it was indeed helpful in the days to come - the very least they can be something to talk about with those I meet.