Oh, what did I do this wknd?! Nothing special... just a run in the wilderness.Chinese honesty has its pros and cons. It is definitely refreshing to sometimes speak to people that make no excuses for themselves. Like one of my Chinese friends. She loves sweets. And hates sweating. The other day I met her in the city. I was, as usual, cramming on to a gym bag (planning to hit the gym later), which she looked at and said:
-Are you still going to the gym? I don’t think you need to lose weight.
-Nah, that’s not why I am going. I go because I like it… because I think it’s a nice feeling to first run and then…
I stopped short as I saw her eyebrows wrinkled in a not-so-approving way.
-How can you LIKE it? It’s so boring! She finally said.
-Eh… it’s a bit boring, I admit. But it’s good for your health.
Her face didn’t change. I could tell that I wasn’t winning this conversation.
-So you never go? I tried.
-Nah, never. My mom has told me I should. That I’m too lazy. But I like being lazy. I like being home doing nothing.
-Really?
-Yeah. It’s nice and relaxing.
-So what do you do after work? Or on weekends?
-I take the metro home, eat with my parents. Watch a movie or read a magazine. And then I sleep! I like sleeping!
-What about weekends? Don’t you get bored?
-If I get bored I go and see a friend. But I don’t think it’s boring to relax at home.
I’m just thinking how this conversation could have gone if I would have had it with one of my friend back home, if I would have asked her why s/he didn’t hit the gym:
-I should also go, but I don’t like the gym… It’s not really my thing. I prefer doing some more fun exercise. You know, it’s important that it is fun. But you know, it’s hard to find time. I work so much…
-What about weekends when you have free time?
-Oh, then I am so busy with seeing my friends, I always have tonnes of things to do!
China’s still one of those places where people linger at home during their holidays/weekends (not all people, but quite a few), watch DVD:s, sleep and eat. And they are not afraid/ashamed to say so.
Me, on the other hand, feel as if it’s a big thing (and a bit embarrassing) to stay in a whole wknd:
-Well you know, I just needed to relax and do nothing. I don’t like to do that every weekend, obviously, but sometimes it can be nice. But next weekend I will definitely go out and do something!
Funny that it is so hard for some people (including me) to admit that sometimes it’s nice to be lazy and do nothing. However, to tell you the honest truth, I easily feel a bit depressed when I am being lazy and watch TV a whole day/don't exercise for a whole week. I feel as if I am wasting precious time that could be better spent. Not that I ever told my friend this. Something tells me that she wouldn't agree.
5 comments:
I don't think its a judgement issue - its a quality of life/lifestyle choice.
Probably in your case more of a social/cultural issue as you may come from a more 'active' society??
Obviously you can guess which side i lean to... :)
I almost feel like there are two types of people in the world: those who love to sleep and those who love to run.
I personally do neither (I mean, I sleep but only as much as I need to). I'd rather go for a run than have a nap any time.
Well sports culture is not that popular in China compared to the western world and that's why.
We have our own leisure activity, eg. sleeping, watching movies, surfing internet...most of which might take place at home. That's how we wind down after work and no harm in that, while you might feel energetized through exersicing. Just different ways of recharging energy.
Have you ever read 'Le Droit à la Paresse'? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Right_to_Be_Lazy#Paul_Lafargue_and_The_Right_to_be_Lazy
In France we are more like the Chinese spending endless hours at the dinner table eating and debating... rather than goin to the gym!
I feel torn on the weekends about what is best to do - I cherish being able to sleep and to see what is about (the alternatives for me is more days out and sightseeing vs the couch...) I had noticed the difference here too. I really admire peoples ability to wind down/do practically 'nothing'. Anyway, it something I went into on my own blog too ;-)
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