In two days, I will be going up to what is still known as the most dangerous part of China. Some people may think, "Oh, Xinjiang -- perhaps a part bordering Central Asia," but from what I have heard, Xinjiang is truly deserving its alternative moniker, "California of China." One person I have talked to has even said that Western China is much safer than the Eastern seaboard (where all the "top-tier" cities are clustered). Muslim groups are especially known for their respectful treatment of outsiders, particularly women, and contrary to official depictions of their penchant for violence, usually willing to "gain small profit without exacting a cruel price."
I didn't think much of going to Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang province (nearest to the border with Russia) since I've heard of many people who live there, or have at least gone for pleasure trips. However my advisors here in Beijing have told me that although my luck could be very good, I should be cautious of what lies "up north." There are two factors involved: economic and psychological. People in those areas are not among the poorest in China but perhaps being not too far removed from the wealthy super-metropolis of Beijing, do feel deprived. Stereotypically, they expect that outsiders will bring plenty of spending money, to be extracted through the traditional bait-and-switch or as my professors worry, by force with the additional motivation of "silencing the source." The second element is the classic Northeastern Chinese personality, confirmed by friends from the area. Whether it's attributed to the weather (harsh, cold, dry), love of the drink (white, fiery liquor), or the historical bias deeming all the cultures in that region to be inherently barbaric, the "wild men (and women) of the north" ideal type lives on. A Korean student I met at a conference said that his own personality changed when he went to Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, and he frequently lost his temper at everyone, in effect emulating the people around him. His wife decided after two weeks that he would soon tear up everything in sight so she sent him down to Suzhou where he said he experienced another transformation, this time, speaking softly and politely to everyone and otherwise becoming more mellow. I presume he was exaggerating (perhaps not intentionally) but I can understand that "gentler living" (light, flavorful food, temperate weather, more regular access to water) can mold one's personality in a certain way, but I'm also crossing my fingers that either I'll adapt quickly and learn how to match their manners in a mutually comfortable way or that these stereotypes, despite all the evidence in support of them, are also myths.
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