I moved to China from the UK in 2015. And a decade later I continue to live here. This leads me to think over the benefits that life in China offers and the differences between life in the West and China.
For westerners who are used to enjoying a light bowl of grains, nuts and dried fruit with milk for breakfast, the challenge in China is not how to find breakfast, it is how not to overeat. You can easily find a stuffed steamed bun or a hot youtiao (like a churro) on any street in the morning.
One way to meet my desire for cookies, muffins and apple pies in China would be to bake them at home. While this may sound very sensible (合理的), it raises another curious difference between our cultures—the mysterious case of the missing ovens. In the West, it would be simply unthinkable to have a kitchen without an oven. In China, I hardly see one in locals' homes.
China is also a land with familiar surprises. Chinese people really know how to make you feel at home if you have been long away from your home country. On each birthday, I will be welcomed with a large cake in my office. It is beautiful and specially designed at a very affordable price. While Western birthday cakes typically contain rich chocolate, Chinese ones are topped with many layers (层) of cream and taste light.
However, even after 10 years of living in China, I still don't understand why I receive free plastic gloves whenever I order a pizza, burger or French fries in a restaurant, but still have to pay for an extra package of napkin. Well, it seems that there is always much more for me to learn and experience here.