How China changed this Nigerian netizen’s personal demeanour

Listen to Nillah Nyakoa speaking with Fatima Jibril 

Photo provided by Fatima Jibril

Any expatriate who’s lived in China for more than a couple of years will admit that after a while, there are aspects of their lives, behaviour-wise, that tend to be re-defined. In other words, they adopt a new deportment such that when they back to their hometowns it becomes conspicuously obvious how ‘Chinese-ised’ their outlook on life has become.  

Be it being experts on  some queer street food or just not minding other people, trading knife and fork for chopsticks or just doing whatever you want whenever without a care in the world. These are habits that to an outsider may appear strange, but to us Laowai, this becomes our new found normal. Expat Fatima Jibril agrees, and see's this as a good thing actually. 

 Photo provided by Fatima Jibril

Since she moved to China a few years ago, a lot has changed in Fatima’s life. This Nigerian citizen, now based in Beijing, admits that she realises how she has changed whenever she goes back home to visit her family. 

“So the moment I go home and then my family informs me that somebody is here to see you and I’ll be like, for what? ” she says.

Photo provided by Fatima Jibril

She notes that in Africa, it’s common for anyone to just drop by for a cup of tea, or for a random talk without any invite or giving you a simple head’s up first. Everyone’s home is considered everyone else’s. Your home belongs to the entirety of your family and friendship fraternity.

Fatima (left) with friends in Beijing. Photo provided by Fatima Jibril

It’s uncommon for people to meet at restaurants to discuss issues or just catch up as the norm is, if you have something that warrants you to see someone for, you go straight to their house.

 On the other hand, living in China, she sees how completely opposite things are here. i.e People don't go to other people's home unless they have been invited. 

5 years and counting, Fatima, reckons the middle Kingdom will continue to have an effect on her personal demeanour for as long as she is still here. And to her people back home, her message is just to get used to it. 

Are you an Expat in China? Do you have any interesting stories about your life in China? Get in touch with us at nillahnyakoa@cri.com.cn to share and have your story featured on My China Story.