I am an alien

I am an alien.  See that paper over there?

my alien papers

It announces my current status as an alien in China.  I am not a citizen here.  I am allowed to be here because I have successfully passed medical examinations and my purpose in being here is an acceptable one.  I am allowed to live and work in China for one year.  When that year runs out I have to ask permission to continue living and working here for another year.  If I do not get the proper approvals and documentation in time, I will have to leave the country.

Also I have had to register with the local police.  That is how I found out I was an alien.  Being granted the status of an alien is good news.  At least it is for me, in this case.  When I saw that title in reference to me it struck me.  I started to think about all the rhetoric in the U.S. around people who are undocumented.  I thought about people around the world who are fleeing their country and migrating to a neighboring city or country.  They are also undocumented and often referred to by the majority as illegal aliens.  To be referred to as an alien is a strong reminder that we don’t belong and that we do not have the same rights as citizens.  It causes me to be very careful and conscious of everything I say or do.

A lot of aliens cannot even begin to blend in to their new environment.  They do not look the same, speak the same language, live the same culture – nothing they are is even close to what the majority is.  Last week I went for a walk in the neighborhood with Liu Xu (my host, pronounced Lee-o Sheuh).  We talked easily about what we hoped for in our careers and in our families.  Then we stopped at a park to watch children rollerblade around tiny cones.  I felt completely at ease.  I looked around and no one was staring at me.  I started thinking that maybe my skin color is not so different than theirs.  Their hair is dark and my hair is dark. I am comfortable here and it seems like my presence is not unusual.  So I asked Liu Xu,” Do you think I really look different from everyone else?”  She laughed and said,“What do you think?”  I started laughing too.  I look totally different.

Once I wore a mandarin-style blouse and the Chinese staff members all gathered around me to tell me how beautiful I looked with the blouse on.  I was very happy they were pleased.  Yesterday I wore a mandarin-style blouse and my Chinese students gathered around me and said, “you wear very pretty tops, Miss Deanna.”  “Thank you,” I told them,” this is my Chengdu top!”  I wanted them to know that I find their culture beautiful.  Participation is one way I show my respect.

People stare at me all of the time.  It is not a mean, judgmental stare.  So far, it’s just pure, unabashed curiosity and wonder.  It doesn’t bother me at all. In the U.S., I am used to the stares meaning something else entirely.  Babies crane their necks in their strollers to look at me.  Children hand me candies.  I must look to them like Barney, the big purple dinosaur.  One little girl held her stuffed lion out to me.  I pretended the lion was biting me and made funny sounds and silly faces.  As an alien it is a good thing to be entertaining.  I try to be friendly to everyone until I figure out who not to be friendly to.  My goal is to find one fruit stand, one restaurant, and one juice bar to be very friendly with.  Then I know the price is fair and they know exactly what I am trying to order.

As far as aliens go, I am very privileged.  People help me take care of my needs all of the time.  I have health care and I have a job that holds a respectable status in this society.  Being an American, English-speaking alien is definitely the best kind of alien to be.