Original source
My First Days in China Were Horrible!! || WAIC Ep.2
Overcoming Culture Shock in China: Lizzy’s Honest First Days
Welcome to Episode 2 of WAIC(Woman alone in China)
Before I moved to China, my family was scared for me.
They worried about religion, culture, safety, and whether I would even be accepted here. None of us really knew China, so fear filled in the gaps. When I finally arrived, it didn’t magically...
Before moving to China, my family was scared for me. They worried about religion, culture, safety, and whether I would be accepted here. None of us really knew China, so fear filled in the gaps. When I finally arrived, it didn’t magically feel better. The first few days were overwhelming, confusing, and honestly, I hated it. Culture shock hit hard, and I questioned my decision. In this video, I share the real thoughts my family had before I came, and what those first days in China were actually like — not the perfect version, but the honest one.
Lizzy, the creator behind WAIC, opens Episode 2 with a candid look at the fears that followed her decision to move to China. She recalls how her family was worried about religion, culture, safety, and whether she would be accepted in a new country. The video promises honesty over polish, acknowledging that the initial days in China did not feel magical or easy. Instead, they were overwhelming, confusing, and at times disheartening, as culture shock hit hard and questions about her choice lingered. Lizzy then shares the real thoughts her family had before the move and contrasts them with the reality she faced in those first days. The emphasis is on transparency—not a perfect story, but an honest account of adjustment, emotions, and the process of settling in. Throughout, she invites viewers to see the genuine experience of adapting to a new culture, with all the challenges that come with it, rather than a curated narrative.
Before moving to China, my family was scared for me. They worried about religion, culture, safety, and whether I would be accepted here. None of us really knew China, so fear filled in the gaps. When I finally arrived, it didn’t magically feel better. The first few days were overwhelming, confusing, and honestly, I hated it. Culture shock hit hard, and I questioned my decision. In this video, I share the real thoughts my family had before I came, and what those first days in China were actually like — not the perfect version, but the honest one.
South African traveler Because I Lizzy walks through her quiet Kunming neighborhood at night, reflecting on the stark contrast between warnings she received about China and her real experience. Her family feared persecution, strange food, isolation, and unknown culture, based largely on negative news portrayals. While Lizzy admits her first three days after landing were horrible—crying constantly, confused by unfamiliar smells, and mistakenly eating durian pizza—she slowly built a routine and now finds life in China surprisingly normal and safe. She highlights small freedoms: late-night convenience stores, affordable massages, and safe streets even for women alone at night. She also mentions a drunk driver service and notes that cities like Chengdu and Shanghai feel totally different. Her mom eventually visited and understood her daughter's comfort. Lizzy encourages families to trust their children's adventures, reminding them you can always buy a ticket back. She contrasts safety in China with her native South Africa, where safety concerns keep her from returning permanently. For Lizzy, life here is boring in a good way—built on small, calm moments, not headlines or debates.
South African traveler Because I'm Lizzy shares the raw, emotional reality of her first days in China—far from the polished influencer version. She confronts her family's fears about religion, safety, and the unknown, and admits her own arrival was 'horrible': crying for three days, struggling with a durian pizza mistake, no phone signal, and overwhelming culture shock. But she pushes through, finds routine, and now calls China home. This is a story of fear transformed into belonging.
South African traveler Because I Lizzy shares the raw, emotional reality of her first horrible days in China, overcoming culture shock and family fears to find,
First Days in China Were Horrible Culture Shock Story
0:25 Tall to local women in China to get multiple perspectives on life—don't rely only on your own experience or western media.
2:54 Prepare for extreme culture shock: unfamiliar smells, food confusion (durian pizza), and phone connectivity issues with VPN and WhatsApp.
6:00 Expect the first week to be hard—crying is normal. Give yourself three to six months to build a routine and start feeling comfortable.
11:54 If you drink in China, use a drunk driver service: a driver on a foldable ebike takes your car home for you, often cheaper than a Didi.
Each th in China feels different: pick a city that matches your vibe. quiet and calm, while Chengdu and Shanghai are busy day and night.
0:25 Tall to local women in China to get multiple perspectives on life—don't rely only on your own experience or western media.
2:54 Prepare for extreme culture shock: unfamiliar smells, food confusion (durian pizza), and phone connectivity issues with VPN and WhatsApp.
6:00 Expect the first week to be hard—crying is normal. Give yourself three to six months to build a routine and start feeling comfortable.
11:54 If you drink in China, use a drunk driver service: a driver on a foldable ebike takes your car home for you, often cheaper than a Didi.
Each th in China feels different: pick a city that matches your vibe. quiet and calm, while Chengdu and Shanghai are busy day and night.
0:01 Night walk in Kunming
0:44 China my family warned me about
1:36 First days were horrible
5:14 Crying for three days
6:00 Settling into routine
7:57 Message to worried parents
9:40 You can always go back
11:54 Drunk driver service explained
13:55 China is like any other country
0:01 Night walk in Kunming
0:44 China my family warned me about
1:36 First days were horrible
5:14 Crying for three days
6:00 Settling into routine
7:57 Message to worried parents
9:40 You can always go back
11:54 Drunk driver service explained
13:55 China is like any other country
What were your first days in China like?
Horrible—I cried for three days straight. The smells were unfamiliar, I ate durian pizza by mistake, my phone didn't work, and I regretted coming.
What did your family worry about most?
They worried about religion, what I would eat ( dogs and cats), and that I would feel isolated and alone in an unknown country.
Is it safe for a woman alone at night in China?
Yes, very safe. There are lights everywhere, no dark alleys, and you see women walking alone late at night. I feel comfortable walking alone late at night.
What is the drunk driver service you mentioned?
When you drink, you call a driver who comes on a foldable ebike, puts it in your trunk, and drives your car home. Some insurance plans cover it for free.
Would you recommend a family member move to China?
Yes, send them. They can always buy a ticket back if they don't like it. But most people will grow, save money, and build a good life here.
