Yanjing Chen

ESL INTG100

October 6, 2020

A Deeply Rooted Place

Whether the night market is prosperous or not can tell people if a city is developed or not in China. Most Chinese people love to spend their time in the night market if the market is big, that demonstrates the size of the city. In China, every town has night markets, and they include local snacks, local language and habits. Therefore, I would like to say the night market best represents my longing for my hometown Taishan. Even though I have tried to find the same place in Chicago, the night market culture of China is irreplaceable.

First, the night market was the place where I felt at home because of the familiar sounds and the comfortable clothes. Yelling is the favorite way of night market vendors to attract customers. As soon as I came to the night market, I could hear Cantonese. It was like the TV sound playing at home. Unlike English, I feel like I am taking a listening test every time I hear English. When I walk in Chicago, I feel I am a visitor. The other reason is that the night market was the only place, where I could wear any clothes. Comfortable clothes relax me, and most people in the night market dress casually. I never worried what I was wearing because the night market is like my second home. 

                                                   This is the biggest market in my hometown Taishan.

 

Second, the best way to socialize was to go to the night market for supper with friends. Korea has So-ju, Japan has izakaya and China has supper. The night market has many kinds of food to eat for supper. The food is cheap and delicious. Even though my friends and I liked to eat different kinds of food at the market, no one had to compromise. Therefore, the market accommodated all our cravings. For example, I met a new friend when I was at level three in school. I am a hot pepper lover, but my friend cannot eat any spicy food. It was hard to find a Chinese restaurant that could match our taste, so one of us needed to compromise. However, we never had this problem at the night market.  

My roommates and I celebrated birthday at the night market when we were in college.

Finally, unlike Chicago’s Chinatown, the night market is safe even at midnight in China. Before I came to Chicago, I could only learn about Chicago from movies. Chicago is a modern city. However, guns, drugs and gangs have been everyday problems in this city. I am so worried about my safety in Chicago’s Chinatown at night that I cannot enjoy my nightlife. In China, the urban management is always paying attention to the crowd. I could ask the urban management for help if I had a problem, so I could take it easy.

                                                             The urban management

           In conclusion, I miss the night market in China because it means the feeling of home, it is helpful for social, and it is secure. These changes make me lose a place to be myself. I have lived in Chicago for almost two years. Sometimes I hang out with my friends in Chinatown, and we still compare Chinatown to the night market. The night market will never be replaced or surpassed in my mind. Then, I hope Chicago can have the same place in the future that I can feel nostalgic in my free time.