Noise (noun): sound, esp when it is loud, unpleasant, confused or unwanted. Noise.

Now, noise is part and parcel of city life. If you live in the city, you are bound to have noise. It's a fact of life. However, from place to place and from country to country, those noises change. One normally is adapted to the ambient noise of one's own surroundings, so that in new surroundings, different noises may be a little disconcerting. It can be said, then, that a foreigner, like myself, will undoubtedly experience a sort of cultural noise shock.

When coming to a new country, the first thing that instantly changes is the language. No longer was I immersed in a calm, familiar sea of English, but I was plunged into a tumultuous hurricane of Mandarin. If there was Cantonese smattering about in the air, I'd be fine, but Mandarin is a world of difference for me. I no longer understood every little comment made on the street. Are they talking about me or just making a comment about the glob he just spat? I don't know.

When they speak to me directly, that is the real trial by fire. If I'm lucky, the words are close to Cantonese that I can venture a guess and response. Sometimes they say a phrase that I have now become familiar with. That's fine, too. Most of the time, though, it all flies over my head. Duibuqui, wo bu dong. Wo shi GuangDong ren. (Sorry, I don't understand. I'm Cantonese). Many of the people nod and understand the barrier. It's easier than saying I'm Canadian because they sometimes I get a strange look. So if I don't understand it, it seems like noise.

Another instance where noise is a factor is where you live. I've noticed that sound travels very well where I live. I may be on the second floor of my building, but noise can, and will, invade from any side. Take the other morning, for example. It was 5:30am and I am awoken by this huge humming engine. People were shouting to one another. What is going on? Finally, the engine stops. Then the banging starts. I was so awake that I decided to see what was going on. I looked out my window and saw this truck parked right in front of our building. Dawn had not even come yet. They were loading pipes or bamboo poles onto the truck and they were not being delicate nor shy about it. Clang! Bang! Oh, the cacophony! Oh, the noise!

Behind my building is a new building going up. So early in the morning, at about 6:30 - 7:00, the construction crew starts. Hammers are banging away and the whir of machines fill the air. Sometimes the guys who are on their break are watching TV and have it turned really high up so that they can hear it above the construction. Well, I can hear it above the construction too.

Don't forget that noise can also come from within one's place of residence. For the past week or so, there have been musicians staying in our building. I think there have been a few violinists who came through. For sure, there was an accordion. Anyone for a polka? Then last night, there was an operatic singer. She was warming up her voice and everything. Then the construction workers heard her. Well they started howling back. I'm sure the singer was not amused. Admittedly though, the music has been some of the more pleasant noises I've been dealing with.

Although it may sound like I'm painting a not-so-bright picture of noise in Wuhu. It really isn't all that bad. Like I said, I'm a foreigner who is experiencing cultural noise shock. Maybe after a year when I return home, I won't be able to take the tranquility of East 41st Avenue out in front of my home (Yeah, what tranquility?).