聽說每一個在中國的外國人每三年就要經歷一次大考：是去是留？好糾結啊！
老外危機是個啥東西？一起來看看妹子如何解釋~
以下是Global Times (Metro Shanghai)近期刊登的一篇評論，配有中文翻譯。
Expats in China suffer from a cultural crisis every three years
If you feel like your joy for China is starting to fade and that everything that once felt normal appears weird to you, then most probably you are a foreigner experiencing the "Laowai's (outsider) crisis." It appears every three years and is linked with significant "cultural adaptation."
在中國生活一段時間後，如果你覺得曾經的神秘和興奮被平淡和苟且取代，那麼你很可能正在經歷一場“老外危機”。這個危機，每三年出現一次，和文化適應息息相關。
According to associate professor of Arizona State University, Michael Winkelman, adaptation goes through four distinct stages: honeymoon phase, crisis period (culture shock), adjustment phase, and acceptance and adaptation phase.
美國亞利桑那州立大學的助理教授Michael Winkelman指出，一個到另外一個國家生活的人會經歷四種文化適應的過程：蜜月期、危機期、調節期和適應接受期。
When a foreigner comes to a new country, the differences between the old and new are seen in a romantic light and bring on the "euphoria" of a honeymoon. This, however, changes after approximately three years, when once new and beautiful surroundings become a regular part of everyday life. Diminishing excitement and one's ability to learn new things mark the beginning of the "Laowai's crisis."
對於一個剛到海外的人來說，到處都是新鮮事物、一切都充滿了挑戰和探索，就好像如膠似漆的蜜月期。但是三年之後，這種新鮮感會慢慢消失，變成你生活的一部分。當你不再對外界好奇，不再學習新技能的時候，老外危機就悄悄開始了。
My honeymoon with China lasted exactly three years before it came to a bitter conclusion. Things that I once loved about Chinese culture, people and society became frustrating to me.
我和中國的蜜月期正好持續了3年。但是蜜月期一過，我變得很喪，對一度喜歡的中國文化，中國人，社會也發生了180度的轉變。
My favorite dishes became too oily and spicy. Street food that I once enjoyed appeared unappetizing and unhealthy. I remember rolling my eyes every time I saw clouds of steam coming up from the huge bowl of oil in the red lantern-lit food trolleys.
以前喜歡的中國菜現在嚐起來又油又辣；以前經常光顧的路邊攤現在看來又髒又不健康。還記得第一次看到掛著紅燈籠的小推車裡，蒸汽從滋滋的油鍋裡冒出的樣子，我可是看得直流口水的。
I also could no longer stand all the noise on the streets. Endless hooting, spitting, arguing and shout-talking seemed to be following me everywhere I went. Everything became so annoying that I simply could not understand how, for the past three years, I had such a happy life in China.
我變得再也不能忍受街上的噪音，無論走到哪裡，都躲不開刺耳的鳴笛聲、隨地吐痰的人和街頭巷尾高談闊論。我都不知道過去三年自己都是怎麼開開心心地過來的。
This is when my friends who had been in China for more than five year first told me that I am most likely experiencing "Laowai's crisis" but that I would soon recover. Eventually I did. After two months of feeling disorientated, I started enjoying China again. I returned to my favorite Chinese dishes and the loud sounds, noises and other irritations faded into nothingness.
這時候，一個來中國5年多的朋友告訴我，這就是老外危機，應該很快就會過去。沒錯，僅僅在2個月之後，這些不爽的感覺就消失了，我又重新接受了在中國的生活，可以愉快地邊聽噪音邊吃飯了。
After my recovery, I realized that the reason I felt down with life in China had to do with my surroundings. Lousy weather, a lack of true friends, missing home and a busy period at school and work can make any expat feel depressed.
從老外危機裡緩過來之後，我意識到自己心情低落的原因還是和周圍環境有關：魔都詭異多變的天氣，缺少真心朋友，思鄉心切，學業和工作的壓力，這些都可以成為壓垮歪果仁的最後一根稻草。
When this crisis happened to me, I was working on my thesis in Chinese while the weather was particularly miserable. I was struggling with a foreign language and isolated in my cold room. No wonder I felt so unhappy.
回想經歷危機的時候，我正一個人在冰冷的房間裡默默地碼著畢業論文，難怪我會那麼喪。
However, sooner or later, all crises come to an end. According to scientists, the crisis phase should be changed with the adjustment and acceptance phases. This is when we can once again start calling another country "home."
好在，危機總有一天會過去。科學家們說，危機的長短和個人的適應期有關，一旦邁過這個坎，我們就真正可以把這個國家當成自己的家了。
In order to recover from culture shock as fast as possible, I recommend to other foreigners to not panic but instead think about all the excellent opportunities that are available in China, especially Shanghai. Plenty of events, international restaurants, nightclubs and the chance to meet people from all over the world in one city make living in Shanghai a joy.
為了儘快克服老外危機，我建議外國人們不要悲觀焦慮，要多想想中國的好，尤其是上海。這裡，你可以參加精彩的活動，品嚐各國美食，認識不同的朋友。
Quick payments with QR codes, online shopping, cheap delivery services, a convenient transportation system and shared bicycles also make life in Shanghai much easier. If all these advantages still do not work for you and you still want to run away, don't forget that culture shock goes both ways: upon arrival in a foreign country and after returning home. More often than not, reverse culture shock can be even worse.
掃一掃碼，剁一剁手，收一收廉價的快遞，還有方便的公交系統和共享單車，上海的生活是如此優哉遊哉。如果這些還不足以留下你，不要忘了文化衝擊可是雙向的哦：來一個新的國家會刷新你的認識，回國的時候同樣也會。而且，這種返鄉衝擊會來得更猛烈。
In either case, it might not be a bad idea to just wait until the weather warms up and your work is done. Such small changes will allow you to fall back in-love with China... at least for another three years.
無論哪種情況，請一定耐心等到氣候適宜，工作穩了再決定去留。說不定這些微小的變化，會讓你重新愛上中國，至少再愛個三年不是問題。
你有在國外生活的經歷嗎？你同意俄羅斯妹子的觀點嗎？歡迎在下方留言告訴我們哦~
原文：Catherine Valley
翻譯：Qi Xijia
圖：Chen Xia、網絡
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