During the height of the pandemic (think April 2020), I was very sick. I started to suffer from something terrible. According to WebMD, I was either about to die or suffered from “Results not found.” I decided to self-diagnose myself: about-to-die-from-boredom disease.
This awful disease made me procrastinate even more (which I didn’t know was possible) and increased my time on the internet tenfold. During a YouTube binge, I accidentally stumbled upon the channel The Wonton Don. I decided to watch his videos because why not (and I also didn’t want to complete a grueling physics lab). Those couple of hours changed my life – I had found my next favorite YouTuber, and I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my lab.
The Wonton Don serves as the foreign correspondent for Barstool Sports. Yes, that “bro-ey” site with fetishes for anything college or sports-related. However, Donnie’s (he’s also known as Donnie Does) content is wildly different. He mostly focuses on travel content, documenting his life in China and trips to various places such as South Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe, Azores, Bahamas, the Balkans, and others.
I was initially drawn in by his China videos. Donnie initially came to China to teach English and eventually moved out to Shanghai, filming his experiences along the way. I wasn’t expecting much as how could an American expat know much about Chinese culture and its subtleties. Boy was I wrong. Donnie will point out the history/cultural significance, uncover hidden gems, and show us the lives of regular people while always maintaining a respectful attitude. Being an American-Born Chinese, this meant a lot to me. Every time China is mentioned in my life; it’s usually always negative. For instance, I’ve had friends just bash China in front of my face. The news I watch is always pointing out something bad about China, never anything good. However, Donnie’s portrayal of China is far different. For instance, he genuinely tries to get to know the Chinese people he interacts with such as with his two cleaning maids who he calls his “Ayis.” Their relationship is unparalleled despite the massive language barrier. He even got to spend Chinese New Year in the countryside with one of his Ayi’s families, filming the rural and raw parts of China. He never makes them or the Chinese culture the butt of his jokes which I really appreciate. Additionally, I love how Donnie is able to capture the minutiae of Chinese life such as pointing out the street stalls selling fresh Sheng Jian Bao, the afternoon Mahjong games, etc. He’s also introduced me to aspects of China that I wasn’t even aware of such as the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA or the Chinese National Football League. It’s nice being able to learn more about China in a light other than the negative.
After finishing all his China videos, I started to delve into his other travel videos. I realized that his personality and respectfulness transcends barriers, allowing him to easily explore other cultures without ever appearing rude or condescending. From his Tajik trip, I learned about the popular dish of Plov, the brutal sport of Buzkashi, and watched the natural beauty of the Tajik landscape (changing my views of the nation drastically). Donnie is able to show the “real deal” of nations, not filtered garbage that American media spews out.
While Donnie continues to traverse the globe, I can’t wait for him to introduce me to new cultures and see how people located hundreds or thousands of miles away live their daily lives. Donnie, you truly are a cultural ambassador of the world, and I hope to broaden my cultural horizons as much as you have!
