| Author | I'm an american in China, any questions? | Jim
Super Administrator
Posts: 159
Joined: 30.11.06
 | | Posted on 16-02-2008 05:31 | |
| Hey guys, I just arrived in shanghai last night feb 15th at like 10pm china time. I'm going to make this quick because I'm at an internet cafe, but I wanted to login and update those who cared.
Anyways, I know I had a bunch of questions about china, but now that I'm here, i want to know, what do you want to know about china?
Please reply with your questions, I'm really excited about being here and I'll probably be able to respond within a few days from now.
Niaho! (only spelled correctly) | 
| | Author | RE: I'm an american in China, any questions? | Sarah Edwards
Super Administrator
Posts: 161
Joined: 03.01.07
 | | Posted on 17-02-2008 12:50 | |
| Is real Chinese food like Chinese food you get in restaurants? Obviously the most important questions are always food related...
Are the people welcoming or generally wary of foreigners? I watched Paul Merton in China (which I doubt they have in the US which is a real shame, he is hilarious) and it seemed everyone was really welcoming except when he was in the cities they were wary more of being seen with him. I was wondering if that applied to everyone or just him because he had a film crew with him... |
| | Author | RE: I'm an american in China, any questions? | Jim
Super Administrator
Posts: 159
Joined: 30.11.06
| | Posted on 25-02-2008 14:57 | |
| Heh, real chinese food is nothing like panda express, or the corner chinese place in downtown L.A.
A lot of the food I've had so far has had pork or chicken in it, not beef so much. Although I have had a few spicey beef dishes with noodles and greens. Tons of rice, like unbelievable piles of white rice, the theory is that you take your other food, put it on the rice, and eat them together, and this works pretty well.
American food in china though, not so good. Pizza hut just isn't the same without the pizza sauce and real pepperoni. No burgers or tacos, unless you count McDonalds, and I don't.
Treatment of foreigners:
In shanghai, it was a big city, so mostly I just got people running up to me trying to sell me rolexes and DVDs. I ended up buying a fake rolex, cause its so cheap and cool looking (insert appropriate smiley face here). They love to haggle for the price of things, its a game to them, and it was to me too, a very fun game.
I was buying a pair of light up wheels to attach to my shoes and I drew a crowd whilst bargaining, loads of fun, everyone was laughing and giving me the thumbs up when I got the price down to 1/5 the asking price.
In the small town I'm in, however, I get stared at constantly, its kinda fun, like being a celebrity. People follow me in the store, constantly going through my shopping cart (not just looking, actually rifling through things with curiousity.) The little kids are the best though, they stare with gaping mouth and wide eyes, when I smile, wave, and say "hello", they get excited and reply with a "heellllooooOOooo!" Then they run off giggling to the candy isle.
But the people here are very nice, much nicer than you random encounters in Los Angeles! ( Insert: Imagine me pointing an accusing finger in the direcion of someone from that city.) |
| | Author | RE: I'm an american in China, any questions? | Jim
Super Administrator
Posts: 159
Joined: 30.11.06
| | Posted on 25-02-2008 15:00 | |
| Oh, one thing I forgot to mention, for those of you who don't know, I'm very easy to spot in china.
I'm the 6-foot tall, thick (not quite fat), hairy, blond, white guy, wearing black leather gloves and matching jacket (one that would only be considered "hip" right after the Terminator movies) , black jeans, and sunglasses... indoors.
Hence my amazing ability to stand out like a sore thumb in any crowded chinese alleyway.
Edited by Jim on 25-02-2008 15:01 |
| | Author | RE: I'm an american in China, any questions? | Sarah Edwards
Super Administrator
Posts: 161
Joined: 03.01.07
| | Posted on 25-02-2008 18:31 | |
| Awww, I want to meet those Chinese kids... That is the great thing about childhood, to be able to do/ say what you want and not be considered rude.
I think being six foot is enough as it is to stand out in China, or is it another misconception that people are short?
I myself really hate rice - eating it with other food just ruins the other food... makes it stodgy. I love bif meat dishes so I'm not sure how long I could survive in China, but I would love to go.
Hmm, I have found that New York has the friendliest people in general. In London people tend to just ignore weird behaviour and seem quite cold, although most will always give you directions happily if you work up the courage to ask them...
Another question: Is everything really cheap there? Or at least cheaper than Uk/USA? |
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