I've learned a few things in my four months here in Chengdu(I can't believe its only been four months!) and I have decided to compile a list for your reading pleasure!
1. Always carry tissues...you never know when you will be forced to use a public squat toilet and SURPRISE there is NO toilet paper...like ever!
2. Always carry wipes...there is generally never any soap in bathrooms so you need to clean your hands with something!(By now your purse is more closely resembling a diaper bag)
3. Learn your numbers! Due to my lovely white skin, any and every person in this city tries to take advantage of me. Its always fun to see their shocked looks when you start bargaining in Chinese.
4. "Bu Yao" means don't want/don't need and works in a variety of instances eg: when someone is trying to manhandle my kids or take our picture or sell us something.
5. Some stuff just doesn't make sense! For example: "mama huhu" is a common expression meaning so-so(the movie was so-so) but the literal translation is Horse Horse Tiger Tiger...how does that even make any sense?!
6. Little dogs are mean! I don't know whether its fear that they could be tonight's dinner or what but don't be sticking your hands anywhere near a little dog!
7. Eat Chinese! Real Chinese food can be amazing! And inexpensive too! Not like the crap you get in North America. Though not many restaurants have English on the menu, lots have pictures.
8. People are impatient...even the cute little 80 year old granny in the line up for the produce scale. She will budge in front of you if you let your guard down for a second!
9. Smoking is acceptable...everywhere...I know, gross. In Canada its become law pretty much everywhere that you can't smoke inside any building. Come to China and if there isn't a cigarette hanging from your lips you're a minority(amongst men anyway) Restaurants, hotels, taxis, airports, you name it and there are people smoking in it.
10. Road rules...there are none. See those lines on the road? They don't mean anything. See that cross walk or side walk? Think you can safely walk on it? Nope. Watch out for that bus, scooter, car, mo-ped! My kids have become pros at weaving through traffic.
11. She looks like a street walker! But she's not. That's just how they dress here.
12. Plastic bags...are good for many applications including holding soup. I've seen it.
Well that was fun. Hope you learned a few things that you didn't already know!
1. Always carry tissues...you never know when you will be forced to use a public squat toilet and SURPRISE there is NO toilet paper...like ever!
2. Always carry wipes...there is generally never any soap in bathrooms so you need to clean your hands with something!(By now your purse is more closely resembling a diaper bag)
3. Learn your numbers! Due to my lovely white skin, any and every person in this city tries to take advantage of me. Its always fun to see their shocked looks when you start bargaining in Chinese.
4. "Bu Yao" means don't want/don't need and works in a variety of instances eg: when someone is trying to manhandle my kids or take our picture or sell us something.
5. Some stuff just doesn't make sense! For example: "mama huhu" is a common expression meaning so-so(the movie was so-so) but the literal translation is Horse Horse Tiger Tiger...how does that even make any sense?!
6. Little dogs are mean! I don't know whether its fear that they could be tonight's dinner or what but don't be sticking your hands anywhere near a little dog!
7. Eat Chinese! Real Chinese food can be amazing! And inexpensive too! Not like the crap you get in North America. Though not many restaurants have English on the menu, lots have pictures.
8. People are impatient...even the cute little 80 year old granny in the line up for the produce scale. She will budge in front of you if you let your guard down for a second!
9. Smoking is acceptable...everywhere...I know, gross. In Canada its become law pretty much everywhere that you can't smoke inside any building. Come to China and if there isn't a cigarette hanging from your lips you're a minority(amongst men anyway) Restaurants, hotels, taxis, airports, you name it and there are people smoking in it.
10. Road rules...there are none. See those lines on the road? They don't mean anything. See that cross walk or side walk? Think you can safely walk on it? Nope. Watch out for that bus, scooter, car, mo-ped! My kids have become pros at weaving through traffic.
11. She looks like a street walker! But she's not. That's just how they dress here.
12. Plastic bags...are good for many applications including holding soup. I've seen it.
Well that was fun. Hope you learned a few things that you didn't already know!
Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteyou are the funniest
ReplyDeletexo