tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post802707848729035836..comments2023-10-29T21:14:24.325+08:00Comments on SHE in China: Shameless curiosityJonna Wibeliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-65414692954009360932009-04-04T23:12:00.000+08:002009-04-04T23:12:00.000+08:00Very interesting article. Too bad that people took...Very interesting article. Too bad that people took it negatively. As a matter of fact, it is considered extremely polite to stare in China. In China, you stare at older people, superiors, your teachers, anyone who deserves respect. If you want to be extra polite, you gather around the respected person in a large crowd and stare at him or her. So there is no reason to feel uncomfortable.<BR/><BR/>Everytime I'm back in Europe and catch sight of a Chinese-looking person, I make sure to stare at him properly and shout "NEEEEE HOW!" (That's "hallo" in Chinese). They absolutely love it!!! It is a foolproof way of making a friend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-19619008887102201552009-02-18T05:01:00.000+08:002009-02-18T05:01:00.000+08:00Enjoyed your writting. Many Chinese are happy to s...Enjoyed your writting. Many Chinese are happy to see you in China and elsewhere simply because of your fluency in Chinese, an appreciation/respect for their culture and traditions.<BR/><BR/>Here is a story I want to share. I went back to China for a visit after spending 15 years in the U.S. I get to used to say "thank you" whenever helped. So I did the same when in china. One day, a very close boyhood friend was apparently agitated by too many "thank-you"s. He looked at me and said SOFTLY "Aren't we friends? Then stop saying 'thank you'". <BR/><BR/>Enjoy your time in China, which is evolving... for the better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-9920654072999655152009-02-17T15:06:00.000+08:002009-02-17T15:06:00.000+08:00Anonymous: I never said there was something 'wrong...Anonymous: I never said there was something 'wrong'. If u read the article correctly u will notice that I am actually more positive/amused than negative. Don't get hung up on a title. I am not trying bag someone here. I am just stating some cultural differences. <BR/><BR/>Where I come from, going up to some strangers at a restaurant and looking at their bill is considered quite shameless!!Jonna Wibeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-5383614718216426962009-02-17T14:57:00.000+08:002009-02-17T14:57:00.000+08:00Remember, different, but not wrong!I don't agree w...Remember, different, but not wrong!<BR/><BR/>I don't agree with you when you use the word "shameliss". When in Rome, do like Romans do. When in China, It's you who should adjust but not the local people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-46976041058880585632009-02-17T05:06:00.000+08:002009-02-17T05:06:00.000+08:00Jonna,Your blog is great. I hope you will write ...Jonna,<BR/>Your blog is great. I hope you will write a book some day.<BR/><BR/>I remember when I was in Shanghai and eating alone in the restaurant at the YMCA where I was staying. I tried to be discreet and not stick out like a 1,000 pound gorilla. I sat in the back of the restaurant which had a big TV screen in the front. There was an older couple sitting near the front of the restaurant who saw me come in and proceeded to turn in their chairs and eat their dinner, watching me the entire time! I felt like I was in an aquarium!Rick Kapprahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902893357732427791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-72389559954376380202009-02-17T04:26:00.000+08:002009-02-17T04:26:00.000+08:00Your article here pretty much explains why I love ...Your article here pretty much explains why I love China so much. As a Chinese person living in the US, it's a bit difficult to adapt since people here are much more private, more individualized, and less eager to be friends. <BR/><BR/>Now it doesn't matter since I've become used to it and adapted pretty well. However, it still feels uncomfortable and out of place for me at times.<BR/><BR/>This is the main reason really why I love China, I just love watching the people when I'm there. I feel at ease, I feel like I can strike up a conversation with some kid on the street, on the bus, talk to some middle-aged citizens with no worries about privacy or anything. It's just extremely casual. And I wouldn't understand why most people would think that it's impolite. This is Chinese culture, and this is what makes us Chinese. If China was a private country, with people having boundaries, that just would not be China, nor would it feel like China....no matter how you put it.<BR/><BR/>I have Chinese people complaining in America about people having boundaries, while in China there's almost no secrets amongst people or strangers, you can easily ask about their private lives without any hesitation. I guess this type of communication is very affable, adventurous, just fun in general. I think for Westerners being in China they have to be prepared for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-42539278361571773622009-02-16T10:41:00.000+08:002009-02-16T10:41:00.000+08:00that caption is hilarious!that caption is hilarious!marjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01718334250805366721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-43880535899373846912009-02-15T19:33:00.000+08:002009-02-15T19:33:00.000+08:00I like your blog very much, I am living in a count...I like your blog very much, I am living in a country with the same curiosity culture :)Blank-Socratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973978396984498168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-71505696547485045022009-02-15T13:11:00.000+08:002009-02-15T13:11:00.000+08:00well.. sometimes u nave to still adopt their cultu...well.. sometimes u nave to still adopt their culture, adapting is really difficult sometimes but, It's fun to know some stuffs..they might be offended by just looking at themsheri amorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09071486570847282499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-90896717960707038822009-02-13T17:54:00.000+08:002009-02-13T17:54:00.000+08:00I am really sorry and offer my self sincere apolog...I am really sorry and offer my self sincere apologies as a young Chinese (under 18). I think the reason to this phenomenon is education. I don't mean that they didn't finish their education well. What I mean is that THEY ARE BADLY EDUCATED ON PRIVACY BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE AT THAT TIME. You know, 20 or 30 years ago China was really poor and every home was almost free for others to go into (even now some rural areas are still the same), because everyone is similar. At that time, we didn't have a relatively free market at all so furnitures and other things are the same in every family.In a word, nothing was worth <BR/>stealing so there was no need to protect yourself. Also, during that time thoughts of everyone were the same. So, based on this kind of society, this is understandable.<BR/>However, people (mostly students born after 1990s) are DIFFERENT AT ALL!!!For example,as for me,I also care a lot about my privacy because I realize it and I think it's a commonsense that we protect ourselves meanwhile not disturbing others.Asking the price,salary,home area,religion and politics views are things I hate to both ask and be asked. Also,it's common for some students to communicate with foreigners.<BR/>Just sorry for these things.VIII.Grhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09448658042292367727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-57461755553477024252009-02-12T22:04:00.000+08:002009-02-12T22:04:00.000+08:00Hi Jonna, loved your post! You get a lot of that '...Hi Jonna, loved your post! <BR/><BR/>You get a lot of that 'shameless curiosity' in Eastern Europe, too. In my home country (Serbia) it is perfectly acceptable to ask people about their salaries, which I find incredibly rude. <BR/><BR/>Also, no such concept as 'personal space' when you stand in a line--but then, you could also argue that we don't really do lines, it's more like a bunch of people elbowing their way to their final goal :)Jelicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903146833019745969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-71073139156930152772009-02-12T21:59:00.000+08:002009-02-12T21:59:00.000+08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Blank-Socratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973978396984498168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-17014654283973923952009-02-12T17:52:00.000+08:002009-02-12T17:52:00.000+08:00Rowena, in Singapore there is also a problem with ...Rowena, in Singapore there is also a problem with body odor, though it's not really the locals per se. Most of the people with the bad body odor seem to be foreign laborers from India. I apologize if it offends anyone, but I'm just stating the truth. If you get on a train at the end of a working day and there are Indians present, you can expect a heavy "curry" scent, as well as the typical underarm BO. One time it was so bad that my wife and I got off the train at the next station to wait for the next one. Luckily trains in Singapore are only 6 minutes apart, but the smell was just too horrible. My wife was becoming nauseous.Brad Farlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05904252975434362901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-22518254839608640332009-02-12T11:22:00.000+08:002009-02-12T11:22:00.000+08:00when I was in China this past summer I felt very u...when I was in China this past summer I felt very uncomfortable with all the stares and people taking pictures of us. We were there to bring our baby son home, and after we received him the stares turned into outright curiosity and a major invasion of our space. Eventually we got used to it and began to enjoy the interactions.bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03260547047581290887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-46519747778191681962009-02-12T10:53:00.000+08:002009-02-12T10:53:00.000+08:00yes, when you find out the shortcoming of the othe...yes, when you find out the shortcoming of the others, you are also learning it. That is why somethimes we say: learn from your enemy, and become your enemy at last.undertreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602414552582602793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-30468956486444225392009-02-12T07:00:00.000+08:002009-02-12T07:00:00.000+08:00I was in Hong Kong for 3 days last year and I can ...I was in Hong Kong for 3 days last year and I can relate. The staring, pointing, strangers taking photos of my daughters, and the personal space thing were all quite weird.<BR/><BR/>The worst thing though was out on a hot day at a crowded theme park and most asians were carrying umbrellas for sun protection. I am really tall and so the sharp pointy edges of these umbrellas were exactly at eye height and these people were laughing at me avoiding the umbrellas and some were purposefully standing closer just to watch me react - a bit too rude I thought.LKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10451484619921503215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-27131836634756059032009-02-12T04:33:00.000+08:002009-02-12T04:33:00.000+08:00hey man I'm an American living in Germany and I ha...hey man I'm an American living in Germany and I have to say I could draw lots of parallels between some Asian countries and here... z.B. standing way too effing close in line, examining other's purchases, staring and/or commenting. You're better than I am, cos even "when in Rome" I expect the Romans to have a smidgen of respect.<BR/><BR/>love yr blog though. :)The Candid Yankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467055634256124294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-23509199207610651302009-02-12T02:02:00.000+08:002009-02-12T02:02:00.000+08:00As for reading the newspaper over your shoulder, I...As for reading the newspaper over your shoulder, I'm guessing you must have been sitting down otherwise they might have a hard time! lol Yeah if I was in your situation I would have so much fun listening to people talking about me in front of me and then replying!!<BR/><BR/>I found an article today about getting a driver's license in China http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.b0a7be9f94fe16f95ff3400ddc1d174c.14c1&show_article=1 , have you done this yourself? If so what was your experience with that? If not do you have stories from other people about getting their driver's licenses in China?Chocolatesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08493321160124151967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-56594056965617076532009-02-12T00:46:00.000+08:002009-02-12T00:46:00.000+08:00When I moved to Italy I had the same problem of ma...When I moved to Italy I had the same problem of maintaining my "space" when out in public. People either walk as if they don't see you and expect YOU to move out of their way, or when in a busy supermarket, they just keep pushing up nearly quite against you when in line.<BR/><BR/>Not a big deal anymore and I grew accustomed to having my space invaded, but the one thing that I just have hard time with is body odor! Ugh, sometimes it's just <I>rank</I> (mostly men but sometimes the women too even though I should <B>add a disclaimer</B> that not ALL italians have terrible B.O.). Tell me, is there a problem with chinese people not using deodorant? My bad luck that I have a super-sensitive nose eh?Rowenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335673619430109527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-3052681911413767962009-02-12T00:43:00.000+08:002009-02-12T00:43:00.000+08:00(I also assume he was a bit of a slow reader becau...(I also assume he was a bit of a slow reader because when she turned the page over I could see that he got slightly annoyed. For a short moment I almost expected him to bang on the window and mouth something like 'turn back the page, I wasn't finished!', but then reality checked back into me)<BR/><BR/>It really made me laugh and generally the entire subject was funny but still I'm pretty sure this kind of behaviour is annoying. I come from Europe also ( Greece ) and I don't think I can accept it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-8675603505216087262009-02-12T00:26:00.000+08:002009-02-12T00:26:00.000+08:00These things also happened in my life, and I don't...These things also happened in my life, and I don't like it either. But maybe you received more attention because you are a laowai(I have just learned this word from your last post, and I think it is very funny). As a Chinese, we ask privacy questions each other to shows one's regards, and the art is how to answer. I'm learning English just as you learning Chinese. One day a friend of my farther said to me , my son's salary is twice than yours and you are the same age. I just smile to him. Many of the feelings of Chinese isn't show up, there is some real culture of China hidden in Philosophy, but not everyone knows,even Chinese.Allen Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07834623954526114664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-24707649900946579692009-02-12T00:06:00.000+08:002009-02-12T00:06:00.000+08:00I don't think I could handle it. I am a private p...I don't think I could handle it. I am a private person who likes her space.Rebecca Lynch Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05158354761961617286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-1986849769383556042009-02-11T23:55:00.000+08:002009-02-11T23:55:00.000+08:00And I would get annoyed when my mom would dig thro...And I would get annoyed when my mom would dig through my glove box of my vehicle. :)<BR/><BR/>I live in a college town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We see a lot of Chinese students around town and such. It's funny because they always seem to be in their own little bubble. I'm curious about them and "discreetly" watch and listen to them, even though I can't understand the language. But they seem to be ignoring everything else around them and in their own little world. :)Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922120396162160398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-70001448157616324472009-02-11T23:54:00.000+08:002009-02-11T23:54:00.000+08:00Hehe, I got to admit I also stare at foreigners wh...Hehe, I got to admit I also stare at foreigners when I meet them. Where I live I usually never meet foreigners, so when I do I become all excited and stare at them until I become embarrassed of myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-19966474987789209732009-02-11T22:30:00.000+08:002009-02-11T22:30:00.000+08:00when i found out that i was gonna be studying medi...when i found out that i was gonna be studying medicine in china i thought i'd do some research before hand. <BR/><BR/>so i went to the local bookstore(in male' maldives) and i found the book 'chinese for dummies!'. in the chapter about chinese behaviors that foreigners will find strange i still remember two things.<BR/><BR/> 1- chinese people will spit anywhere. on restuarent floors, on buses. <BR/> 2- they will stare at u. and not only will they stare at u they will call their friends and make them stare at u as well.<BR/><BR/> so i was expecting this behavior when i came and didnt find it strange at all. i only notice it when i'm with friends and like a whole group of them start starring at the same time. so after a while i'm like i should charge like 10 yuan for a look. or..oh look! foreighers! they eat just like us!. <BR/><BR/>anyway this is my first comment and i really identify with ur blog enjoy reading it. keep it up!maanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04415095478966625023noreply@blogger.com