Friday, May 16, 2008

Gotta love your PJs

Summer is coming to Shanghai. Time to take out your PJ...

It's funny in China, that when summer comes people start to wear their pyjamas on the streets. The do their grocery shopping, noodle eating, and play mahjong dressed in flannel. My biggest concern have always been: how can they be comfortable wearing flannel during the steaming hot summer days? It’s 35 humid degrees outside and they cover up in a fabric that’s supposed to warm you during cold winter nights… Nah, I don’t get it.

I have more understanding for the women who often walk out in a long t-shirt (their night gown, I assume), flip flops and a handbag. Classy? Not sure. Suitable for the temperature? Sure!

Speaking of PJs, here’s a story I’ve got to share with you that a friend of mine told me…

A prominent American company CEO, normally located in China, takes his staff on a trip to the US in order to introduce them to American culture and business.

He books expensive rooms for all of them at a fancy hotel, and they all seem to settle in well.

The next morning, he is sitting in the restaurant eating breakfast, when he sees his staff pouring out from the elevators, dressed in …. Their flannel pyjamas!

He hurries to get up and greet them and tells them to change, adding:

-Why on earth are you wearing your night dresses down to the hotel restaurant?

His employees give him confused looks before someone replies:

-But boss, it is only 7.30am! We don’t start work until 9am. So on our free time we can wear what we want, right?

4 comments:

Lullun said...

Åh, detta med pyjamasarna var något jag verkligen hade tänkt att fråga dig om. Under min sommar backpackande i Kina såg jag det bara i Shanghai. Men visst var/är det lustigt! Även kvinnorna i sinna lite mer "sexiga" sovkläder och högklackat. Konstigt nog fick det nästan mig att känna mig udda, i mina "vanliga" kläder. *hihi*

Anonymous said...

HAHAAH I find men in Hanfu far more sexy lol..

Anonymous said...

that's funny, but I have been in Shanghai for college and traveled a lot around China, that PJ thing only happens in Shanghai and cites, it is the special feature for old Shanghai residents.

Unknown said...

PJ dress code exists on hainan as well..when i asked my chinese friend why she puts on her pj outside an apartment she said " ehm..coz i love my pj and it looks so beautiful n i want others see it on me too!"...