<![CDATA[Comments on: Getting a Driver's License]]> 2008-10-02 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> that was cool to hear.  I can definitely say that I understood some of the words. But back down to elementary I go.

]]> that was cool to hear.  I can definitely say that I understood some of the words. But back down to elementary I go.

]]> <![CDATA[By: RJ]]> I am still looking for a copy of the driving rules study book in English and Chinese. The bookstores dont carry it and I never make it to the 车管所.

Driving in China reminds me of the bumper car ride but without actual contact. Actually its classic Chinese queing rules transferred to cars. They signal intent by leaning in that direction and its as if there is an invisible force field that they all can feel because no one makes eye contact. If you do, you loose. Its one big game of "chicken". He who has the most nerve wins. What is amazing is that it seems to "work". Its fascinating to watch a good cab driver. They will sacrifice much just to gain 10 ft even if it puts them in the wrong lane. The lane change is then the next challenge. Unlike the west, horns are usually used without malice. Its just a another tool. I have become quite used to it and missing a bus by 3/8 inch actually makes me feel good now. Great driver, look how close he got without touching. If you drove western style in China, you would probably cause many accidents. I look forward to a day when I can give it a try. I think.

]]> I am still looking for a copy of the driving rules study book in English and Chinese. The bookstores dont carry it and I never make it to the 车管所.

Driving in China reminds me of the bumper car ride but without actual contact. Actually its classic Chinese queing rules transferred to cars. They signal intent by leaning in that direction and its as if there is an invisible force field that they all can feel because no one makes eye contact. If you do, you loose. Its one big game of "chicken". He who has the most nerve wins. What is amazing is that it seems to "work". Its fascinating to watch a good cab driver. They will sacrifice much just to gain 10 ft even if it puts them in the wrong lane. The lane change is then the next challenge. Unlike the west, horns are usually used without malice. Its just a another tool. I have become quite used to it and missing a bus by 3/8 inch actually makes me feel good now. Great driver, look how close he got without touching. If you drove western style in China, you would probably cause many accidents. I look forward to a day when I can give it a try. I think.

]]> <![CDATA[By: Joachim]]> Still no driving allowed for foreigners without long-term residence in China?

]]> Still no driving allowed for foreigners without long-term residence in China?

]]> <![CDATA[By: RJ]]> Joachim - yes, its my understanding that you need a residence permit to get a drivers license.

]]> Joachim - yes, its my understanding that you need a residence permit to get a drivers license.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> 中国人的开车技巧就像楼上说的那样超级厉害，简直是超越一般，超越常识，超越法律，超越国际标准的高级驾驶技术。开车速度当然超快，汽车如果有翅膀马上就会飞起来。但是很奇怪，中国人的停车入位技术差劲得要命，汽车停得太乱，可能是中国国土辽阔的原故吧。

]]> 中国人的开车技巧就像楼上说的那样超级厉害，简直是超越一般，超越常识，超越法律，超越国际标准的高级驾驶技术。开车速度当然超快，汽车如果有翅膀马上就会飞起来。但是很奇怪，中国人的停车入位技术差劲得要命，汽车停得太乱，可能是中国国土辽阔的原故吧。

]]> <![CDATA[By: sfrrr]]> Did anyone read the New Yorker article about a driving school in China (and his experiences--and his wife's--trying to drive a rental car without an accident? It was a year or two ago and explains why Chinese drivers drive the way they do. If you're interested, the article is: "Wheels of Fortune" by Peter Hessler, Nov 26, 2007: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/11/26/071126fa_fact_hessler. This is just an abstract, though, and lacks the details of how driving is taught in Hessler's part of China.

]]> Did anyone read the New Yorker article about a driving school in China (and his experiences--and his wife's--trying to drive a rental car without an accident? It was a year or two ago and explains why Chinese drivers drive the way they do. If you're interested, the article is: "Wheels of Fortune" by Peter Hessler, Nov 26, 2007: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/11/26/071126fa_fact_hessler. This is just an abstract, though, and lacks the details of how driving is taught in Hessler's part of China.

]]> <![CDATA[By: sfrrr]]> Also, two suggestions for Qing Wen programs: (1) yuan yin vs. liyou; (2) study vs. learn in Chinese. In English, study and learn have very different meanings. Is this distinction made in Chinese and, if so, how?

Oh, and while I'm at it...It would be helpful if you told us which syllable to stress in each vocabulary word. When I was reading John P's Sinosplice article on semantic flavors of "my," I linked to an article about how the Chinese tell a fluent Waiguoren from a native Chinese speaker. Someone ventured that an important criterion is where the speaker puts the stress in each word.

]]> Also, two suggestions for Qing Wen programs: (1) yuan yin vs. liyou; (2) study vs. learn in Chinese. In English, study and learn have very different meanings. Is this distinction made in Chinese and, if so, how?

Oh, and while I'm at it...It would be helpful if you told us which syllable to stress in each vocabulary word. When I was reading John P's Sinosplice article on semantic flavors of "my," I linked to an article about how the Chinese tell a fluent Waiguoren from a native Chinese speaker. Someone ventured that an important criterion is where the speaker puts the stress in each word.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ayumi000000]]> great lesson!!

]]> great lesson!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: dedsall78]]> rjberki,

Yeah, they definitely drive with their own rules.  The thing that bothers me is, they create more traffic jams due to their rules.  Many a time have I seen someone making a traffic jam worse because they selfishly blocked a lane in an effort to move ahead.  This prevents the other side from moving until the "blockers" lane moves, etc., etc.

Considering I don't drive, it shouldn't bother me.  But my organized and perfectionist mind has a problem when I see such things :-)

However, these Beijingers are definitely better drivers than the majority of Americans.

The great thing about Beijing is the public transportation is good enough that I have no need to drive around here.

]]> rjberki,

Yeah, they definitely drive with their own rules.  The thing that bothers me is, they create more traffic jams due to their rules.  Many a time have I seen someone making a traffic jam worse because they selfishly blocked a lane in an effort to move ahead.  This prevents the other side from moving until the "blockers" lane moves, etc., etc.

Considering I don't drive, it shouldn't bother me.  But my organized and perfectionist mind has a problem when I see such things :-)

However, these Beijingers are definitely better drivers than the majority of Americans.

The great thing about Beijing is the public transportation is good enough that I have no need to drive around here.

]]> <![CDATA[By: RJ]]> dedsall78,

I know what you mean. Get that 10 ft even if there is total gridlock for the next 5 miles. Sometimes it just doesnt make sense. Its a mind set.

I wonder what the stats on traffic accidents looks like compared to other countries. Maybe China needs a national govt sponsored driver's Ed program. How many countries dont allow foreign visitors to drive? I think China is unique in this. What exactly are they trying to say?

]]> dedsall78,

I know what you mean. Get that 10 ft even if there is total gridlock for the next 5 miles. Sometimes it just doesnt make sense. Its a mind set.

I wonder what the stats on traffic accidents looks like compared to other countries. Maybe China needs a national govt sponsored driver's Ed program. How many countries dont allow foreign visitors to drive? I think China is unique in this. What exactly are they trying to say?

]]>