<![CDATA[Comments on: To bag or not to bag?]]> 2008-12-01 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: houban]]> ChinesePod goes green!!

 Though the guy was speaking a bit fast, I think it was good to hear this at what would be a normal speed.  I usually appreciate things being a little slower, but this was all vocabulary I already knew and hearing it faster was good for me.  I didn't understand him until the second time.  Thanks CPod.

]]> ChinesePod goes green!!

 Though the guy was speaking a bit fast, I think it was good to hear this at what would be a normal speed.  I usually appreciate things being a little slower, but this was all vocabulary I already knew and hearing it faster was good for me.  I didn't understand him until the second time.  Thanks CPod.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kevina]]> Thanks for the lesson. My last time in Taipei the clerk at the 7-11 was asking me if I wanted a bag and I had no idea what she was trying to tell me.

]]> Thanks for the lesson. My last time in Taipei the clerk at the 7-11 was asking me if I wanted a bag and I had no idea what she was trying to tell me.

]]> <![CDATA[By: azzote]]>  

I always thought it was "baizi" and never bothered to check this. Till today !

 

]]>  

I always thought it was "baizi" and never bothered to check this. Till today !

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: Amesburygeorge]]> Wow, that was speedy! Fortunately, the host and hostess went over this slowly for newbies like myself. Once again, good job and keep up the good work!

]]> Wow, that was speedy! Fortunately, the host and hostess went over this slowly for newbies like myself. Once again, good job and keep up the good work!

]]> <![CDATA[By: sarahjs]]> For about 2 weeks I heard this in Wellcome, I was like What? then I realised what the phrase was about, and three months later I can say it.

 

I don't think the dialogue is too fast, it's the normal speed I hear when I go shopping. But for a newbie it is possibly to fast, but then you have the situation of Chinesepod making unrealisticly slow dialogue, that isn't done in China/Taiwan.

]]> For about 2 weeks I heard this in Wellcome, I was like What? then I realised what the phrase was about, and three months later I can say it.

 

I don't think the dialogue is too fast, it's the normal speed I hear when I go shopping. But for a newbie it is possibly to fast, but then you have the situation of Chinesepod making unrealisticly slow dialogue, that isn't done in China/Taiwan.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Jenny,

You are too kind. "Cheap or environmentally conscious".I think it's pretty safe to assume he was being cheap.He wanted the bag in the first place and changed his mind without hesitation at the mention that it was going to cost him something."Na". As it was previously free he doesn't value it.But hopefully he'll go home and reflect on it at some stage.Not only is there the problem with production of the plastic bags ,but also they are generally not biodegradable and they often end up in the ocean where they can look very much like jellyfish to hungry marine critters [which can then choke or block the gut of eg seals]:

Good on you Ken and Jenny for a great environmental message at the same time :)

]]> Jenny,

You are too kind. "Cheap or environmentally conscious".I think it's pretty safe to assume he was being cheap.He wanted the bag in the first place and changed his mind without hesitation at the mention that it was going to cost him something."Na". As it was previously free he doesn't value it.But hopefully he'll go home and reflect on it at some stage.Not only is there the problem with production of the plastic bags ,but also they are generally not biodegradable and they often end up in the ocean where they can look very much like jellyfish to hungry marine critters [which can then choke or block the gut of eg seals]:

Good on you Ken and Jenny for a great environmental message at the same time :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> btw,

Is anyone else having trouble posting over the last hour? I keep losing the connection ,but my internet is fine otherwise.

]]> btw,

Is anyone else having trouble posting over the last hour? I keep losing the connection ,but my internet is fine otherwise.

]]> <![CDATA[By: calkins]]> Kevina, I also had no clue, during my first supermarket experience in Taipei, why the clerk was asking if I wanted a bag.  I had purchased many items and it was obvious I couldn't carry them all.

That's when I learned that a bag cost NT$2 (about 6 cents US). 

Great timing for this...now I can go back to the supermarket with confidence!   

]]> Kevina, I also had no clue, during my first supermarket experience in Taipei, why the clerk was asking if I wanted a bag.  I had purchased many items and it was obvious I couldn't carry them all.

That's when I learned that a bag cost NT$2 (about 6 cents US). 

Great timing for this...now I can go back to the supermarket with confidence!   

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Do they not charge for plastic bags in the States and Europe? Or some stores use brown paper bags.

]]> Do they not charge for plastic bags in the States and Europe? Or some stores use brown paper bags.

]]> <![CDATA[By: Amesburygeorge]]> It is not mandated where I am (Massachusetts USA), but some stores are charging now for bags. I found such a store recently. At first, I was a bit turned off by it. This is because it is a change, and I felt I shouldnt have to pay for something I formally got at no charge. After a bit of thinking, my attitude changed. I realized that the store was being economical. The bags they were selling are high quality, so they can be reused several times. Thinking about it after the fact, I realized it is unreasonable to expect stores to offer bags out of their profits. This helps with the environmental stuff that Ken was talking about, and generally cuts down on waste.

]]> It is not mandated where I am (Massachusetts USA), but some stores are charging now for bags. I found such a store recently. At first, I was a bit turned off by it. This is because it is a change, and I felt I shouldnt have to pay for something I formally got at no charge. After a bit of thinking, my attitude changed. I realized that the store was being economical. The bags they were selling are high quality, so they can be reused several times. Thinking about it after the fact, I realized it is unreasonable to expect stores to offer bags out of their profits. This helps with the environmental stuff that Ken was talking about, and generally cuts down on waste.

]]>