User Comments - chanelle77

Posted on: Pregnancy Series 6: Shopping for the Newborn

Hi all, small question: Is this monday's lesson? I'm a bit confused here :-) In my inbox I have an Elly lesson, but no comments yet.

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

@bodawei

The most common used ones refer to "popular" diseases from the past (like middle ages) and that does not bother me too much to be honest. And occasionally I would use them myself (but in a more positive way i.e. to express surpise).

The odd thing is that if Dutch really talk about that particular disease you mention (that is: not used as a swear word) they would very often only use the first letter of the word. They would say if someone has that: he/she has *C*. Another mystery I guess ;-)

For me swearing is all is context dependent I think (and goes for any language). If someone uses it on purpose to hurt someone: that would not be very respectful and I am not ok with it.

If it is used like "normal" day to day language as it is most of the time: I say why not. It gives a language colour / character.

A mild swearing word in dutch is "pestkop" and would be used by adults for children. Literally it means: pleague head haha! How nice is that ;-)

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

I would definately buy that book! Would make great vid as well *wink wink*.

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Well that was very useful and won't forget that one that is for sure! I somehow have this really polite image of taxi drivers and chinese in general did not think it was something too bad ;-). I should work on this image haha.

In Dutch we have a very strange way of expressing "negative feelings" towards another. That is: many awful diseases are used as an insult.

I wonder if that is the same in Chinese? I am not asking for direct examples here, but I wonder about cultural differences in using "vulgar language". If I would use "250" in Dutch that would not make any sense...

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Today I was in a taxi in Sh. when a women crossed the street suddenly. The driver shouted something something "bi" (I tried to remember it all the way, but I forgot it unfortunately). I guess "bi" is not something nice. ;-)

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Oh I love those questions! I made a whole list when I arrived in China. Some are answered, but many more are added ....

Yes, many products come in strange standard quantities: i thought it might be converted from older / different standards? I think a can has 355 ml: why not 333? then 3 would go in one litre?

I was very happy to find out many "bricks" in the streets have the exact same size as in Europe, but why? Also why is 2 jin one kilo? That must not be a coincident. Can hardly imagine it has been like that centuries ago(i know by now...).

It is comforting to know I am not the only one wondering about these things ;-) May there be many more mysteries!

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

@ Reigau, I agree with you. And I also think that first tier cities are much different than 2nd tier or smaller. I also rarely heard  老外 in Beijing or Shanghai.

When I just arrived here: I thought everything / everyone was interesting / nice / friendly etc. Well it is not, just like anywhere else in the world haha!

@ Miantiao, thanks for sharing the 哈陋! Two of my China questions solved in one day.,

I still wonder why many houses have blue glass, many buildings have blue roofs and why people tie red or green ribbons to their cars / trucks). :-p

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Hey guys,  thx. for the tips and the explanation, that was interesting to read!

As for the 老外 thing, I think that I am  "one of those people" who can get slightly annoyed by it (sometimes not always). It is not a big issue and I know that with my blond hair, blue eyes & big nose I will never pass for Chinese, but being constanly reminded to be an "outsider" (even if you try to do your d*mn best to learn "their" language and understand culture) it sometimes can get to you a bit.

Recently, I found a new response though, If they say I am a foreigner,  I just say that I am Nanjingren because I live there just as they do, that is quite fair I guess and brings people more together in stead of apart! ;-)

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Tomorrow I will go to Fuzhou Lu to buy some art supplies, is that the best district in Shanghai to go to? Can you also find nice decorative paper there?

I always wondered why businesses seem to group in China. At the shopping centre near my house there are two dry cleaners: next to eachother! In europe you do not find this very often. If someone knows why please enlighten us ;-)

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

I'm also not an expert, (but I do buy a lot of this type of products) and for the Jade you need to "get an eye" I think. If you go to high-end (antique) stores or museums there you often can find real Jade (or other stones). I think that looks quite different from what you can get everywhere else ;-). As Bababardwan said: 5 RMB is a good indication it is fake. On the other hand a high price is no guarantee that it is real, so be careful and inform yourself.
For precious stones and pearls: I use the following rule of thumb: if it looks TOO good it must be fake or REALLY expensive!
If you plan to go to China and want to buy nice pearls and / or stones and you need some help you can contact me and I am happy to share some of my shopping tips and give you some price-indications ;-)