User Comments - tvan
tvan
Posted on: Roommates and What Chinese Think of Foreigners
May 21, 2008 at 8:21 PMameliaf, I think that, generally speaking, most people are racist/nationalistic on some level. One of the interesting (for me) points I've noticed in China is how my presence makes a difference in how my wife is treated by the locals. If she (Chinese) is by herself, she often receives rude or indifferent treatment, particularly in Northern China. However, if she's with me (American), she gets the kid glove treatment. What's up with that? Whites getting better treatment than Chinese... in China? Insofar as lumping all foreigners together, do you think that goes back to the old barbarian/middle kingdom thing?
Posted on: Chinese Music Taste and Registering with the Police
May 20, 2008 at 1:53 PMYou can go to jail anywhere. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security; if you break the law, being a foreigner gives you no protection per se. Based on this post and others, until the Olympics are over, it seems like a good time to avoid China. Taiwan is always an excellent alternative for those looking to exercise their Mandarin: genuine culture, beautiful scenery, friendly people, and welcoming government.
Posted on: Chinese Music Taste and Registering with the Police
May 17, 2008 at 1:49 PMThe first time I worked in China (Shanghai), foreigners were less common; the police actually came to my room and woke me up to process my paperwork. I found it annoying/mildly threatening at the time but, on reflection, its the first and only time I've ever had bureaucratic room service.
Posted on: Saved by the Gong: Geology
May 15, 2008 at 12:45 AMfudapeng, amen. ranchenon, 2¢ opinion? Seems overvalued. Based on your age, I'm guessing you didn't mean what you just said. Also, speaking as someone who has recently and frequently traveled in the area, there are probably more than a few Tibetans affected. 2¢ that.
Posted on: Lo and La （咯 & 啦）
May 14, 2008 at 9:04 PMfrances, if you wish to conform to the Queen's English, I believe that the proper spelling is "Y'all".
Posted on: Saved by the Gong: Geology
May 14, 2008 at 2:25 PMMy son taught English in Tangshan last year, so its history is familiar to me now. I find the differences between the Tangshan quake and Sichuan quake responses striking on several counts; First, China reacted quickly to the Sichuan quake. Second, there has been wall-to-wall news coverage worldwide. Finally, and most important, the (Western) world cares. On reflection, I'm not sure that any of those statements were true at the time of the Tangshan quake.
Posted on: Souvenirs and Strange Statues
May 14, 2008 at 1:39 PMladave, regarding the watches, I would agree with you if the copies were cutting into Rolex sales. However, given the likelihood that somebody would buy ten $20,000 Rolexes versus ten $20 Roleks... I think it's safe to assume two radically different market segments. Also, I think many Westerners confuse the terms "legal" and "ethical", particularly with regard to patents and trademarks.
Posted on: Overseas Chinese
May 12, 2008 at 3:11 PMWhen my father-in-law eventually wound up in Ventiane, Laos, there was a significant community of Chinese 国民党/GuoMinDang army refugees, along with their families. Their first order of business was to set up a Chinese school. I wonder how many other cultures would do the same?
Posted on: Souvenirs and Strange Statues
May 9, 2008 at 3:19 PMOne shouldn't scorn such art. I imagine that if you planted the statue of Optimus Prime next to a river (ala DaFu) or buried in a tomb (ala terracotta warriors), archaeologists of the future would come up with all sorts of inventive explanations related to various ancient 21st century religious practices, legends, and/or foreign invasions.
Posted on: Taipei
May 22, 2008 at 2:08 AM我感觉除了卢浮宫以外，世界上最有意思的博物馆就是台北的故宫。可是去台湾的时候，也别忘记它的乡下。玉山，太鲁阁，墾丁公园的风景都很特殊的。 I believe that with the exception of the Louvre, the National Palace Museum in Taiwan made more of an impression on me than any other. However, though this lesson covers Taipei exclusively, Taiwan's hinterlands also offer scenery that rivals the best in the world.