Since the "Opening of China in 1979", the nation has made great strides in economics, science, and its general relationship with the world community. However, despite these things, I find that sometimes there is a big disconnect between many Chinese people's perception of Westerners and what is based in reality. Whether on simple naivety or just plain stupidity these stereotypes-as all stereotypes can be- may be very damaging to relationships between Chinese and people of other cultures. So allow me,without any further ramblings, to bring to light several of the misconceptions that seem to float around.
Tags:Language & Culture Expat Rants & Advice Expat Tales
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The same with your first point. Not all Chinese are the same. I think young generations and older generations are much different in China. Young people start to know foreign countries culture from their experience, movie, and online information etc. while big part of older generations don't like to watching western movie and never working in foreign company or even don't use internet. They just know Africas are black, and westerns are white.
Jun 10, 2013 13:17 Report Abuse
Chinese people can't even speak Chinese. They all speak their ignorant country village fangyan. I would say only about 5% of the Chinese people I have ever met in China can speak Mandarin properly and clearly. Then again I live in Guangzhou so no one here really gives a shit about speaking Mandarin properly anyway. If fact after three years in this place I usually find most locals telling me my Mandarin is better than their own (well of course! I make an effort to speak it properly!)
Jun 07, 2013 17:18 Report Abuse
Wow I am curious to listen to your mandarin. Through cantonese for sure don't talk good mandarin,because they are proud of their cantonese. I feel uncomfortable at the begining too, but after few years living here, i can understand and talk most of cantonese,feel like home here now.
Jun 10, 2013 12:40 Report Abuse
Unfortunately I have never become accustomed to hearing Canto-babble. I don't like to brag about my language skills. I didn't study in any university and I live in the South so it's not easy to learn the proper pronunciation living here, but I do feel I make more of an effort to speak clearly and properly than most Chinese I encounter.
Jun 10, 2013 21:48 Report Abuse
Here is another one: All foreigners know one another :-) I have been with my Chinese friends in a public place out on the street and upon seeing some random foreigner pass by one of them will indubitably ask: "Do you know him?" To which you have to respond "Holy moly that is my cousin just like the guy across the street selling watermelon is your cousin right?" or another comment I hear "Hey, there is a guy from your country."(as if we all came from the same country LAOWAILAND!)
Jun 06, 2013 12:27 Report Abuse