NU in China » culture

Engrish in China

debbiechoi — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:14:39 +0000

Those of us who traveled to China knowing absolutely no chinese whatsoever (which comes to about 14 of us) found ourselves in an obvious yet interesting problem. Upon landing, we were placed in a situation where we couldn’t understand anyone and no one could understand us. This newfound reality came with it a particularly entertaining contingent realization.. we could literally say anything we wanted without consequence. Feel as if the vendor is clearly ripping you off? Turn to your friend and ask exactly how much you should ask for whatever you’re buying. Annoyed by the fact that the convenience store in the C building will only give you those tasty clear noodles in a bag? (Really C-store? In a bag?!) Tell the attendant exactly, and I mean exactly how you feel about the baggy situation. Honestly, this list just goes on and on. Hold otherwise private conversations in the crowded subway. Sing Weezy songs in front of little kids. Comment freely on how cute so-and-so’s smile is. For a country that’s often criticized for its censorship policies, it’s interesting that our freedom of speech has been expanded in China in a way that would be unimaginable in the States. The only problem is that we now have exactly 7 days left in China. 7 days left to re-adjust our perhaps too-free way of speaking? Definitely. I can think of a few situations where this may get us into trouble, let’s hope we can pull it off in time.

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Weekend in Xian

dianayu — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:39:53 +0000

One thing I enjoy about this program is its flexibility and motivation to explore what China is really like. This past weekend, six of us planned a trip to Xian, the old capital of China. We left on the sleeper train Friday night and came back early morning on Monday right before classes.

We arrived in Xian on Saturday morning. We were supposed to be with a Chinese tour group, so when we found our tour guide, we were taken to a shady alley with a bus. At first we looked at each other, and I quickly called the travel agent, but she assured me that everything was fine. It ended up just being the six of us in one tour group– with our Chinese-speaking tour guide. She was adorable though. Noah was on our trip, and she would talk to him, explaining the history and significance of certain sites we visit while he just nods and smiles. Then she would hit him lightly and yell, “ting bu dong ba!” (you don’t understand do you).

From the moment we arrived in Xian, hilarity ensued, as well as our fascination with the city. At first it really didn’t feel like we were in Xian. We actually left Beijing, for a two day trip by ourselves at the old capital of China? Yes way.

We saw the Terracotta Warriors, which were beautiful and amazing just like you see on the internet and in books. We went to museums, Emperor Qin’s tomb, biked all around the city wall, tried all sorts of Xian delicacies, got massages, and drove water boats in ponds and had locals video tape us. What an experience. Although I did miss hanging out with the group back in Beijing and a group excursion to BeiHai park, I had absolutely an amazing time traveling with a small group, experiencing a different kind of city with its own specialties, and seeing things that I only saw my books and magazines.

For future China study abroad students, or any study abroad students, I encourage you all to explore and make use of the time you spend in your country. There is some planning involved but it will be well worth it. There’s just so much out there in the world, and our Xian trip was on that I will never forget!

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From Chicago to Beijing…with love, of course

rachelwang — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:44:12 +0000

It has already been 4 weeks. Who would have thought it would pass so quickly? Half of our time in Beijing has flown by, and I feel like I am just beginning to truly understand the city and its culture. As an American born Chinese, I have seen the similarities and differences between the United States and China. The longer I stay, the more I appreciate both cultures. I am constantly reminded that even though I am in a different country this summer, it really is no different than home. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a home where speaking Mandarin was “the norm,” and Chinese cuisine was never odd. Maybe it’s because I have traveled to China several times before, and I do not have as great a “culture shock” experience as many others do. Who knows? It just feels right to be here.

Northwestern is located in Evanston, a suburb of the Windy City. As for Tsinghua? While it is still located in Beijing, it is nowhere near the bustling, metropolitan areas of the city. Both campuses are (for the most part) quiet and filled with students conversing with friends while heading to class. In fact, there is even a “lakefill” here! Rather than walking, approximately 90% of Tsinghua students bike to and from their destinations. One wide sidewalk along Sheridan Road would definitely not be enough room for the hundreds and hundreds of bikes I see each day. Want to go downtown to shop or have fun with friends? Take the El…or should I say Beijing Subway? The system here is quite convenient, and the trains are much cleaner and more punctual.

As for shopping, bargaining here is a must. When walking through the long corridors lined with vendors in centers like Silk Street, Ya Xiu, and Tian Yi, I am constantly astounded by just how much “stuff” there is. You want it? They really do have it! Buy more than one, and you have yourself a great deal. Sure, starting offers when they see an American jump to perhaps 10 times the amount a person should really pay. However, you know that in advance; start your offer much lower. In the end, they will succumb. I’ve seen friends bargain from 300 to just 20-30 yuan. I often feel a little guilty, because the vendors work so hard to earn such little money. That’s life, I guess. Seeing this helps me appreciate the United States, where no bargaining is involved when I want to buy clothes. The price on the tag is the price I need to pay. That’s all there is to it. No games. Of course, these bargaining areas are not the only places to purchase items. Large department stores and boutiques are available as well. When I step inside, it feels like I’m back in Chicago, shopping at Water Tower Place and down Michigan Avenue.

Sure, there are differences. It is, after all, a different country. When I step back and think about it, however, I seem to find more and more similarities every day. I think I am starting to view Beijing as my home. For the summer, at least.

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The Gym

nicoleablondi — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:41:53 +0000

I’m pretty sure the concept of the American gym does not exist in China. After a few days in Beijing, and five in quarantine, doing nothing but push ups and sit ups for exercise, I knew I needed to find the gym at Tsinghua. Two friends and I discussed pounds-to-kilos conversions and set out for the gym, a couple minutes by bicycle from our dorms. The non-air-conditioned indoor facility had several bench presses with wooden benches and wracks so narrow that benching was at least a two-person job, two and a half dumbbells, four or so barbells with fixed weights on the ends, Smith machines, and lots of pull up bars. Without dumbbells or an assortment of adjustable benches, I realized that lifting in China would not be the same as in the States, and it probably doesn’t make sense to try to do the same exercises without the equipment. Someone needed to show me how to exercise with less equipment.

The next week I went on a bike ride around campus, and, as usual, got lost about twenty minutes in. I drove by an outdoor gym, and decided to stop for a quick workout before renewing my efforts to find my 宿舍. The outdoor gym had lots of bars and barbells for benching that were fixed in metal loops to prevent people from walking off with them. There I met two Chinese students who work out there everyday. It’s a little challenging to meet locals here, since it’s so easy to just hang out with friends in the study abroad program, but I think exercising is the one of best way to meet locals. So my 訢朋友 showed me how to use the slightly different equipment, which was a decent workout, but I think it’ll take some getting used to. Running on the track is nice, though, except I’ve heard that you take in three times as much pollution running as you do biking. It’s definitely a different way of staying in shape here, and it obviously works, but I still miss Patten.

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5 Day Break

jasmine rassiwala — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:59:43 +0000

It is about halfway through our program and so we just had our 5 day break. A bunch of my friends and I went to see a couple of places. The highlight of our trip came towards the end. We all climbed about a mile-high mountain called Tai Shan. It took about 4.5 hours to climb and was a bit of a challenge, but we all felt like we achieved something as soon as we reached the top. Looking down at the city was amazing, and I encourage anyone thinking about the program next year to look into a trip there. The following day we went to Confucious’s home. I am not going to lie, it was a little boring and hard to survive because of the humidity and the week-long fatigue that finally caught up to us. But then all of a sudden it started pouring, and the rain went on for hours. Even those of us with umbrellas got entirely soaked.

We had to sit in a trolley for about an hour waiting for the rain to stop, and because it still wouldn’t the driver finally agreed to drive through the streets. There was already about 6 inches of rain on the ground and because the roads were uneven there were parts in our drive to our bus that had more water than that. At one time, our trolley began to flood!

Overall the 5 day trip was a great experience and it was really fun to get to know the people on the trip better!

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东来顺

rosszhan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:57:40 +0000

During the long break, my dad and I went to a famous restaurant in Wangfujing. This place is famous for its hot pot. They had a variety of dishes for you to put in such as thinly sliced lamb, wood ear, cabbage, tofu, and live shrimp. I eat hot pot at home during the winter a lot, but it was interesting to see the old fashioned type pot that burned coal instead of our modern one that uses electricity.

The lamb was the best and tasted a lot like the kind I eat at home. They also gave this sesame sauce for dipping that was pretty good but I prefer soy sauce. The hot pot was very good but unfortunately it was very hot that day and the air conditioning inside wasn’t working very well so I had to pause when eating to cool down a bit. They gave watermelon for dessert and I also had a watermelon juice which was very good because it was cold. It was a very good meal but also expensive, around 300 RMB. But it’s definately worth it if you like hot pot and can afford it.

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Elbows in the Ribs

Annie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:18:31 +0000

I have been abroad before, and I have been to China several times, but it wasn’t until this trip that I came to realize how very different the people and cultures of different countries can be. Sadly, many of these differences come across as something bad, when, just like we learned from shows like Barney and Arthur, they are simply something we are unfamiliar with and likely do not understand.

The primary difference between China and America partly stems, I think, from the population problem. There are so many people here, and they quickly learn that a little elbowing others in the ribs (literally and figuratively) is required in order to get by. Also, Chinese schools tend to place less emphasis on teamwork, and the One Child Policy has made it less likely for China’s younger generation to have learned to share with and work together with their siblings. All in all, Chinese people tend to be much more aggressive than Americans. They sail in front of others who have been waiting in line, shout over others in order to be heard, and often force their way through crowds. One rarely sees Chinese people saying, “Dui bu qi,” (Excuse me) to each other as they shove past each other on the subway. Vendors also have a tendency to come right up to their customers, bellowing about their products and competitive prices.

This aggressiveness and an accompanying disregard for the rules contribute greatly to China’s most famous hazard: traffic. In China, people drive very quickly and with, it seems, little concern for pedestrians and bikers. They are liberal with the horn and have a tendency to weave through traffic and rush past lights. My own uncle is an absolute terror to drive with, particularly on winding, foggy mountain roads, which he takes at at least 6o mph with no headlights and a strange lack of awareness of which lane he should be in.

In China, whether you are in a mall or on the road, it is every man for himself. That being said, learn quickly that manners here are very different from manners in America. (I will say this now, I do not pretend to be an expert; these are the conclusions I have drawn from my own experiences here) Our idea of good manners is holding open doors, saying, “Excuse me,” and paying general respects to everyone, even strangers. In China, people often will say that manners are much more important, but what goes unsaid is that this is primarily toward figures of authority. Young men will take empty subway seats when middle-aged women are standing with bags in their arms, and few people will apologize for anything less than tripping you or making you drop something (meaning pushing, shoving, and shouting in your ear are all fair game). But many Chinese people will be humble and obedient in the presence of a teacher or an older relative, or at least will know that such behavior is expected of them.

So learn not to be offended when someone cuts in front of you in the post office because you stepped up a second too late, and try not to resent the drivers who honk wildly at you just for being in the lane next to them. They’ve grown up in an entirely different culture, which upholds values quite different than the ones deemed important in America. In China, let “patience” be your watchword, and learn to do a little elbowing yourself.

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Look both ways before you cross the street.

danielwozniczka — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:25:54 +0000

I am forced to choose only a select few of my experiences to share with you, as it would take a lifetime to fully describe this trip. In this post, I shall share with you my worst experiences so far. In my next post, I shall share my best experience.

One of the most frustrating aspects of China is traveling on a bicycle. Bicycles are far more common in China than they are back home, to the extent that we see equal amounts of bicycles on the street as we see cars. Going into this trip, I was looking forward to the opportunity to ride my bicycle around the streets of Beijing. Once I arrived, I learned how dangerous it actually is to ride a bicycle here. Firstly, the bicycles are of terrible quality. I have about $20 American dollars for my bike, and have already spent about $15 for repairs in the past three weeks. You can literally feel the bike shaking, making strange noises, and falling apart as you ride. Every time I pedal, I wonder to myself if the bike will fall apart. Secondly, the traffic is hectic. The thought of crossing an intersection fills me with a great deal of dread. Despite the fact that one lane will have the green light, the other lanes simply don’t seem to care. I have come within inches of getting hit by cars, as have many others on this trip. The effect of both these factors together is terrifying. Imagine crossing an intersection, hearing cars honk their horns, terrified that your back wheel will fall off. It is easily my least favorite experience.

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From 847 to 798

ymanibog@gmail.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:39:42 +0000

Today we went to the 798 Art District, a neighborhood full of old factories and warehouses converted into art galleries, studios, workshops and cafes. The area looks like it could be found in a typical European city, with the added Beijing touch. After walking past outdoor cafes you look through windows to see statues of mutlicolor bulls and headless soccer players or drawings of anime characters fighting in forests. Needless to say it was bizarre to jump out of the busy 10 lane avenue into the pedestrian, quiet and colorful streets of Dashanzi.

After being dropped off by cab we ventured into the a book store, selling both Chinese and English art books. A couple of us history students jumped on a book chronicling the propaganda posters starting in the early 1900s. We then had dinner in a cafe catering to Western tastes. Pasta carbonara and Club sandwiches were our picks, chosen in an attempt to quell the taste of scorpion, chicken heart and octupus/squid balls eaten at Wangfujing the week before.

We then walked through the galleries. I was surprised to see how the communist movement is still such a pervasive influence on art - Mao’s portrait appeared in many different pieces, be it on the oversized stack of 100 kuai bills or a collage of Little Red Books. Another highlight was the sculpture variations of Buddhas, basically overly obese statues lounging in ratan chairs.

I’m still so shocked by how architecturally modern this city is. I guess my expectations (which I shouldn’t have had in the first place) were based on images of the poorer side of China, but these buildings were incredibly beautiful, bringing together the old factories with cosmopolitan architecture.

It really was great to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Beijing city life, to see how the rich artistic side of the city flourishes in this area.

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5 bargaining ideas from a foreigner…

j.heppermann — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:42:13 +0000

1. Flirt with the vendor/Bring along someone to flirt with the vendors - It is easy to quickly figure out if flirting with vendors will have any positive effect. If you’re a guy things are a little more difficult so bring along a cute girl to do the flirting for you. Make sure to throw in complements about the vendors scrumptious physique and impeccable taste in fashion. A little physical contact doesn’t hurt either. Vendors aren’t afraid to reach out and touch you…fight back! Give a them a lustful stroke on the arm or a sensual arm around the shoulder and let them know how much they mean to you. If this fails…move on, nobody bats 1000.

2. Walk away - Once you start getting close to your price, don’t settle for anything more. They will try to get you to 60 instead of 50. I know that it seems silly to argue over this 1.20 USD but it’s all part of the game. Say what you want and walk away…if they don’t chase you you can always go back.

3. Make up a competitor’s price - Most of the places we shop have multiple vendors selling the same stuff. When you go in always have some price to say another vendor offered you that’s a little bit higher than what you want to pay.

4. Pretend like you don’t speak English - So vendors will immediately know if you are clueless of the ins and outs of the Chinese language. Why not make things a little more interesting and explain that you are from France or Korea. They will scream at you in Chinese so scream back in French. I feel like there is something more effective about yelling complaints in a language other than English.

5. Have only as much money in your wallet as your willing to pay - Before you go in have a maximum price in mind and try to keep that much money in your wallet. When it comes down to the final stages of bargaining, show them whats in your wallet.

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