I have several friends that either moved there for work, or lived there while they studied abroad....or just visited.

And they all say the same thing. That it is gross. And I'm not just talking about the orange air.


They all say there are:

Old ladies on the street coughing and spitting up shit

People just randomly spitting on the sidewalk

Parents holding their kids over trashcans to piss and shit in public

People throwing garbage on the ground

Low food sanitation standards

People strutting around with serious body odor

That there is no concept of waiting in line



Has anyone here spent significant time in China, that has an initial American standard in which to compare their experience to?

7/23/2014 1:40:20 PM

7/23/2014 1:52:45 PM

Sounds delightful.

7/23/2014 1:53:34 PM

I'm sure shoot can weigh in.

I had a co-worker go teach English in China and he loved it, but was adamant that it's culturally very different all around.

7/23/2014 2:01:35 PM

I was there during the 2008 Olympics, so I got the cleaned-up, proper version of Beijing. Going back over Thanksgiving to Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. I will report back after that trip.

7/23/2014 2:16:04 PM

David Sedaris' chapter about China is pretty funny, and he has the same observations as in the OP

7/23/2014 2:22:23 PM

Those are basically all true.

7/23/2014 4:40:59 PM

they recently found about 2,000 dead pigs in a river

7/23/2014 4:43:51 PM

shoot, you seem pretty FOB. What things did you see when first coming to America struck you as gross and/or rude?

7/23/2014 5:01:38 PM

In Newark airport, a black guy saw me and told another guy: See, Chinese!

7/23/2014 5:04:32 PM

That sounds pretty weird.


I mean, we (all Americans) are more than used to seeing/interacting with chinese people...and people of every race, religion, creed, ethnic group, etc.... It is not a new concept.

7/23/2014 5:09:31 PM

Maybe they had a bet going about his asian nationality? Still rude, though.

7/23/2014 5:10:36 PM

And he was like Chin-e-s-e!!

7/23/2014 5:17:33 PM

My brah's lived there for 3.5 years, and I've been twice for a total of about 20 days.

Those are definitely all true. Also:

Saw an old lady hike up her dress and pee on the side of the street

Saw a middle-aged guy poo on the ground while his friends laughed

Everybody shoves their way onto and off metro

Lots of weird, unnecessary jobs (like 3 "guards" at a metal detector that don't really do anything)

On Spring Airline (cheap Chinese airline) people ignored the pilot/stewards asking them to sit down. Just standing up and talking all loud to each other.

Something cool from that airline: the steward led everyone in a bunch of weird stretches before landing.

Also, they don't care about animals too much

[Edited on July 23, 2014 at 6:01 PM. Reason : ni hao]

7/23/2014 6:01:06 PM

China is a 3rd-world country. No difference with Africa generally speaking.

[Edited on July 23, 2014 at 7:21 PM. Reason : ^ You are risking your life when you take Spring Airline. Think about Malaysia ]

7/23/2014 6:58:28 PM

Water faucet in Holiday Inn in Shanghai has "Water Not for Drinking" each rooms bathroom... Only in English.

Hell... you just described Southern Europe

Quote :

"Old ladies on the street coughing and spitting up shit People just randomly spitting on the sidewalk Parents holding their kids over trashcans to piss and shit in public People throwing garbage on the ground Low food sanitation standards People strutting around with serious body odor That there is no concept of waiting in line "

7/23/2014 8:38:56 PM

^what, in the middle ages? c'mon man

7/23/2014 8:46:28 PM

There are some decent places, but very rare. The mainland China is almost dead. The best part of China is Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore. But they are actually already outside China. They can only be called Great China District probably.

7/23/2014 9:34:06 PM

In case you didnt know, Singapore is a independent country, unlike Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Things described in the OP are true for most of Asia, Africa, and South America. No surprises there.

7/23/2014 10:28:33 PM

ahahaha

shoot is such a ridiculous gimmick

7/23/2014 10:45:15 PM

You are more like a gimmick.

7/23/2014 10:50:42 PM

I have been delegated to China by my employer for the last 2.5 years. It is not as bad as it sounds even though what the OP has posted is true to some extent. There are more positive things then negative things. I only dislike the pollution and driving skills here (then again I am also used to driving in India). Certain things in China are changing rapidly. I have never seen as many luxury cars in any city as I see in big cities of China. Almost every Chinese person in my compound drives at least an Audi A6. Only foreigners like me drive Volkswagens/Fords, etc.


And….. also Buick is probably the second most popular car brand in China in the mass market category

[Edited on July 24, 2014 at 7:10 AM. Reason : a]

7/24/2014 7:07:20 AM

Yeah lets juat generalize the whole world whoile were at it. . I guess you people havent spent much time in a homeless underpass in the us.

7/24/2014 7:35:26 AM

Chinese people like Buick because it's spacious and luxury inside.
Chinese people prefer: Benz, Buick, Audi, Bentley
China is the 2nd largest economy in the world now and they have 1.4 B people. So there are certainly some riches out there.

7/24/2014 9:18:46 AM

if they could keep their dumb redneck exports in check, that would be AOK

7/24/2014 9:21:08 AM

The whole reason that GM gave the ax to Pontiac instead of Buick is because of Buick's success in China. Cadillacs are becoming very popular over there and GM is going to start producing Cadillacs in mainland China within a few years.

On a related note most automakers that sell automobiles in China make special long wheel base models of most of their sedans exclusively for China. I dunno why someone would want a long wheel base BMW 3 Series instead of a 5 Series...but that's how it goes.

7/24/2014 9:27:19 AM

Many officials, governors in China use those cars because they look cooler and more luxury, and they don't pay a penny.

7/24/2014 9:31:56 AM

Sorry, no way a stretched BMW or Mercedes 3/5 Series or C/E Class looked cooler than a 7 Series or S Class.

7/24/2014 9:33:45 AM

They smoke a lot.

Anecdote: I was on a British flight waiting to go in an occupied bathroom. When the Chinaman finally exited the bathroom, I realized he'd been smoking a cigarette in there. I commenced to pissing, and all of a sudden the stewardess unlocked and swung open the door asking if I was smoking, mid-pee. I had to explain that it was the guy before me.

7/24/2014 9:38:04 AM

I dunno. Maybe it's due to the budget of the government. They can only afford 3/5 series. I suppose 7 series is more expensive?

7/24/2014 9:38:30 AM

^^ That's true.
One of the reasons is that their leader Mao smokes a lot. He smokes so much that his teeth turns black in the end.
Mao also never takes shower in about 20 yrs' period of time.

7/24/2014 9:43:36 AM

I live a few blocks from Oakland's Chinatown and have observed pretty much the same thing. I know it's not the same thing as actually being in China, but if it's anything like actually being there, I'm gonna pass. I'd like to visit Hong Kong for a day or two, but no real desire to see the rest of the country. I'm not wild about Chinese food either. Unless it's super gourmet/expensive, it's probably my least favorite Asian cuisine.

7/24/2014 11:43:39 AM

china produced shoot

/thread

7/24/2014 11:46:18 AM

Quote :

"and South America"

que?

7/24/2014 12:14:02 PM

I tried a Chinese cigarette once... fucking thing was demonic, like 12 mg of shit in there

7/24/2014 12:14:33 PM

The best Chinese cuisine to me is Dim Sum.

7/24/2014 1:53:33 PM

^I have no idea what Chinese food is, honestly non

I know what spring rolls, egg rolls and crab raccoon (i know its spelled wrong, i like that better)

7/24/2014 2:00:44 PM

I'm from the north, so I don't know crab rangoon till this year actually.
The most famous food in northern China is roast duck. Instant-boiled mutton is good too.
But the best part of Chinese food are all from the south imo, like hot pot, dim sum, General Chao Chicken

7/24/2014 2:05:19 PM

Quote :

"Instant-boiled mutton is good too."

Do you dip it in lava?

7/24/2014 2:19:09 PM

No. That's southern style. Very crazy.


Beijing style is like this. Not spicy.

7/24/2014 2:23:25 PM

Because China is developing so fast, lots of buildings being destroyed and built, so many people joke that China=Chai Na

In mandarin, Chai Na means buildings are being destructed.

7/24/2014 2:40:17 PM

Shoot, can you come cook at my house a couple meals, there are tons of Vietnamese, Korean and thai places (honestly i have no idea if they are good or not) but not a lot of Chinese

7/24/2014 2:40:27 PM

There are some good authentic Chinese restaurants in this area. In another thread, I recommend some already.

message_topic.aspx?topic=636817

7/24/2014 2:42:48 PM

Dont live in ralieghwood

7/24/2014 7:09:35 PM

Fayetteville?
Can you find a local job there for me? If you can, I will move.

7/24/2014 7:12:48 PM

Think about 1.4 B people living on the other side of the world. When we are awake, they sleep. When we sleep, they wake up. When here is daytime, they are in the darkness. When here's getting dark, another day for them starts.

It's just about heaven comparing with hell. The gap is HUGH.

[Edited on July 24, 2014 at 11:15 PM. Reason : ;]

7/24/2014 11:13:53 PM

how hugh

7/24/2014 11:15:48 PM

the 1st world vs the 3rd world

7/24/2014 11:16:52 PM

shabu-shabu is the best chinese food.

7/24/2014 11:21:51 PM

Japanese.

7/24/2014 11:25:12 PM