Yet another for our “Bad Laowai” category.
Archive for 2012
Photo: Ceramics
A beautifully colourful shot from Australian-born John Horstman. The photo was taken in the Panjiayuan Markets, Beijing, China.
Crackdown on illegal foreigners in China coming, reports say
We know you are here legally. No no, please put your passport away. We don’t need to see it. But for that friend of a friend that’s working on an F or an L visa, you may want to pay attention to the following:
Articles across the English-language state media are reporting that the government intends to crack down on illegal foreigners in China.
China is getting tougher over foreigners illegally entering, living or working in China, Vice Minister of Public Security Yang Huanning said yesterday.
When delivering a report on the administration of entry-exit, residence and employment of foreigners to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the top legislature, Yang said the crackdown will include improving visa policies, strengthening border controls, repatriating illegal aliens, and setting up repatriation locations in regions that have large numbers of such foreigners.
New Chinese superstitions: horoscopes and blood groups
One thing you find out pretty soon if you come into contact with Chinese society is that although most Chinese may not follow any organized religion, that does not mean they are immune from holding superstitious beliefs of all kinds. Superstitions relating to traditional Chinese medicine or to feng shui are of course widespread, although in some cases they arguably do contain a kernel of truth. What is more striking is the popularity which certain modern or imported superstitions seem to have, especially among young and urban sectors of the population.
One of the things which I find hardest to understand is the tendency of young, university-educated Chinese people (and especially women) to take astrology seriously. And I mean Western astrology, not the traditional Chinese variety. To be sure, the idea that our personality is somehow related to the time of year we were born (various scientific studies have found no support for this, in case you were wondering) is one which still has its popularity in lots of places. However, it seems to me that it is currently more widespread here in China than it is in the West.
Killing me with kindness
They want to help. They really want to help. And whether you want it or not, they are going to help. It’s one of the best things about being in China, and one of the worst. There are always people around willing to lend a hand. And not just willing. They are determined. When we [...]
Laowai Warning: Casing the joint
As a group, foreigners in China tend to be hit with their decent share of scams. While certainly not alone in their potential victimization, rare does a week go by my (Chinese-registered) phone doesn’t ring with some identity theft scam, China’s criminal element definitely have an eye out for the comparatively affluent and possibly unknowing laowai.
Case in point is a message I received from a good friend of mine in Suzhou yesterday about an experience she had:
A man and woman came to my apartment today claiming to be representatives from a bank where my landlord had applied for a loan. They said they needed to appraise the apartment as collateral against the loan. I called our agent who called the landlord and they had no knowledge of this. Unfortunately my Ayi had let them in and they had already taken some photos and left before I found out they were phony and probably casing our home for a robbery. After talking to the guards in our complex and my ayis I figured out that these people knew that I was a foreigner and knew exactly where I lived before they came into the complex.
Top 10 Chinese cities, according to China expats
The results of China Daily’s 2011 Amazing China voting have been released, and the top 10 “most attractive cities for foreigners” have been announced.
The cities that made the top 10 list are: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Chongqing, Xiamen and Hangzhou.
City of the North – a love song to Beijing
Described as “a love letter to Beijing – and all its struggles, challenges, and unexpected beauty,” the following song was written and performed by Jason Chu, an American hip-hop artist that has been living in Beijing for the last several years.
8-bit China – thanks Google!
I look forward to loading up Google every April 1st, but this one takes the cake. Straight from Google’s newly released Google Maps 8-bit for the NES, China:
I’m Walkin’ Here: Consulate warns Americans to watch their step on Shanghai streets
The March edition of the Shanghai Consulate News for Americans kindly reminds its citizens not to hit cars that come to close to you, as it may lead to a “physical confrontation.”
The American Citizen Services Unit has received several reports of American citizens being injured following physical altercations with drivers of automobiles within our consular district.
Such physical altercations have sprung from the citizen tapping or otherwise making physical contact with an automobile driving across a pedestrian crosswalk very close to the US citizen. The ACS Unit urges American citizens to be cautious when walking as a pedestrian in China, as drivers in China may not follow the same driving customs as in the United States and may not yield to pedestrians. If a car does come too close as you are crossing the street, we urge you not to hit the car as this may lead to a physical confrontation.
I’m pretty certain Chinese law is just as clear as most any country’s law on this (and certainly correct me if I’m wrong) — pedestrians have the right of way — if not in the middle of a busy roadway, than certainly on cross-walks, sidewalks and the various other “no-cars-please” locations, where I’m sure these confrontations took place. I know Americans (perhaps wrongly) have a bit of an impetuous stereotype to live down, and they’re not extremely well-known for their cultural sensitivity (even the consulate says as much). Maybe the consulate realizes this, and is tired of defending themselves at State dinners. But on this one, I’ve got to say — good on the angry Americans.
