Comments on: Clearing up the China Funk http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/ No-nonsense China Expat & Travel Community Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:17:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: John http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-8005 John Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:47:58 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-8005 Thanks for your reply Ryan. I haven't discovered Chinese funk music yet, but I may bring my James Brown and Sheila E CDs if I visit my grandmother in Anhui Province. Now if I could only dance like the Godfather.... Hope all is going well with you in the Middle Kingdom. Thanks for your reply Ryan. I haven’t discovered Chinese funk music yet, but I may bring my James Brown and Sheila E CDs if I visit my grandmother in Anhui Province. Now if I could only dance like the Godfather….

Hope all is going well with you in the Middle Kingdom.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-7979 Ryan Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:31:55 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-7979 Hey John, several of my best friends here have been in just such circumstances. It's a situation I don't envy. Us non-Asian expats have few expectations on us in the form of language/culture/etc. But if you're Chinese in ethnicity but little else, it'll be an interesting challenge living here. Several times I've been out with Chinese-Canadian friends who have just arrived and only have basic Mandarin skills and the staff at restaurants ALWAYS turn to them first and they're forced to just stare in incomprehension while I explain that they don't speak Chinese. It's awkward for everyone involved. As for Chinese funk - let me know if you find it... because... We WaNT THe FuNK, GoTTa HaVe THe FuNK!! ;-) Hey John, several of my best friends here have been in just such circumstances. It’s a situation I don’t envy.

Us non-Asian expats have few expectations on us in the form of language/culture/etc. But if you’re Chinese in ethnicity but little else, it’ll be an interesting challenge living here.

Several times I’ve been out with Chinese-Canadian friends who have just arrived and only have basic Mandarin skills and the staff at restaurants ALWAYS turn to them first and they’re forced to just stare in incomprehension while I explain that they don’t speak Chinese.

It’s awkward for everyone involved.

As for Chinese funk – let me know if you find it… because… We WaNT THe FuNK, GoTTa HaVe THe FuNK!! ;-)

]]> By: John http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-7977 John Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:13:28 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-7977 Hey Ryan. I found you when I Googled "Chinese funk." I was originally looking for Chinese music that mimicks the great American funk artists - Sly Stone, Prince, Earthwind and Fire, etc. However, I came upon your blog and wanted to ask you about the Chinese-American expat population. Have you met many like myself who were either born in the West or raised here but who look like the rest of the Chinese population? It's a weird feeling to be proudly Chinese one minute, but the next minue, having to step back, look at the culture, and say, "What the funk?" Hey Ryan. I found you when I Googled “Chinese funk.” I was originally looking for Chinese music that mimicks the great American funk artists – Sly Stone, Prince, Earthwind and Fire, etc. However, I came upon your blog and wanted to ask you about the Chinese-American expat population. Have you met many like myself who were either born in the West or raised here but who look like the rest of the Chinese population? It’s a weird feeling to be proudly Chinese one minute, but the next minue, having to step back, look at the culture, and say, “What the funk?”

]]> By: Jamieson http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-459 Jamieson Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:32:22 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-459 The website link here is the oldie, a freebie until I maxed it out. The new one is http://www.20six.co.uk/jamiesons-luck-new As far as the China funk effect, dude I am 100% in agreement. I'm doing option 4 for 10 weeks, leaving in 2 weeks for Australia. Fiancee is Chinese, from Anhui.... Gawd knows what the locals really think about our de-facto relationship ? Especially when we are walking down the street chatting happily in fluent English. 99% negative response ? Ahhh, who cares. J. The website link here is the oldie, a freebie until I maxed it out. The new one is

http://www.20six.co.uk/jamiesons-luck-new

As far as the China funk effect, dude I am 100% in agreement. I’m doing option 4 for 10 weeks, leaving in 2 weeks for Australia. Fiancee is Chinese, from Anhui…. Gawd knows what the locals really think about our de-facto relationship ? Especially when we are walking down the street chatting happily in fluent English. 99% negative response ? Ahhh, who cares.

J.

]]> By: Antibush http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-447 Antibush Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:25:45 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-447 Bush and the Republicans were not protecting us on 9-11, and we aren't a lot safer now. We may be more afraid due to george bush, but are we safer? Being fearful does not necessarily make one safer. Fear can cause people to hide and cower. What do you think? What is he doing to us, and what is he doing to the world? Our country is in debt until forever, we don't have jobs, and we live in fear. We have invaded a country and been responsible for thousands of deaths. We have lost friends and influenced no one. No wonder most of the world thinks we suck. Thanks to what george bush has done to our country during the past three years, we do! Bush and the Republicans were not protecting us on 9-11, and we aren’t a lot safer now. We may be more afraid due to george bush, but are we safer? Being fearful does not necessarily make one safer. Fear can cause people to hide and cower. What do you think? What is he doing to us, and what is he doing to the world?
Our country is in debt until forever, we don’t have jobs, and we live in fear. We have invaded a country and been responsible for thousands of deaths.
We have lost friends and influenced no one. No wonder most of the world thinks we suck. Thanks to what george bush has done to our country during the past three years, we do!

]]> By: Ryan http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-420 Ryan Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:16:53 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-420 Hey Shukei, not sure if that was directed particularly at myself or at this thread in general... but of course Chinese are bitter, who would say they aren't? This blog, or my opinions should never be meant as to represent a replacement for the bitterness that Chinese feel about the problems faced in their country - in fact, that's likely why they're under represented on this blog - I'm not Chinese, what would I know about it? <blockquote>We actually can do something to make a difference (big or small).</blockquote> Absolutely. Hey Shukei, not sure if that was directed particularly at myself or at this thread in general… but of course Chinese are bitter, who would say they aren’t?

This blog, or my opinions should never be meant as to represent a replacement for the bitterness that Chinese feel about the problems faced in their country – in fact, that’s likely why they’re under represented on this blog – I’m not Chinese, what would I know about it?

We actually can do something to make a difference (big or small).

Absolutely.

]]> By: Shukei http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-361 Shukei Fri, 09 Feb 2007 06:18:05 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-361 Can I assume that it takes much more than the vast swathes of China's population to make you bitter? I don't know if you know this: some Chinese are bitter too. Though China's economy is developing tremendously, the recent years have seen a lot of problems. What I am saying here is you don't need to be a laowai to feel lost and fight that clincycle beast. But the way I see it is besides "mei banfa"， we actually can do something to make a difference (big or small). Can I assume that it takes much more than the vast swathes of China’s population to make you bitter? I don’t know if you know this: some Chinese are bitter too. Though China’s economy is developing tremendously, the recent years have seen a lot of problems. What I am saying here is you don’t need to be a laowai to feel lost and fight that clincycle beast. But the way I see it is besides “mei banfa”， we actually can do something to make a difference (big or small).

]]> By: WuSong http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-359 WuSong Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:38:59 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-359 I'm sorry ,i've never been abroad and have few opportunity to meet laowai,so there can be some misunderstandings. This mybe what we call the "cultureshock".The difrences of two cultures sometimes really to make obscure or confused. I have taught how to help laowai in china ever since junior high school,such as helping laowai finding ways,being a guide for laowai sightseers.But now, i am beginning to realize what laowai relly need. I’m sorry ,i’ve never been abroad and have few opportunity to meet laowai,so there can be some misunderstandings.

This mybe what we call the “cultureshock”.The difrences of two cultures sometimes really to make obscure or confused.

I have taught how to help laowai in china ever since junior high school,such as helping laowai finding ways,being a guide for laowai sightseers.But now, i am beginning to realize what laowai relly need.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-351 Ryan Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:47:07 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-351 WuSong, by no means do I consider myself an expert - but most of the stuff that laowai bitch about or are confused about are not things that most Chinese can explain easily. I agree that many people are quite happy to give the 'Chinese opinion' as answers to us laowai - but generally speaking this is not usually the answer we are looking for. I think it takes an exceptional Chinese person to be able to understand both halves of the equation and give a well-rounded, and intelligent explanation. WuSong, by no means do I consider myself an expert – but most of the stuff that laowai bitch about or are confused about are not things that most Chinese can explain easily.

I agree that many people are quite happy to give the ‘Chinese opinion’ as answers to us laowai – but generally speaking this is not usually the answer we are looking for.

I think it takes an exceptional Chinese person to be able to understand both halves of the equation and give a well-rounded, and intelligent explanation.

]]> By: WuSong http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/general/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-332 WuSong Wed, 07 Feb 2007 16:06:20 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/01/15/clearing-up-the-china-funk/#comment-332 I can understand you,when i moved to a strange city in my own country i was nervous and may spend long time to accommodate myself to new circumstances. If you are bewildered by something strang,fell free to ask,most chinese are very friendly to "laowai" they'll gland to help you out. Confucius said;What a joy it is to have friends coming from afar! 正所谓：有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？ I can understand you,when i moved to a strange city in my own country i was nervous and may spend long time to accommodate myself to new circumstances.
If you are bewildered by something strang,fell free to ask,most chinese are very friendly to “laowai” they’ll gland to help you out.
Confucius said;What a joy it is to have friends coming from afar!
正所谓：有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？

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