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Posts: 250

Governor

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Q: Any funny thing(s) have you done or gone through when you first arrived in China?

Just recalling something that makes me laugh sometimes and so my Chinese colleagues when I tell them my story.

 

The day I landed in China, my host invited for a dinner. Next day I came to the office and after few hours I was in urgent need to use toilet. Next to my workplace, I saw a toilet with some sign (no picture of male or female, only Chinese sign). I thought it was unisex toilet. I entered inside and used the squat toilet. Suddenly I heard ladies voices. When I came out to wash my hands, three beautiful young ladies started to chirp. I didn't understand anything at that moment. I simply smiled and wave.

I came to my room and curious to know about that incident, I googled for the sign in Chinese for male and female toilets. Voilaaaaaa....I was in the ladies toilet. I could not stop laughing at me. (BTW they have English board now with a clear symbol of man and woman).

 

In another incident, I was at Zhangjiajie train Station. I had to use a toilet again. I followed the sign. Unfortunately, the door with male sign was locked with a notice attached on it with a arrow pointing to the next door (all Chinese). By this time I was aware about male and female sign. But it was not the case there. So I followed the sign. When I came out, two ladies were again saying something. When they saw me, they simply said "laowai" and stopped their bla bla. Again, I smiled and wave.

 

Similar issues, repeated twice!!!! So just curious if others have similar or different stories  that make us laugh at because of lack of language at their earlier days in China!

 

 

11 years 40 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
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Posts: 2604

Shifu

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Couldn't find my way around the subway station at first. It was like a maze to me since we don't use that where I'm from or at least the city I lived in. I had missed my stop several times because I was just lost in the translation. It's gotten better now haven't missed my stop lately so I'm making improvements. 

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11 years 40 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1838

Emperor

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One amusing thing that I encountered was when a moved to a small, provincial town in Heilongjiang. When I arrived, pedestrian crossings were being installed for the first time. The locals loved the new entertainment media that had arrived. First the red man and then the green constantly changing from one to the other.

 

A small group of locals soon formed and even brought small fold up stools because they were so riveted. I went shopping and returned about a hour later. They were still congregated around the pedestrian crossing!

 

 

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11 years 40 weeks ago
 
Posts: 124

Governor

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I vividly remember that I couldn't navigate fast enough to avoid hitting people while I was walking as I'm a tall guy. I've felt so embarrassed. It wasn't funny for me back then...
Now I mellowed down Laughing out loud

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11 years 40 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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After 3 months in China I arrived at the airport in England needing a piss.   Rushed into the gents, saw the funny shaped urinal, did the deed, walked away looking for the sinks, found the urinals.   It was the beginning of a very confusing day.

Sorry, got this question arse about tit.

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11 years 32 weeks ago
 
Posts: 497

Shifu

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first time I came to China some guys in  my office (at home) told me some ridiculous "musts" about China:
- I have to eat any kind of food, that will be served, otherwise it is great insult for host
- never show naked feet (deadly insult!)
- every foreigner is under surveillance of dedicated officer 
- etc.

...all of those I verified instantly Smile but really had mixed feelings...

 

 

my Boss arranged me my first flight to China with transfer in Shanghai, where I waited 6 hours for delayed flight to Ningbo (20 minutes flight, but there was not bridge to Cixi at this time). and while waiting i bought some nuts, that seemed "save". locals looked at me with surprise... and there was a surprise!... it was "sichuan" spiced nuts, deviland I spent 15 minutes drinking water Smile (that was first time to taste it, now I take it easy)

 

 

one time I was on the dinner with small company, and Their "foreign manager" was young girl, very nice indeed, but Her english... heh... most time she used some pocket translator (those pe,pe, pe, peeep all the time).
when we go to selecting food (from the menu in Chinese) I asked for some fish. and she said - OK.

then when food was served, she pointed some semi-translucent things and said "here, Your fish", so I tasted it... it was most awful thing I ate here. so I asked Her what kind of fish is it? ... pep, pep, peeep, pep, peeeeep.... "Jellyfish!" 

 

 

 

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11 years 32 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2409

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During my first month in China my wife and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary and went to a "water treatment spa".  I had no idea what it was, but my wife said that it had saunas, massages, etc...  So in I went.

 

The first thing they did was separate my wife and I.  She went to her area and I went to mine.  At this time, the only word in Chinese I knew as Hao (OK).  So, I begin this adventure by going into the locker room where several attendants proceed to try and help me undress.  Not a chance that was happening, so they instead all stood behind me and watched me undress.  Not very comfortable, but when in Rome and all that.

 

I proceed through the sauna, pool, etc... dress up in some flimsy robe & shorts and then meet up with my wife in the main room.  There we relax and have a drink before my wife asks me if I want a massage.  I say, "sure" and off we go upstairs.

 

I tell them I want a Korean style massage and my wife says she will just keep me company as she wants a foot massage only.  So she will get that when we are done.

 

We enter the massage room and my wife sits on one of the tables and chats with the girl who is giving me my massage.  After a while, my wife gets bored and leaves to go get her foot massage.  

 

The moment my wife left the room, the girl walked over and locked the door behind her.  She then said a bunch of stuff to me in Chinese that I didn't have a clue about and I responded with the only word I knew, "Hao".

 

The girl smiled, then with one fluid motion, she pulled off my shorts and started to give me my first ever Chinese happy ending.  I was so stunned at first that I couldn't even think, but when a pretty young girl rips your clothes off, you just kind of go with it.

cooter:

Haha, how did your wife not find out?  Surely it had to show up on the bill later?

11 years 32 weeks ago
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Xpat.John:

The price of the massage included this 'service'.  If I want 'full service' that would have cost 600 more.  (She took out her phone to show the price and pantomimed what full service was.)

11 years 32 weeks ago
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11 years 32 weeks ago
 
Posts: 796

Shifu

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Sorry,i was too young to remember what i did when i came here.Maybe i cried like a girlcool,i think.

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11 years 32 weeks ago
 
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