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Q: He eats like a goat
I went to a baby's 100-day party in the countryside recently, and had lunch with a bunch of strangers as is customary. One of the guests did a little more than staring behind my back - he likened my eating style with that of an animal. I didn't hear a word of it until my wife informed me. Never saw the guy who said it, but my wife claimed: "Everyone at the table agrees that what he said was very rude."
I should point out that my skill with chopsticks is quite good, and although I like to put a few different things on my bowl before starting to eat, my eating habits are otherwise indistinguishable from other locals. But food is very central to Chinese culture, it seems. I read about how muslims and jews in China were described by the meat they ate: "shuns pork people" and "extract sinews people".
My response was the usual This-is-China-what-else-is-new, which I promptly translated into: "meiguanxi". Yes, I'm quite the linguist. But it got me wondering: Are attitudes changing? I've rarely encountered Chinese willing to admit their countryman was rude in front of me. Mostly they tolerate the insults, as I'm supposed to do.
Perhaps people want to behave better than children now? Or am I reading too much into this? Maybe it was just that the 'kids' thought my family was cooler than that lone idiot, and sided with us...
Interesting story - I had a similar experience once. I was having a meal with my girlfriend (at the time), a lot of her extended family and 2 foreign friends who were invited. At the time, I spoke very little Mandarin.
So one of her drunk uncles decided to give a toast but I didn't know what was going on because all I heard was him yelling so I kept chatting in English with my friends, not realizing the situation. Well, he started screaming at me and calling me rude. I sat there and listened politely while he wagged his finger in my face and yelled (couldn't understand what he was saying). My girlfriend refused to translate and the uncle was later criticized at the meal by numerous people at the table who said the foreigner "ting bu dong" and therefore can't be blamed. So they were willing to call him out in front of everyone for being a loud mouth bore.
Happy ending though, I get along with that uncle now. Rough around the edges but he's alright.
Eorthisio:
Yep, the "tingbudong" can get you out of many troubles in China, I still use it sometimes despite now speaking nearly fluent Mandarin, I prefer that than arguing with narrow minded locals when i have nothing to earn from it.
MaryCeleste:
I used it at a KFC the other night when a transvestite hooker propositioned me.
I reckon that guy was reacting to hearing from one place or another that westerners view Chinese eating habits in a negative light. Always wondered how many dates between western men and Chinese beauties have lost their sparkle after reaching the restaurant and discovering the lady in question chows down like a cow in pasture.
Spiderboenz:
I can confirm that. As far as Dimes go, this girl was a Silver Dollar. My 4 year old autistic cousin had better table manners than her. :-(
ilcornalito:
Yeap, include burping and spitting on the side as a bonus.
mArtiAn:
That reminds me of a girl I met during a group meal that kept gobbing on the floor during the meal. A real charmer. This wasn't The Ritz though mind, just some greasy spoons joint. She had a boyfriend with her with a dragon tat down his side. She told me if I could beat him in a fight she'd be my girlfriend. A touching moment indeed but I declined nontheless.
They did that because they knew your gf was hearing everything, all for show.
coineineagh:
I completely agree. Foreigners aren't the real target. They just love to hurt girls feelings who insult the Chinese people by going for a foreigner instead of one of "their" men.
Englteachted:
They're too stupid to realize that their brutish behavior helps to confirm their choice.
Eorthisio:
Couldn't agree more, their behavior only confirm those girls' choice.
They just think to tease Laowais are fun... They sometimes do the same thing unpon children. Actually, they mean no harm. Just ignore it.
He was ignorant and is unaware of his horse-like eating habits. Shovelling the rice from the bowl down his gullet with his chopsticks and hacking and spitting are considered passable.....what a filthy clown!
