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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Waiguoren, waiguoren, what is your explanation?
I have observed some interesting Chinese phenomenon. Even in Beijing that is considered an international city I can notice some Chinese people reacting strangely whenever they see me (especially on subway). Sometimes they would point at me, at other times they would smile or laugh (can't really tell which one) while staring at me and simultaneously using this magical phrase "ni kan waiguoren, waiguoren" and in general seem to be extremely surprised to meet a foreigner in a city boasting of a total population close to 25 million people. Needless to say, it makes me feel uneasy, because this kind of behavior would be considered quite hmm. inappropriate in many Western countries. How would you identify this behavior? Curiosity? Some form of racism? Friendly interest?
Don't worry, after a while the chittering of the peasants fades into the background noise of the city and your brain ceases to recognise it as something worth paying attention to.
In 1978, 50% of the locals worked in agriculture. In 2014, 35% of the locals worked in agriculture. Hence, this behavior can be identified as ignorant peasant-thought.
icnif77:
Behaviour? Ignorant? Step away from the mirror and realise you are no special.
You are in a foreign country, which residents never saw different face than Asian before.
'Ohhh, but they call me laowai...How disrespectful!'
I meet foreigner rarely, but they all act like they are mentally impaired by turning the head away, while I am ready to say 'hi'.
I had similar experience in almost every city I worked in China. Have one USA moron in Bijie, city of some 100k. He didn't 'see' me in the Walmart....
Yeah, and all Chinese are peasants ...... When did you get off the valet parking job?
blabla12:
Well, I don't think it's a standard behavior in a city with a number of foreign expats = people who behave this way quite likely come from the countryside= many of them have peasant roots, no?
icnif77:
I'll add: in bigger cities, where foreigners are plenty, they behave similar as in any big city anywhere in the world. I am not looking to 'hi' laowai in Beijing, Shanghai....
But in the small cities, I found it very awkward, when other foreigner behaves as 'I am the only one...'. Resident-foreigner!
It's not that I am looking for a foreign friend, but I would behave the same in Africa or on any outer planet, where foreigners are rarity. Common courtesy!
Don't worry, after a while the chittering of the peasants fades into the background noise of the city and your brain ceases to recognise it as something worth paying attention to.
ni kan, waiguo ren !!
Initially I used to feel like being looked upon as a joker in circus.
Now I feel more like being looked upon as a caged lion.
I can analyze only my reaction.
just wait until you visit the sticks ~
as far as your question goes - 'how would you identify this behavior?', that has been analysed to death on this forum. Simplest answer I can come up with is that they just rarely, if ever, have seen anyone other than Han or at least some other ethnic chinese, and they react by looking, staring, commenting. The good news is that while it's odd, weird, socially unacceptable behavior in most other parts of the world, PRC has no such restrictions. Nothing is verbotten here,,,, except sticking your kuazi in an upright position in a bowl of rice.
word of advice: flow - go with it,, or you can find yourself getting majorly pissed around here, which is bad for mental health, believe me, I know!
icnif77:
Reply 'ni shi waigouren' and see what will happened .... I love, when I can see people smile!
I always answer with *Wo bu shi waiguoren!....Wo shi bandida laowai!"
Cracks them up!
Little kids get the "Wow...Zhongguoren!" treatment. Hours of fun right there!
Rule #1 - Always keep your sense of humour and suspend your disbelief.
icnif77:
I laugh all the time in China. At starring, I usually put my finger on the lower eye lid, pull it lower, so my eye is uncovered/bigger with starring right back to my starrer.
Adults are usually mildly embarrassed..., however....I did it to one 3 - 4 years old kid in Fujian ... He followed me ... with the eye lid move ....
Can't win the kids ....