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Q: What have you noticed that is opposite to what you are used to?
This is the other side of the world to where I am from and I've noticed some things are completely opposite to home. What have you noticed is opposite?
Light switches seem like you are turning them off when you turn them on.
Back home, we tend to straighten our cash out before handing it to a vendor, here you can give it to them in a crumpled mess and they straighten it out.
i have heard that in school when they mark tests, they start out with 100% and deduct for every wrong answer. I'm pretty sure back home they add up the correct answers.
Back home, many women want to get tanned skin, here they want white skin.
I think some cosmetic surgery back home for wealthy women is to get the "ducky" looking lips and here it seems most of the women have that.
Although it may have changed recently to 110, I think they used to dial 119 for emergency instead of 911.
i know if have encountered others bit can't think of them right now. I'll add them later if I remember them.
Here in Shenzhen where I live there is absolutely no use to separate garbage into different recycling bins. Someone will go through all the garbage and separate it even better than back home.
While on the topic of garbage, it is perfectly fine here to just throw down your trash onto the street. Back home you might get marked out if you throw trash. Of course all the streets here are cleaned and swept every day though.
Here. People find it easy to believe but difficult to trust.
There. People find is easy to trust but difficult to believe
"Cold Canadian beer" vs "warm local beer"
"Getting fired for sleeping on the job" vs "It's ok to sleep on the job"
"you're 18, time to move out" vs "please don't ever leave home"
Windows open all year so you don't suffocate from oxygen deprivation. People go to hospitals and become sicker here. Police is a force of injustice to be feared and avoided. Punish children for perceived failures, praise politicians despite corruption and incompetence. Study hard in kindergarten up to middle school; university is a place where you can relax and enjoy your (lost) childhood. Never learn from mistakes - admitting error is a sign of weakness. Make life decisions that minimize loss off face in the eyes of others, rather than doing what's best for your own interests in the long run. Complain about not being born rich, only want a wealthy life with no other interests, but not doing anything dynamic to make it happen.
Scandinavian:
I am pretty sure there are people complaining about not being born rich all over the globe :)
coineineagh:
Too true. But here it's promoted as virtuous value in the language and media. I recently saw a subtitled episode of the kids' show Happy Goat. The Big Bad (and somehow cute) Wolf is married to a scruffy looking she-wolf wearing a broken princess crown. He vows to her to bring her some goat's meat (=cash), and she says she regrets marrying him. My wife uses the same casual language, and somehow feels it's so perfectly normal to say. IMO, when you say you regret marrying someone, it's divorce time. But not here in China - here petulant whining is supposed to be endearing! Awww ;-)
people getting on lift b4 the others get off. that still makes me giggle. seems a rather easy piece of machinery to figure out how to use, but somehow seems to elude them.
Sure wish a Chinese reader would comment/explain this behavior.
Yes means no. Maybe means the same as yes. No doesn't exist.
I was on the escalator heading to my gate to board my plane back to China. Below me, an old lady fell while the escalator was still going up. Me and the guy next to me went to help her and her husband . We yelled for someone to stop the escalator and they did. The guy and I patiently took up positions to help her up. Staff above noticed what was going on and called down to us to see if we needed any help and if she was ok, while they were on the phone to get further help. Someone at the mouth of the escalator was on his way up bringing one of her carryons that had fell. When we helped her up to the top of the escalator someone had gotten a chair. Other passengers were waiting around to see if they could help but giving space. Not one person was giggling and not one person was taking photos. We made sure she was ok and the staff was looking after her. And everyone then went their separate ways as if nothing happened. No propaganda story for the state newspaper because this is the norm in countries like this (people look after each other).
Smoking in a hospital
Driving on the wrong side of the road on purpose
Parking where ever there is space for your car, even if that means on a busy sidewalk in front of someone's shop
Yanking the arm of someone you don't know to take a picture with them without even asking their permission
Showering in China (I still can't wrap my head around it)
Super small garbage cans in the house
No dryers for clothes
Throwing your garbage anywhere you want to (Don't know how many times I've tried to pick up my boss' cigarette box on the street, thinking he dropped it by mistake, only to realize it was empty and he was actually throwing it away).
Using the bathroom in the street
Scandinavian:
I am shocked to learn that in the US people drive on the wrong side of the street involuntarily as opposed to the skilled Chinese drivers who do so deliberately.
WanderingTeacher:
lol Well in Los Angeles, atleast, you might see someone on the wrong side of the street momentarily as they attempt to make a quick U-Turn or catch a left turning light if you are stuck behind someone in traffic, but it's ALWAYS when there is no other cars on that side of the street, and never for more than a quick moment. I've seen two cars sharing one lane as they sped past police officers. I just don't get it.
Lot's of remote controls seem to have the plus and minus buttons reversed regarding function. I have to press minus to make it louder.
Same with water taps. Turn it to blue for hot water.....
