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Q: Am I really that awesome? 2.0
In China, I said a few words of Chinese. "Thank you," "Nice to meet you," etc... and everyone gasped and clapped their hands. "You're so smart!" "NI HUI ZHONG WEN MA????"
I picked up and used chopsticks, and ate with them... "Wow! You can use chopsticks?! That's amazing! *clap*"
I solved a routine problem that kindegarten kids solved. "Foreigners are so smart."
You know, I think I disagree. Foreigners in general aren't that smart. I, on the other hand, am the most amazingly smart, talented and skilled foreigner in all China. In all China. I mean, I can say, "Thank you," and use chopsticks, and point to the menu to order food, and I can solve basic problems.
Am I really that awesome, or are they trying to make me feel less retarded than I already do?
Hi Hulk:
I can
also order "cold beer" in Mandarin besides what you listed. Does that makes my IQ higher too?
Cheers, my friend
Spiderboenz:
Only if you are clever enough to be able to open it yourself... without an actual bittle opener.
Yinduoren:
Man, you got too teach all of us how to do that? I can never ever get a cold beer, even if I point to the bottle kept inside the transparent fridge... somehow by the time it reaches the table it's warm... I don't think those refrigerators actually work!!
HappyExPat:
I ask for "Bīng píjiǔ", and before they open it I request to touch it. If not cold enough, I say "Mei You, Bīng Bīng Bīng píjiǔ" You must rermember Chinese do not drink hardly anything cold, so for them, A COLD BEER is one just above room temperature. By the way, "Bīng' means ice, not cold.
I can recall seeing this thread at least twice within the last month.... Anyway I guess it is that kind of thing that deserves multiple mentions. I find this kind of extreme buttering up very obnoxious and unnecessary for such commonplace experiences. I usually ignore all of it. As to why they do it, I have no clue.
Hi Hulk:
I can also order "cold beer" in Mandarin besides what you listed. Does that makes my IQ higher too?
Cheers, my friend
Spiderboenz:
Only if you are clever enough to be able to open it yourself... without an actual bittle opener.
Yinduoren:
Man, you got too teach all of us how to do that? I can never ever get a cold beer, even if I point to the bottle kept inside the transparent fridge... somehow by the time it reaches the table it's warm... I don't think those refrigerators actually work!!
HappyExPat:
I ask for "Bīng píjiǔ", and before they open it I request to touch it. If not cold enough, I say "Mei You, Bīng Bīng Bīng píjiǔ" You must rermember Chinese do not drink hardly anything cold, so for them, A COLD BEER is one just above room temperature. By the way, "Bīng' means ice, not cold.
When putting jokes aside I guess it's connected with the general way how Chinese address such situations.
They try to show positive approach and the encouragement but the meaning is not the same as in the West - it's just the polite way to make a contact.
Once one lady waited for me when entering the elevator and I thanked her in Chinese for it. She said: "O, NI HUI ZHONG WEN."
I asked her, in Chinese, why does she think I can speak Chinese when I just used one word and she replied, quite surprised: "NI ZHENDE HUI SHUO ZHONG WEN!"
Just different style of behavior - no real praise is meant 
But it does not rule out the the concerned person really is smart/skilled etc. etc.
Hulk:
Interesting. Jokes aside, I appreciate your input. There are always cultural differences to consider.
My theory is that they see us as a bunch of un-evolved primates that are still tossing feces at each other, so any time we show some kind of human-like behavior, they react the same way we do when we see a chimpanzee solving a basic puzzle.
"Aww, it thinks it's human!"
