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anonymous
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Q: Are the Chinese more welcoming to foreign guests, when compared to their Western counterparts?

e.g. they make you feel welcome as a foreigner when you are out and about, or make you feel welcome when they invite you into their home. Edit for Nevermind: Western = Most parts of Europe, North America - the more developed 'Western' parts of the World.

11 years 19 weeks ago in  Culture - China

 
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Emperor

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First, this is a very generalized question.  I can't answer it on that level, I am sorry but second, my own experience is that "welcoming" tends to be more regionally than in other countries where I have lived : I have found the denizens of Guangzhou quite welcoming, truly so, the Shanghainese snippy in a Manhattan way, the Suzhou people somewhere in between and the Dong Bei rin, well, I hate to say it,  just downright indifferent.  Again, it's probably different for almost everyone.

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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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I don't know, where is this "western" you speak of?

crimochina:

you foreigner do not know anything. the west is every country not named china

11 years 19 weeks ago
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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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I can only answer for myself and only about Nanning as I haven't lived anywhere else in China, but I'd say, to strangers no, they're just as distrusting to strangers as any British person I've met. However, once you have been introduced they are much warmer than most Brits, (then again us Brits do have a reputation of being a bit 'cold').

 

The most welcoming people I've ever had the privilege to live among are the Cypriots both the 'Greek' and 'Turkish' Cypriots.

GuilinRaf:

Why the thumbs down? Does someone hate Cypriots?

Anyway, thumb up to counter!

11 years 19 weeks ago
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Hugh.G.Rection:

Thanks GR but don't sweat it, if you've noticed ALL of my posts get at least one thumbs down, he's a silly little child, but I don't mind  at all, I just take it as a measure that I'm getting to him. He still cannot accept I'm not a wumao and the fact that almost everyone else now accepts I am who I say  SOOO pisses him off he just hast to give me that red thumb of respect every chance he gets.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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Why do some guys refer to us who live here as "guests"? I don't get that at all. I have worked here for 7 years. Does that give me "guest" status?

I think not. 

OldMajor:

In my opinion, if a person is not a citizen or permanent resident of a country, I would class them as a guest and expect them to respect said country and its peoples culture, rules, regulations etc.. If they can't, or won't do that, then they should leave, either on their own accord, or forcefully.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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giadrosich:

A guest is a tourist. I'm a resident. Whether I stay or not is up to me.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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derek:

That's right. I'm not a tourist. Glad is right imo.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

A guest is not just a tourist. A guest is somebody who has to renew visas in order to remain in country, and in doing so has to sign up to various additional rules and regulations that govern guests, sorry, visitors, sorry, visa holders!

 

Anyhow, who cares what these guests are called, as long as they respect said country and its peoples culture, rules, and regulations?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

you know what is interesting, i have students studying in america. they need to renew their visa yearly( or so) but they are regarded as members of society not guests. I guess when you see yourself as superior to others then they can never become one of you. russian decedents are still regarded as foreigners even though their families have been there for generations.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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giadrosich:

Sorry, OM. We will have to agree to disagree on this one. You can call yourself anything you want to. I am a law abiding resident who currently lives in China. I am employed, pay taxes, observe the cultural norms and laws of the PRC. I'm not allocated any special treatment.

Guests don't pay to get in somewhere, and they don't stay for multiple years. Guests also don't call someone and say, "Oh, can I come live with you for 1-10 years?" I was invited here only after I applied, because I met the criteria and filled a position with a skill someone needed.

 

Calling non-Chinese a "guest" is just another ploy used in the "us" vs. "them" game, and it sounds like you have fallen for it.

 

You might be a guest, but I'm a resident.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

What Derek, Giad and Crimo said.wink

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

Okay, to keep it simple, how many of you have to apply at some point in the future to stay in China (as a guest)? For those of you who do, then if China accepts your application, you are then invited into the country as a guest for a set period of time. They do not have to accept you, and even if they do your invitation could be removed at any time in the future, if for example poilicy changes or you misbehave.

 

I am not referring solely to China, and I haven't been brainwashed by some 'them vs us' brigade. As in my country, I expect these non-permanent guests, to fervently respect rules, laws, government (yes, respect their host government at all times), people, and anything that is accepted norms in that country. If they don't then the government has invited unruly guests in, which many citizens of that country may be unhappy about, and rightly so. The citizens have earned the right to expect that guests toe the line when they are in their home. In extreme or persistent offending cases, deport the unruly guests.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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giadrosich:

Thank you for setting us straight in this regard. I'm so glad that when Mao died he appointed you the official harbinger to explain all things Chinese, OM. I bow to your obviously superior knowledge, intelligence, and expertise in these matters. Please excuse my ignorance when I go to renew my "residence" permit.

 

Perhaps I should instruct the government to change it to read "guest" permit.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

Haha, giad, thanks for the reply :) But, I think you inadvertently proved my point when you said you needed to renew  your 'residence' permit, i.e. you are a temporary guest that could be asked to leave at any time. Why? Because this is not your home! Thank you and good day.

angel

11 years 19 weeks ago
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giadrosich:

And thanks for proving my point by saying I choose to live here. It's called a resident. But seriously, if I'm a "guest," why do I have to take out the trash? Hey, OM, if you're ever in town, the beers on me! Well, at least the first dozen.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

No worries Giad, enjoy your beers, I think we've done this one to death!....and yes, beers sounds good! Laters.....

11 years 19 weeks ago
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derek:

Yup, beer does sound like a good way to resolve this one. I'm in wink

11 years 19 weeks ago
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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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I don't think so. Since in America you have asian americans, african americans etc., if they were to not be warm and welcome it would look pretty bad. Over here I see more taxi drivers refusing to take foreigners, disgruntled workers yelling you are ugly to their backs, just people trying to take advantage in a lot of cases. 

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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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I would say yes

Ive only been here 6 months, but i have received nothing but warmth and genuine friendship, and i can honestly say ive never been ripped off or scammed, not yet anyway.

And i do consider myself a guest here, and will always consider myself a guest for however long i stay here.

derek:

Check back with us after a couple of years. Will you still stick by those comments?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

Why do some people on here wish bad luck on others? Is it an attempt to try and increase the number of anti-China posters, like they're on a campaign trail?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

so if you live here for 10 years, get married, have and raise children here you are still a guest? part of being welcoming is knowing when your "guests" are no longer guests and are members of society. one of the things i love about "the west"is, if you come in legally , you are welcome to join. because we see you as a person not something less than.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

oldmajor learn to read correctly. he said check back after a few years. everybody goes through a honeymoon period. then they start to pick up on what is being said around them. they start to see people for who they really are. that is not wishing bad on anyone. it simply means "would you feel the same way after 2 years?" very neutral. 

better question, why do some people try to put words in other peoples mouths ?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

crimochina, thanks for your input, but it isn't valued. And yes, if you have to renew a visa to say here, even if you have family here who are Chinese, then you are still a guest. I don't understand why you can't see this.....you have to apply to stay, and stay only for a limited time....if you are successful in your application, then you are a guest. The day you don't need to ask for permission to come in, then you are no longer a guest.

 

Relate it to your home (assuming you are not homeless), in which you are obviously not a guest. If you have to apply (ring, knock the door) then you are a guest. Very simple analogy, but hey, lets keep things simple when people are getting confused.

 

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

what guest pays taxes? riddle me that.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

A guest can still work. Workers pay tax. btw, serious question - if you hate the majority of Chinese people so much, why on earth are you here? Do you not have a life to go back to wherever you are from?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

learn to read english. old malar , loke, mart, hug , 981, matty etc.

i never said i hate anyone. i hate bad behavior. people who work and pay taxes are not guests they are contributing members of society. just like you (chinese man) to say someone is not a contributing MEMBER of society simply because they are not han chinese is retarded. i've said this many times. i like my life here. i've met some great people who lean on meas a friend. and i lean on them also. despite the disgusting behavior of most chinese people, i find my own way. i have a goal and i am working on achieving it. despite the varying degrees of rudeness, i have developed a tremendous amount of patience. calling people out for their rude/ disgusting behavior does not mean i hate them. that is chinese thinking. your slip is showing. and i have made it very clear in my previous posts that i believe the reason the people are the way they are is because of state sponsored ignorance. the ccp doe the most thorough job when it comes to keeping a large population ignorant and de-evolved. 

11 years 19 weeks ago
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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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i have been in china for 3 years. my first year i thought everyone and everything was great. but after i learned chinese culture and learned some chinese i began to pickup on how foreigners are the targets of indirectly rude behavior. and in many cases direct rude behavior. one thing is great about china, there are many good people (1/3 the pop, my estimation) these kind people would go out of their way to help and make you feel welcome. 

but when judging a country as a whole you must take in to account the negative aspects. on a daily basis many locals are indirectly rude to foreigners. walking into a restaurant the other day , the staff as usual said welcome in chinese. a group sitting at a table yelled out he doesn't understand (in chinese) and laughed out loud. if that happened in a "western country" everyone on this forum would agree that that was rude behavior. but this seems to be the norm in china. whether it is taking pictures of a foreigner without permission. talking about a foreigner as if they are a zoo exhibit (foreigners are too stupid to know when you are talking about them). now when i first arrived here i excused the behavior because of "culture". but i realized something, this behavior is considered rude in chinese culture and to lower the bar for someone based on their race, nationality or culture is insulting. when you have the attitude that this culture can not meet the same expectation as my culture , you are regarding their culture as inferior . if there is a genuine culture difference , i can overlook it. such as not saying sorry when they bump you or not covering their mouths/ nose when they cough/ sneeze. but what i am talking about is behavior that is looked at as disrespectful in both cultures. Too many times foreigners are the victims of direct rude behavior simply because we are foreigners. coming up to me and asking me a ton of personal or political questions and refusing to accept no for an answer. some of the behaviors are even more intrusive. 4 times men have come up to me and touched my skin. 2 times people have yelled racial slurs at me (i'm not counting the ones who were trying to imitate rap music). sometimes they try to harass the woman you are with by say rude off handed comments. 

another big difference is how people try to use foreigners . if you are kind to me because you are building up to ask me to do you a favor, that does not count as being welcoming. i consider that snakish behavior in my own country, why should i see it any different in china? i see people as equal, regardless of race, culture or nationality. if i judge you by your own cultural norms and i find that you are being rude by your own cultural standards, i will call you rude. why should i excuse it , overlook it, or not mention it??

to answer the question, i have not traveled many places but i think china and canada (2 days in canada) has some of the most welcoming people. but also, i would find it hard to believe that there are ruder people than the people i have come across here in china. especially in countries where people are allowed to defend themselves against rude behavior. (ex: if you come up to me and touch my skin in any civilized nation and i reacted by punching the offender in the face, i would not be demonized. the police would handle the situation fairly. it would not be : you foreigner so you are in the wrong, pay 20k rmb)

I work here, i live here, i spend my money here. i am not a guest here. i am a contributing member of society. (like it or not)

mArtiAn:

  Do you know what i've just realized? I've been getting on your case for ages when all the time i've been experiencing China as a white man. I've got a black mate (ex-marine called William from the states. Serious dude, kung fu master, though he ripped a muscle in his leg and now limps) and i've said to him in the past, "How do you put up with this shit?' And it surprises me that i've only realized now.

  To answer this question from my own personal point of view, i'd very honestly say, "Yeh, yeh, yeh, everyone's sweet as pie, fucking peachy, all is good and bla-di-bla" but the truth is i'm well aware that blacks get the very short end of the stick here and I feel like a cock for getting on your case for being pissed with this country. If I was a black man or a black woman, i'd be all over this country like a rash because, with respect to black men and women, this country blows.

  Forgive me for being such a douche.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

Yes, I echo what the martian said, you're obviously one of the undeserving victims here.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

i don't play the role of victim. the rudeness showered on me is not ainly because of my skin color. it is because i'm not han chinese. i've seen and heard how they treat and regard non han chinese. 

11 years 19 weeks ago
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OldMajor:

Sorry CoC, you're right,my bad, you play the role of an arrogant victim who gets upset when the Chinese don't act exactly how you and your fellow 'developed' non-Chinese act. You see one or two Chinese people doing something YOU don't agree with and you role it up to 'the majority are this' or 'most Chinese are that'. LOL, I'm convinced you're actually just a comedy act on here.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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mattsm84:

Why would you come back after being banned?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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derek:

Crimo.......exactly right. I read this post a few times and it is one of the most accurate assessments to ever appear on this site, imo.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

derek: marty s trying to make it out to be that chinese are rude to me because i'm black. from my observations,the rudeness is directed at foreigners period. race may determine in what ways they are rude to you. now i don' t see race but you strike me as a white background guy with a reddish maple leaf over red and blue lettering type of guy (stephen colbert!). so i would assume you still might have people touch your skin (but fewer) , you might still have people talk about you as if you are a zoo exhibit "tah ting bo dong! hahaha!" , asking intrusive questions, blocking your path just so they can get a good stare at you, talking crap about the girl you are with, etc. Derek do you receive any of those types of behaviors?

so Marty how does it have to do with me being black?

11 years 19 weeks ago
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mArtiAn:

  How does it have anything to do with you being black? I don't know, it's an assumption. You said stuff about people touching your face in your three years here. I've been here 8 years all told and if anyone touched my face i'd knock them out.

  As far as i'm concerned this country is full of arseholes. The only difference is that you seem to be under the impression that things are different elsewhere. Personally I disagree. I think that most people walking this planet are arseholes. You and me included. But I like arseholes. I say 'thumbs up' to arseholes.

  All I know is that every time I point the finger of criticism at anyone, my practise is to hold up Loke's (I miss that guy. Haha, "Hey there Major!") mirror and see how that criticism applies to me. And I don't usually have a hard time spotting that all i'm doing is projecting my own faults and fears.

  Whatever, if you want to continue with your insistence that i'm some ccp funded fucker or misguided individual, then fine. I'm just speaking my mind. I might be the latter but as for the former, the pay sounds crap, i'd rather lift boxes again.

  But i'm afraid you can't speak for everyone in your assessment of a foreigner's experience of China, because I 'am' a foreigner, and my experience of China has been a very positive one indeed.

  Everywhere you go, you take the weather with you, I guess. You've got nothing to fear except what you take with you. That's a quote from a really gay song, plus one from The Empire Strikes Back. Pretty much where I get anything resembling an education.

11 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

who the hell said i was speaking for every foreigner's experience? some people don't come across excessive rude behavior as much. some ignore it for some reason. 

and there you go with your everywhere is the exact same as china routine. have you visited norway, sweden, canada, swiss, netherlands, thai etc. i can only speak for canada, but people there are great. in america people as rude as chinese people  not by a long shot. are you going to to lie and tell me brits routinely talk about "foreigners" as if they are a zoo exhibit ? what you spew does not fit reality. and you always claim everywhere else is exactly the same as china ccp talking point. in china being rude is acceptable behavior, not in usa and i'm willing to bet not in the uk. brits are more anal than anyone i have ever met. which is why your claim that "it is the same every where" is proof you never been outside of china

11 years 19 weeks ago
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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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I'm not a guest, I'm a resident. So I really can't tell you how guests are treated. But if your question is whether or not foreigners who have their paper work in the proper order, and maybe in a few months even those who don't, are treated better by Chinese people as a whole than foreigners in my country then my answer is no, for the simple fact that I can't imagine these people being told that their input isn't of any value. 

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My experience has been one of extremes.

When Chinese people are polite and welcoming, they can put Emily Post to shame!

However, when they are rude, they really do not hold back.

crimochina:

exactly my point!

11 years 19 weeks ago
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11 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Yes, but it mostly fake hospitality since they are always looking for new contacts to exploit - especially in business circles.  Sure we also network in the West but we don't try to fake friendship just to get business contacts. Most Chinese will only be your friends long enough to see what they can get from you (jobs, loans, invitation letters, etc.)

 

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11 years 18 weeks ago
 
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