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Posts: 2531

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Q: Are your co-workers or Chinese friends surprised with how many talents you have?

You know how Chinese give you compliments on simple mundane things like using chopsticks or knowing how to swim... yeah I just found it interesting how few skills many Chinese have. 

 

It is true, they don't have shop class, or swim classes (on average) or even simple things like fixing a bike. A staggering amount don't know how to cook or really do much at all to be honest... 

 

Yes, there are some that have many talents and they usually stand out significantly from the pack but those are usually a VERY rare minority. 

 

Is it just my bias opinion or on average for every skill a Chinese person picks up along their lifetime a foreigner picks up about 5-10? I just feel like when I am around them, that it is like being around people that haven't done much living and learning... even though they were in school like 10-12 hours per day. 

 

 

9 years 16 weeks ago in  Lifestyle - China

 
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Posts: 2488

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I find it even wierder that their whole life was school but they dont seem to know very much. Ask a person from the south the capital of ...say Gansu. Crickets...

China or otherwise, they didnt seem to pick up anything from school at all.

Im always amused how impressed they are by random things.

" wow! If you toss a ball at Mike it doesn't hit him in the face!"

" Mike has only lived here for 7 years and he already knows how to drive from downtown to his home! With no GPS! He must be one of the smart foreigners!"

laowaigentleman:

And he can reverse park without using a camera.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Eorthisio:

Yeah well that's because Chinese only go to school to pass tests, they don't see why they should learn anything that is not directly related to the examinations. Also efforts from the students should be minimal, they are here to assimilate whatever the teacher says whether it's true or not, actual exchanges between the Chinese teachers and their students are also minimal, the teachers come, talk for the length or the class and are out as soon as the bell rings.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Robk:

The exchanges are miniminalized unless:

 

- the teacher receives a nice thick hongbao

- the parents enroll the child in the teacher's after school program

- the teacher takes the students out to "dinner"

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Eorthisio:

Robk: +1, I am so tired of managers asking FT to focus on one specific kid because they (the managers) received a fat hongbao from the pupil's parents. I want my good share of that amount then maybe we can discuss about it. After, some places know better how to motivate FTs than others, I received many hongbao directly from the parents at one kindergarten I was working for.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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mike695ca:

I think its wrong to accept hongbao. Also hypocritical for people to hate the chinese corruption and then accept "gifts".

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Lord_hanson:

I agree with Mike, if you are accepting hongbaos you are just the same as the corrupt officials.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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9 years 16 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1845

Shifu

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yeah, when I tell them I can cook Chinese dishes their minds are blown away.

Nessquick:

because it is too difficult to deep fry anything in soy sauce

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Lord_hanson:

It is true, I find the recipes easier than western dishes. They don't get taught to cook though, their parents do everything for them.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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9 years 16 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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sometimes it's not they can not do those things,they just dont know the outside world and feel surprised that you can do .

Robk:

Yeah, but it is strange that they immediately think people from other countries can't do the same things they can... or even things they can't do. 

 

For example, I never left Canada for 20 years and we had Chinese, Japanese etc. people in my school. I wouldn't be surprised if they found their way to the school... knew how to fix their bike or use a fork lol. 

 

Actually, it would appear condescending if I pointed it out "Wow, this Japanese guy can ride a bike!"... The rest of the Canadians would look at me and say "Yeah, so... are you mocking him?"

 

The word for it in  English... is called a "superiority complex." 

 

 

 

9 years 16 weeks ago
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RandallFlagg:

With no actual provable superiority to back up their attitude.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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gouxiong:

Robk, the word in Chinese for it is 优越感 and it pretty much sounds like one of the reasons why you raised your question. I always wonder why so many people whose inteligence, measured by Western standards, should be above average believe that different is (almost always) worse than their own way. Chinese language is full of little compliments and when talking to the stranger so even the bad news and ill meaning are expressed with very nice sounding words. May be this could be the reason. Otherwise I honestly doubt there is any Chinese, other than your very close friends, who really cares what you can or cannot do ...

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Robk:

@gouxiong

 

Great, glad to have learned the word for that in Chinese. I didn't assume for a second it didn't exist as I see it in rampant growth in China. I don't measure an action by its intended use, I measure it by its results... and the result of complimenting someone for something that everyone (or many people) can easily do has little value or productivity.

 

Nobody cares about intentions, they care about conclusions. Yes, the thought does count but only if received well. And I doubt the Chinese really do care (yet they care enough to shout it out to their friends), which gives off an even more patronizing feeling. 

 

Let's remove culture and take it for what it is... "Wow, you can ride a bike to the school campus!"

 

A compliment from someone that doesn't really care about you, complimenting you or making an observation on something that neither of you  really care to discuss. 

 

Sounds like time well wasted. I would have personally preferred silence. 

 

9 years 16 weeks ago
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gouxiong:

Robk, that's what I said. You judge..., you consider ..., you ... If the others apply another scales or measures so as per your opinion they are simply wrong. May be they are and may be they are not. But it's not the point of this discussion. I think a bit more tolerance towards other people opinions and approaches, especailly if their approach towards you is absolutely harmless, can make life of the person easier and sometimes can even enrich the person. But it's of course your personal preference. If someone selects to get annoyed over very small things so be it that way.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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The people at my school are totally flabbergasted that I can ride my bike the 15k from the town where I live to the village where the school is.

For them it's like other-worldly.  They say it's because their bodies are different and this somehow precludes them from undertaking such an arduous task.

And other things too.

They do have a conservative and go-slow attitude to most things and I think this ethos retards them somehow.

 

 

Eorthisio:

Chinese look at me like I'm crazy when I choose to ride my bicycle instead of taking the mass transit. Even in Guangdong's summer I would take my bicycle over the buses or the MTR anytime, too many smelly peasants in there.

9 years 16 weeks ago
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meiduo:

cos bike is only regarded as a vehicle for some people,it's not for fun or exercise .and most foreigners are rich in their mind,why bother to ride a bike instead of car/taxi or other transportation?

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Robk:

meiduo is right. 

 

It has nothing to do with your ability but mostly social status and meaning.

 

"Why does the foreigner ride their bike to work when they are rich and should just use an Audi or BMW instead?! What a fool!"

 

Totally missing the point of recreational activity and avoiding huge massive, sweaty, smelly crowds. There is a stupid hierarchy to the road in China that is laughable. If you drive a bike or a motorcycle, you must be poor and stupid. Even if you are driving a Kawasaki Ninja that cost 4x a normal car... doesn't matter! We don't understand the difference, so we label you poor. 

 

Farmer mentality... 

9 years 16 weeks ago
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royceH:

So I'm poor.  And stupid.  Ok, granted...no dispute there.  But I do own a car....just opt to ride the bike around instead.

My wife gets it though.  She thinks I'm strong and kinda cool.  And she appreciates that the physical and mental exercise I get from riding is good for health.

And that when it comes time to do the homework I'm some kinda chance to get through it without having a heart attack.

 

 

 

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Nessquick:

one word :

retards .

 

 :D

9 years 16 weeks ago
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9 years 16 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1439

Shifu

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Yeah sure, they make me feel like I'm some kind of modern Da Vinci.

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I never knew what to think of those comments

* Cold tolerance : I don't wear clothes for an Antartic expediction when the it's 0c, I wear a shirt, a small vest, with a coat if I go outside. Mind blown ?!

* I walk / bike 2x4km everyday for my commute, no matter what time of the year it is, despite that I could afford a car or an e-bike. I've been doing this since I'm a kid, to go to school...

Robk:

Yup, I get those ones too. 

 

 

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Nessquick:

shhh,m supermarket, inside about 25 degs, buyt people in their 2 sweathers and Quenchua double layer jacket, because outside is 8 degs and December, soi you should fell cold, or not ?

9 years 16 weeks ago
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9 years 16 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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I can use chopsticks! Mind blown

Robk:

Oh yeah?! ... I can use my chopsticks with both hands. I tell them to try... 

 

They fail with their left hand...

 

I smile and tell them to keep practicing. wink

9 years 16 weeks ago
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Not sure I really go around showing off my talents.... e.g. haven't build a treehouse for decades now, and I kind of gave up on bike repair since I don't bike.

 

 

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9 years 14 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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I can  cook, play piano, do a few judo throws, speak russian, and act. I also like model railroading, birdwatching, and Russian literature.

-Yes, their minds are blown.

Taobao, Taobao, Vampire Diary, Taobao, QQ zone, Wei Chat, Taobao, Eat, Sleep

 

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