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Q: Is it really anyone's business what I do and where I go for the winter holiday?
Other then informing my own school of my travel plans for the winter holiday I seldom share my plans for the
holiday period. I'm asked constantly of my plans and then that is the last of the questioning. I understand people
want to know my plan ( and get into my person business ) but can they just stop?
Is there any real conversations here ? ( between Chinese and foreigner / foreigner and foreigner )
( update : It seems I lost this round of " Last Foreigner Standing. " You all win. I lose and will continue hiding in
my dorm this holiday )
1: Shave your creepy dirty shanchez mustache.
2: What the hell is wrong with people asking you your holiday plans??? Outside of your moms basement, people actually like to talk about travel. Its a perfectly normal conversation starter,
3: I wouldnt want a real conversation with you either. You look like the inventor of the date rape drug.
Robk:
Hahahaha... I was like "Mike that's pretty cruel... you must be having a bad day."
And then I viewed his profile image and just burst out laughing.
mike695ca:
Hahah Im having a fine day. Just welcoming the masses of former anon posters.
expatlife26:
weird question, but you can tell this guy isn't an anonymous poster. Look at the post count next to his icon here, and compare it to his questions and comments when you click the name.
Both 41, the guys clean.
mike695ca:
Haha @expat. I checked it out. Your right. I feel about 0.8% guilty now.
cbrian:
mike685ca : go easy on me. I'm an fragile person. I get asked many questions and it can get discouraging after the repeats. I'm staying in Nanchang but will go to Guangzhou for the spring festival. By the way, I appreciate my mustache...
You have to be careful maybe someone wants to break in while you're away.
cbrian:
Thanks for your advice. I've heard this advice before and try to follow it during the school year.
Most conversations with Chinese are about as stimulating as stubbing your toe. Actually, I think I would prefer to stub my toe in most cases. I prefer sharp pain that goes away quickly over the dull, long drawn out pain that comes with trying to converse with a creature that has no soul.
cbrian:
How is your toe now? I try to take time with each person I have a chat with here and talk slowly so they can understand me.
Asking about plans for an upcoming holiday is a perfectly normal conversation, anywhere in the world.
If you consider this you "personal business" and is off limits, then there is almost nothing that people can actually talk to you about. A conversation with you must be as exciting as talking to a wet rag...
expatlife26:
Haha yeah that's what I was thinking...
"what do you think about the weather today?"
"Well, that's none of your business now is it"
cbrian:
After hear the same questions about this and that from students and others its gets tiring. I appreciate a nice conversation once in awhile. I may not have a lot to invest in people here but I try my best to share time with them.
Seems like a reasonable question...I mean is it your employer asking you as a way to keep track of you or something?
I dunno, I think vacation plans are perfectly normal questions
cbrian:
I informed my employer before the holiday and will update them later before I travel for the spring festival. The supervisor seems to appreciate that effort.
I asked my workmates their holiday plans before we all went on holidays. I thought it aas a pretty normal thing to do.
Have you ever had a conversation before?
cbrian:
How can I when people are more focused on their phones then what I or other people are discussing?
Englteachted:
So you are complaining about people trying to have a conversation with you and you are also complaining about not being able to have a conversation with people because they're too into their phones.
Boy you are in the right country, please make a life here and stay here permanently.
cbrian:
I've been to China 10 times since 2003. I plan to return home at the end of this school year and be with family.
The answer to all your questions is 'Moe'! I mean, 'no'!
It is a normal question, if you ask me. If you must, Just lie. Tell them you're going to Iceland. I hear it's amazing this time of year.
If you do go to Iceland, get me a T-shirt?
cbrian:
great idea. What size of shirt do you require? A little known fact about Iceland is US Pres. Reagan and Soviet Pres. Gorbachev held a summit there in 1986.
bill8899:
XXL, maybe XXXL. Kinda depends. Thanks in advance!!
But I do not want a shirt from your school.
It's not strange to get irritated if this is the single recurring question asked, and the only one at that. Holidays are a source of bragging rights. People ask you your plans, to compare the price tag of their plans with yours. Going on a better holiday than the foreigner increases their enjoyment of thier holidays. These people live through others; their perceptions and statuses are everything. Conversely, they might want to contrast their dull family obligations of returning to home village on their only long holiday, to the laowai's "freeness".
cbrian:
nice comment. I do see a lot of comparing done among friends and also among my students. I think its true people like to live through others experiences.
Where are you going for the holiday, just as a matter of interest ?
I am interested. Maybe its somewhere someone else here has been to. Are you travelling? In China or out of China?
If you have been before and it was good I might go along myself. Thats why I am interested.
cbrian:
I'm staying home in Nanchang and then going to Guangzhou for the spring festival week.
Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
ScotsAlan:
I used to go to Scarbrough quite often. It's an ok place. Especially in winter.
As a contracted employee, it is stated in my contract that I need to inform my employer of travel plans. This puts them at ease knowing my plans and return times.
As for telling others, well, I see nothing wrong with it. It is no worse than having them ask me my salary, am I married with children, why am I not married, how big is your penis, and other questions that seem impolite to ask in a western society. But, we are in China. This is common and normal. So, no harm, no foul.
They ask me I tell them I go to Hawaii in a 5 stars hotel, swimming with dolphins and sky diving, although it isn't true they feel incredibly jealous and I like this.
cbrian:
nice comment. I traveled to Hawaii before and enjoyed my experience in Honolulu. Are there English Teacher positions there I can apply for ? I can cut off my mustache...
