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Q: West vs. China - Tiny differences
We often rant about the big problems, air quality, corruption, stupid ass idiots doing stupid ass things etc. But what are the little differences between your home and China, where China appears to be the same but isn't.
A stab at this:
- In my home country, the soap dishes under the shower are coated to not allow soap to stick, they become very easy to clean. In China, the soap dishes under the shower accumulate leftover soap until you cannot see the dish and you need power tools to clean it.
An example of something that perhaps is not the biggest issue, but the accumulation of these things is what makes or breaks life quality.
I'm back in the France since 2 weeks after 6 years in China & Vietnam. There are tons of of differences, not tiny ones, I can list hundreds of them.
Tiny differences I noticed
* People say "hi" when you walk around, with a least a small smile.
* Cars stops to let you cross the road, even if you have the red light and they have the green light.
* I didn't hear one car horn yet.
* The buses do not stop at all the stations unconditionally, like a tramway would do. You have to push a button to notify the driver that you want to go down at the next bus stop.
* At the butcher shop, the butcher will remove the bones from the meat piece you asked for, unless you specify otherwise.
Scandinavian:
I would like to point out the risk of DrM being a wumao. "Hi" is not good in France as the "h" is silent.
sorrel:
during my last visit to France, people smiled and said 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' in shops, restaurants, wherever, all the time.
And they were so understanding and helpful despite my terrible French accent. 
DrMonkey:
@ScotAlan Nope, so far it's bliss. Next week, we move in a nice flat, and the wife will start French classes soon.
Aisles in convenience stores are often narrower here, I usually feel like I can't turn around without knocking things off shelves. It's a tiny thing but it irritates me.
Nessquick:
taking into account that the size of this country is very very big, the space they use for anything else but governmental buildings is funny small ...
I cant find a mini usb cable anywhere that lasts more than a month (for charging my phone)
ScotsAlan:
I have some coming from the UK in a few weeks. It annoying that I have to do that.
I'm back in the France since 2 weeks after 6 years in China & Vietnam. There are tons of of differences, not tiny ones, I can list hundreds of them.
Tiny differences I noticed
* People say "hi" when you walk around, with a least a small smile.
* Cars stops to let you cross the road, even if you have the red light and they have the green light.
* I didn't hear one car horn yet.
* The buses do not stop at all the stations unconditionally, like a tramway would do. You have to push a button to notify the driver that you want to go down at the next bus stop.
* At the butcher shop, the butcher will remove the bones from the meat piece you asked for, unless you specify otherwise.
Scandinavian:
I would like to point out the risk of DrM being a wumao. "Hi" is not good in France as the "h" is silent.
sorrel:
during my last visit to France, people smiled and said 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' in shops, restaurants, wherever, all the time.
And they were so understanding and helpful despite my terrible French accent.
DrMonkey:
@ScotAlan Nope, so far it's bliss. Next week, we move in a nice flat, and the wife will start French classes soon.
- Buses don't have specific schedules, they come "every 5 ~ 10 minutes" and you never know when exactly will the next one arrive. And that's when they stop, sometimes they don't even when half empty and 5 people waving.
- Most stores only refill a product when they run out of it. "What?! No Coca Cola Zero? When will you receive it?", "Oh, we just ordered, expect 5 days or 1 week."
- The unavailability of room temperature water in restaurants, only boiling hot, I am not even asking for cold, only room temperature. Most convenience stores have it so how come restaurants can't?
Stiggs:
I think with the bus thing, they do leave at scheduled times... in theory. But, with road works, traffic, accidents etc it must be hard to keep to the schedule.
The way stores restock irritates me too. It seems like they run out of something before they order more. Or, you go to your local supermarket and find a new product you really like, but once it's sold out you never see it again.
Scandinavian:
In December I was in a supermarket near my native village. They were out of a specific type of rice. The woman I asked told me exact delivery time of when they would get more.
The one time I go to a KFC for breakfast and order something nice off the menu, only to find out they ran out of it. How about stocking more of the stuff that people want to buy more?
Eorthisio:
The infamous "bowl of meiyou".
KFC might not do this but many local restaurants advertise fancy items at unbeatable prices, the thing is they never have these items, however the waiter will be glad to suggest you another item, much more expensive and much less worth its price.
I think the most explanatory example I have ever seen was a seafood place where they advertised some rare sea cucumber that normally costs 4000RMB per 500gr at only 90RMB for 1 dish (~100gr), they also had some rare fish at unbeatable price and some other stuff that I don't remember. There were massive signs about this amazing promotion in front of the restaurant. Except when I asked about the three items they had none of them. Oh and that was at 11am, the promotion started on that day, I don't believe a second that they ran out of stock on all three items.
I play a game with them, if I can find 3 bowls of meiyou in their menu I stand up and walk out to never come back.
I am back in Australia for a few weeks now and things I missed are:
- I can drink tap water here.
- Toilet paper goes in the toilet.
- General sense that most people are trustworthy.
- Space for me to go jogging.
- I see animals and general wildlife.
- People are nice.
- Roads are safe.
- Dates on dairy products generally in date.
- Store has stock or it will apologize, usually in advance.
- No staring.
- Equality.
- Some people still have the face system going but really tiny amount.
- We wear thongs (flip flops, or I don't know what you call them anywhere else)
- Smoke areas, can't smoke within 20m of most buildings.
- No spit!
- Failure is okay here.
- Big houses.
- No bones in my meat.
- Clean restaurants.
- Mcdonalds drive thru, oh yeah.
- If you have no money the governments got your back.
- 我们不可以说中文
There's more but I don't want to sound to bias 
Never going back.
Drawback.
- Can't take advantage of racism and make lots of money for doing nothing.
Eorthisio:
Yep, Australia is nice, time to follow Canada and reduce Chinese immigration to the minimum if you want it to remain so.
Chinese have a tendency to ruin or destroy everything that they touch. Chinatowns are like the filthiest places that you can find in Western countries.
Turning on the lights of vehicles at night... or is that a BIG thing??
Saying 'hi' is a normal thing (as well as the reply) - not something that gets you gaping-mouthed gob-smacked looks of amazement.
No shower curtains! And, having the hot water system right next to (or directly above) the shower!!
Not many people here listen to the radio.
Dinner time is promptly around 6pm - I'm used to 7:30-8pm.
The need to wear footwear - even at home. Bare feet would kill people!!
Scandinavian:
Vehicle lights I would classify as a big thing. In the civilized world (Scandinavia) we have for years had mandatory running lights 24/7 and even have police that will write a hefty fine if you fail to have them on.
mike695ca:
@scan, its called day time running lights, and they are mandatory on all cars when sold. No more fines!
A tiny difference? Every good or service is delivered without Chinese characteristics.
--I can go for a run in the US and people move out of the way to let me pass instead of standing, blocking the sidewalk, and gaping.
--People don't scream and jump 5 feet when a clean, healthy dog wags its tail and sniffs them.
