|
Post by con's fly is open on Mar 19, 2005 14:55:28 GMT 7
Complement China every chance you get... which is often: they do a lot of things right here, especially the food and taking care of the old folks (through family rather than social programs). The locals are so pleasantly surprised when a laowai has a high opinion of anything. Bubbling below the surface is a massive inferiority complex. The biggest mistake I made was misinterpreting their show of humility. The standard etiquette is to be self-deprecating about everything, especially their level of English. Don't confuse this with low self-esteem. I blew this at first, insisting that their English was better than they claimed and taking it upon myself to be a big cheerleader. As often as not I just embarrassed folks.
Heck, just show manners. Never fails.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Nobody on Mar 20, 2005 6:14:12 GMT 7
Good point, that man. It puts a number of things into perspective that i have noticed over the years of dealing with - people of glorious and noble asian ancestry, or whatever the term was.
(Wonder why I didn't notice it before? Congenital thicko maybe?)
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 19, 2005 1:44:26 GMT 7
Hey guys, gals and all pals Millana here. I've met a few of you already, Sorry for my rudeness. Didn't introduce myself, just butted right in. Actually I had been going through the threads at random, and just noticed this one. Not that I would have had the nerve to introduce myself, without testing the waters first. First I'd like to say, hi girls, sure wish there was a little more girl power around here. I agree with you Lotus, re: eye candy... much more into the olive skinned, tall, dark and handsome toys. I think Asian men, in general, are at the bottom of my list, with respect to, male turn ons. Seems like the guys have it made in the shade here, while we wilt in our beer. Maybe we can start some type of recruitment agency, males must be over, at least, say 5'11 (can't get too picky), weight at least 175, no gobbing, clean, well groomed, etc. What do you think, any age will do, as long as they are ligit, wouldn't want to get in trouble with the law or have to fend off any love stricken stalkers. Personally, with my forwardness and tendency to have my own liberal and, at times, self-rightuous, opinions, they may find me a little intimidating. Heaven knows I give these Canadians a good ride for their money, and no guys, not that type of ride. Lol, Lotus, maybe there are some, yet to be discovered seedy areas, where they've hidden all the good ones away. When I get there well spend some time on search and discovery. Anyway back to the introduction, I'm from Canada, Ontario. I have a BA in Psych and a Child and Youth Worker's Diploma. worked at futures for a few years. Futures is an alternative school for teens who don't want to follow the mainstream school sytem. I have one son, who I have spent way too much time with for the last 16 years, he says, it's my time now, and wants me to start finding myself. Gotta love him. I have spent the last few years landscaping, and have spent time coordinating local community gardens. I volunteer in the winter at a grass roots agency and although most people there are tree huggers, who eat no meat, I am not. I guess my passions are justice issues (hanging for the underdog), gardening, different cultures and any type of art form. I sell a lot of self created art, ie. handbags, throw pillows, home decor, jewellery, etc. at a craft store in town. I could never make a real living at it, I dislike the business aspect of it all. I love graphic arts, mostly work in illustartor, and make quite a bit of cash creating and selling gift cards. I haven't figured out where I want to be in China, still researching and would like to leave here within 4 to 5 months. I would like to be in Southern China, am sick of Canadian winters. Has anyone heard of Zhuhai? Some Chinese students have pointed me in that direction. Anyway, thats about it. Ass kissing aside, this is one of the most informative and welcoming China info. websites I have come across, and I have surfed many. And what I really love about it, is that when you do whine about certain, legitimate issues, you do it with great pizzazz. You also don't seem to possess that snot-faced, the world owes me (whaa, whaa, whaa), sentiment I keep running across. Many other sites are way too full of rage for my liking. I'm sure their days turn into hell and life in Asia goes by rea slow. It's all in the attitude, and I've seen some healthy (cough, cough) dispositions around here. Thanks for all the wonderful help everyone. My name is Millana, I am an alcoholic. Oh yeah, Lotus, with respect to the men, would it be too much to ask for the toilet seat down! , or would they blow us off, before getting to know us..
|
|
|
Post by George61 on Apr 19, 2005 3:25:07 GMT 7
Welcome Millana. I agree, underdogs should be hung. In fact, hanging is too good for the bastards.
The Pizzazz here are not all that flash...they can't seem to get the crust right. Dunno about the men. I haven't had time to look at them. The gardening here is a bit tragic. I too have spent time landscaping, etc and I sometimes wish I had a bit of dirt here. Everyone says Zuhai. I must check it out one day. As for your being an alcoholic...well,..that seems to be the norm here, so you will fit right in. Welcome you to come to China.
|
|
|
Post by Hamish on Apr 19, 2005 5:02:35 GMT 7
Oh yeah, Lotus, with respect to the men, would it be too much to ask for the toilet seat down! AH....MAN! You were doing so great! You have raised an issue that I think typifies the difference between men and women. I was an airline pilot in my other life. Each time I landed an aircraft, I checked to see if the landing gear had been extended. In the absence of a proper indication on the flight deck, there were a variety of options available including the heroic low-level flight by a tower for a visual confirmation by air traffic control personnel. In the case of toilet seat position, a timely visual, or in darkness tactile, examination of the “up” verses “down and locked” status of the apparatus is, or should become, SOP for pre-evacuation procedures. It also escapes me why women focus on the fact that the seat remains up and complain, instead of thanking men that they were thoughtful enough to put it up, thus avoiding their voiding on the landing site.
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 19, 2005 6:17:26 GMT 7
Now, now, Hamish, you are neglecting to leave out a very critical factor in your amusing analogy, that being one of cash. If I was being paid to keep my eyes peeled on my "state of the art" toilet seat, then the scenerio may present itself, in a different light. I would accept the small irritations of sinking into the wet, cold bowl, only to have my ass covered with foul, yellow gripe water. I would check, vigilantly, for any signs of male deeds left undome. I'd even go so far as putting the feelers out in the wee dark hours of the night. Foremost, I would keep my womanly comments to my self. However, without due compensation, these small glances and nasty discomforts leave me no benefits; so why, being the prototypal woman that I am, would I have it any other way. The justifications of the male mind never cease to amaze me.
|
|
|
Post by Hamish on Apr 19, 2005 6:35:20 GMT 7
Now, now, Hamish, you are neglecting to leave out a very critical factor in your amusing analogy, that being one of cash. If I was being paid to keep my eyes peeled on my "state of the art" toilet seat, then the scenerio may present itself, in a different light...However, without due compensation, these small glances and nasty discomforts leave me no benefits; so why, being the prototypal woman that I am, would I have it any other way. [/IMG] [/quote] STILL ANOTHER essential difference between the male and female revealed. Thank you! A woman MUST BE PAID to practice simple procedures designed to eliminate the experience of a salted bun bath in the night. Just as I thought!
|
|
|
Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 19, 2005 7:46:18 GMT 7
Ah, at last we have a real issue on this forum, worthy of all those qualifications of the inhabitants! Finally, a use for our education other than dancing like a monkey in front of gawking mouth breathers!
Toilet seat position!
As we all know, in china the issue of toilet seats is paramount.
Um, Down position has been shown to be unhealthy (crapper and johns, 1492) and unaesthetic in 84% of people questioned (Can, Thunderbox and Twalay, 1776) although some people think the latter study was biased in its sample by only asking people who could read and write at that time. Professor Head of the maritime study unit has suggested, in 1770 that the whole down/up question was due simply to a historical misunderstanding based on the idea that men stand and women sit, when it is immediately obvious that men DO BOTH, and thus are more versatile.
Another series of studies (Bogg and Dunnykin, 1900) in an admittedly limited survey of the Parisian red light district, show that in fact women like having urine sprinkled on their nether regions, especially in public, but in reading of the data, one can see support for both Milana's and Hamish's hypotheses that they must get paid for it.
Theorists has yet to explain why this issue is still a controversy after these centuries since the invention of the toilet, especially in this day and age.
I would like to point out three things, though:
1. Toilets in china don't have seats, bowls or in fact toilet paper, and people basically crap and piss in the general direction of a hole in the ground. Except of course those in the flats of FE, where i suggest that whoever lives there makes the rules.
2. Checking the position of the seat before using it isn't really difficult, then adjusting appropriately.
3. If the basic act of putting the seat up or down from whatever position it starts in is too much hard work, then don't bother with it and use as is, and live with the consequences.
My 2c.
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 19, 2005 7:47:59 GMT 7
AND WHY NOT... we are worth every penny. By, the looks of it, you could use a wee salted bunbath yourself, get that little butt of yours into sparkly, clean order.
|
|
|
Post by Lotus Eater on Apr 19, 2005 9:13:37 GMT 7
Germany has introduced new rules requiring guys to SIT for all activities required when reparing to the salubrious smallest room. (Let's hope they don't include regurgitating all of that alcohol imbibed). There are public toilets that sound alarm bells when guys attempt to ignore these new rules and a public eduction program to ensure taht guys now know how to do what we women have done naturally for millenia. I have also seen new toilets in Oz that have the flush mechanism placed strategically behind the seat lid, so in order to clear away unsightly deposits, the lid has to be lowered. But this being China, Raoul's toilets are sadly built along the 'sharing a trench' line with the occasional bucket of water thrown in to move the debris along to the end of the trench. No toilet paper and no water for handwashing. We have to use the alcohol to wash in.
|
|
|
Post by con's fly is open on Apr 21, 2005 8:28:53 GMT 7
See what happens when Germany reunites?
Irrefutable proof that women rule the world: despite being cleaner, convenient, frugal with water, and taking up very little space, THER ARE NO URINALS IN HOUSEHOLD BATHROOMS!!! If women used them there'd be three in every home.
Nuke Germany.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 21, 2005 8:44:08 GMT 7
You know, that had escaped me. good point, sir. Sit down toilets, bidets, etc, yes. Urinals, no. Ok, ladies, you want the seat down permanently, then it would only be fair to first have a urinal in the bathroom as well. That sounds like a swell compromise. You pay for the extra plumbing, though, since merely lifting or lowering the seat is not a major task.
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 24, 2005 9:01:31 GMT 7
N.,
It is not about the mindless task of lifting and lowering the seat, if that where the case, than it wouldn't be an issue. It is about habitually sitting down, without looking, and landing your butt on an ice cold seat, perhaps splattered with droplets of urine. Furthermore, if your reaction, to that ice cold seat, isn't as reflexive as you would like it to be, you may land your toasty little butt into the cold depths of vile toilet water. YUCK!!! Putting the seat down should be as automatic as closing the door behind you when you leave your home, what has your mama taught you.
BTW, what is the spoon and where can I find it?
|
|
|
Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 24, 2005 9:26:57 GMT 7
Then the issue seems to be an awareness problem, not a plumbing or a gender issue. I would have thought, being in front of you before you turn and sit, you would have noticed. I know I do. It is not about the mindless task of lifting and lowering the seat, if that where the case, than it wouldn't be an issue. It is about habitually sitting down, without looking, I figure someone else's bad habits aren't my lookout. ;D My mama taught me to look where I was going, to make up my own mind on things rather than follow customs blindly, to always negotiate a compromise that gives both people all they want rather than half each, and how to make good gravy, among other things. But then, my mama never complained about the toilet seat either, since the guys have to lift it up to go. She just wanted us to be sure to lift it up first. And clean up our own mess. Why is down the standard position and not up? Besides, a refreshing surprise can brighten your whole day. The spoon is Dave's ESL Cafe, a den of shallow and callow youth with only a light sprinkling of the depth, the immense maturity and the humour of this place. Although they seem to have lots of ideas for teaching, especially the monkey dance. Link on links page. Search for comments on it here, the others have much more experience than I. I haven't even been banned once yet, and only been posting there for a few days. Or should I have put that the other way around?
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 24, 2005 10:49:30 GMT 7
My last little bit on toilet seats. 1) I do not face the toilet bowl upon arrival as I do not pee in a standing, facing toilet bowl, position. It is a sideway glance, and in dark hours, there is no glance. 2) I am all for compromises, do you not, occasionally use the toilet down, I will make sure the lid is down for you. That is my comprimise. 3) Aesthetically speaking, the seat looks much nicer with seat and lid down, you wouldn't want to, unecessarily, subject your guests to your splatters, would you? 4) small children + toilet seat up = dangerous mishaps So, since hooligans are not easily intimidated, and have no desire to observe the rules of decency and sanitary practices, my options would be a) not invite them into my home, in the first place or b) alter my menu, more food and less drink for the hatchet men of the group. Banned - how does one get banned?
|
|
|
Post by Raoul Duke on Apr 24, 2005 13:07:49 GMT 7
You a bunch of sick white motherm'kayers, ain'tcha? Look, don't blame me for the toilets at the Saloon. We used to have nice modern Western ones that we kept immaculately clean at all times (You don't really think George can pay off his enormous bar tab just from his salary, do you? ). Unfortunately we had so many Depends undergarments getting flushed in the Men's room and balling up the plumbing that we were losing a fortune to plumbing bills. We had to go Chinese and the only decent toilet left here is in the Brains' Lounge. At least the problems with Depends have decreased sharply, although frankly we're not sure if it's due to the lower toilet technology or the fact that George isn't in the Men's room as much since we stopped cleaning it. Banned - how does one get banned? Depends on which forum you're talking about. Here, you can get banned for consistently behaving in an extremely stupid and antisocial manner. It's never happened here yet. At Dave's ESL Cafe, you can get banned for complaining about people who consistently behave in an extremely stupid and antisocial manner. Happens on an hourly basis.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 24, 2005 16:30:52 GMT 7
Well, last thing for the toilet seat commentary: The fiance knows little of western toilet customs. I am going to convince her of the "upright is best" premise. I would appreciate it if you lot didn't unconvince her, OK?
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 24, 2005 20:50:20 GMT 7
By the way, how did my introduction end up in the poo hole?
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on Apr 24, 2005 21:05:48 GMT 7
Hey N, I think you had better loan her out to me for a day or two, I'll whip her into tip top shape. She'll be a new woman. And you, well, she'll deal with you when she gets back home.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 24, 2005 22:03:37 GMT 7
hey! whose side are you on, anyway?
|
|
|
Post by con's fly is open on Apr 26, 2005 7:42:59 GMT 7
|
|
lily
New Chum
Posts: 6
|
Post by lily on May 30, 2005 21:15:20 GMT 7
Well, this is definitely an enlightening discussion. I seem to be one lucky gal, my bf always puts the toilet seat back up. As for me, I'm a Kiwi, 5'5", 22, Cancer, Year of the Dog, in my second year teaching children at a private school in HuaiNan, AnHui, China. My usual poison is Black Russians. Big, smooth, sweet 'uns. Not a very comprehensive intro, but can't think of anything else right now. Lily.
|
|
|
Post by Jollyjunklass on May 30, 2005 21:20:13 GMT 7
Hi Lily, Welcome, I hope you mean down, if not, give him the boot real quick
|
|
lily
New Chum
Posts: 6
|
Post by lily on May 30, 2005 21:22:27 GMT 7
Hi Millana, Thanks for hte welcome . Oops, yes, I mean down - to much coffee today, it fries my brain a little! Lily
|
|
|
Post by con's fly is open on May 30, 2005 21:25:45 GMT 7
Hi Lily, Welcome, I hope you mean down, if not, give him the boot real quick Brothers, when will the persecution end? A urinal, a simple urinal!
|
|