|
|
Post by alonay on Nov 11, 2006 13:39:13 GMT 7
hi everyone. this is my initiation (1st post per se) i'm from the land of beaches and sun-  But i've been having trouble explaining to chinese people i've been speaking english since i was a stuttering kid.well i "look chinese" despite my dark looks,big eyes and all. kinda always on the defensive side."are you a foreign teacher?" you're not blonde!" you're eyes are black!" etc.etc.etc. So the question is who are considered native speakers? Here in china.. i guess if you are not white and you are not black you are in the "gray area"..more open to scrutiny and racial discrimination.. despite how good you are as a professional in your field..it's a sad fact i guess.i can bloody speak english like anybody else! i hope i can lower my guards here.. and just be me..from the philippines and proud to be! wanna ask anything about my "exotic country" take it away.. so hi to everyone.. big hugs to all... |
|
Newbs
SuperDuperBarfly! 
If you don't have your parents permission to be on this site, naughty, naughty. But Krusty forgives
Posts: 2,085
|
Post by Newbs on Nov 11, 2006 13:47:14 GMT 7
Ni hao and huanying alonay. I'm your drinking buddy so  Thanks for the intro. Watch, listen, learn and have a good laugh with the various lovable crazies that make up the saloon population. Never been to the Phillipines, but seem to be teaching a fair few kids from there back in Australia now. Anyhoo, have a good time, and now I'll stop ranting and raving and allow my fellow saloonites a chance to say g'day. |
|
|
|
Post by George61 on Nov 11, 2006 13:48:37 GMT 7
|
|
Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
|
Post by Ruth on Nov 11, 2006 14:27:30 GMT 7
Hi alonay and welcome. I'd love to learn more about the Phillipines. I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing some prejudice here in China. I understand it isn't unusual. Please know that you WON'T be discriminated against here at the Saloon.
Those of us who, by accident of birth, were born in the Big 5 - England, Australia, USA, Canada and Ireland (should New Zealand be here somewhere?) - seem to have it easier here in China than perfectly good English speakers from other countries. Is it fair? NO. Only exposure to people such as yourself will change the mindset.
I'm looking forward to getting to know you and have a couple of questions: How long have you been in China? Where are you? Whatcha drinking? Newbs should buy the first round since he's your drinking buddy.
|
|
|
|
Post by AMonk on Nov 11, 2006 22:23:49 GMT 7
Hello Alonay. Welcome aboard the Gravy Train to the MadHouse Hatter's Tea Party Saloon. We are all very happy to see you. Have another sip of potage your drink, put your feet up and get comfy. |
|
teleplayer
Barfly
Ni3 you3 hen3 duo1 qian2. Gei3 wo3 yi4dian(r)3 ba.
Posts: 541
|
Post by teleplayer on Nov 12, 2006 0:15:58 GMT 7
Welcome, Alonay, One of my drinking buddies, Solongtink, is also Filipina.  I'm sure she'll be here to welcome you soon and you'll no doubt have stories to share about the discrimination issue. Hope you enjoy your time here and find it a place of fun, comfort, and information. Bartender, get her another round on Newbs' tab!  |
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Gonzo on Nov 12, 2006 3:05:26 GMT 7
I echo the welcome.
You're basically correct. You'll have a harder row to hoe as a non-white. Its not so much racism [though theres plenty of that around] as the Chinese habit of over-simplifying and thinking in stereotypes. Remember, this is a nation where independent thought is still strongly discouraged. However, people like you, and my former Indian colleague Rami, can just start chiselling away at the edges of these perceptions.
I hope China is good to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raoul Duke on Nov 12, 2006 3:10:59 GMT 7
Welcome indeed, Alonay! Native speakers are often grouped into countries (see below) but to me it really includes anyone who spoke English as the main language in their home from early childhood. This broadens it a lot and includes many people from the Philippines, India, and other places as well. Sadly, a lot of Chinese people are still quite racist...and also the first and loudest to scream when it happens to them. Many Chinese consider themselves superior to South/Southeast Asians such as Filipinos. None of us neutral observers can figure out why.  So yeah, discrimination is rampant and terrible here. the Big 5 - England, Australia, USA, Canada and Ireland (should New Zealand be here somewhere?) I usually refer to the Big 7...all six of yours plus South Africa. Big 5 is a way of encoding Chinese characters for a computer. |
|
Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
|
Post by Escaped Lunatic on Nov 12, 2006 3:33:04 GMT 7
Wow! Another one from the Philippines. Solongtinik will have someone to compare notes with. Welcome to the assylum!  "A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?" - Albert Einstein |
|
|
|
Post by Lone Traveller on Nov 12, 2006 7:38:06 GMT 7
WELCOME ALONAY! Here's a drink on me I'm from one of the Big 5 (or 7) so I've never in my life been a minority. What an experience that was when I first arrived. I was in a town where they had never had any foreigners before (not even Russians) and I remember being told by a lovely, smiling, old chinese man, that "maybe I should just go home because they didn't need me up there".  It took me maybe a month to win them over. After that it was all rosy. Then 8months later I moved to a new city where I'm one of 3 FT's.  Not exaclty like what you're experiencing but it was uncomfortable, none the less.  Hang in there! And remember: the saloon is here to help (and to beat anyone up who picks on our buddy's)   |
|
Newbs
SuperDuperBarfly!
If you don't have your parents permission to be on this site, naughty, naughty. But Krusty forgives
Posts: 2,085
|
Post by Newbs on Nov 12, 2006 9:49:26 GMT 7
|
|
|
|
Post by alonay on Nov 12, 2006 10:34:17 GMT 7
thanx for the warm welcome everyone..
i've been here in china for abut 8 hard moths now..
my long,black hair gone- (colored blonde to look as a fake "lawai")
only the children were fooled anyway.
dark skin getting pale from lack of sunlight.
that's the survival game in china i guess..
well solongtinik is my buddy back from university days..
she referred this saloon to me saying it saved her ass a couple of times..
i just want to meet other people who are "people"
now i feel better already..
"Maraming salamat"- that's thank you very much in Philippine language
thankx for the beer.. burp.!
|
|
|
|
Post by solongtinik on Nov 12, 2006 12:17:10 GMT 7
>>we can form our own band!!
hey there george what band? u will be the president of our fan's club! hahaha!
yeah people! alonay is my friend back home and unfortunately she followed me here! hahaha!
i told her this is a great pace to belong! except..she needs to watch her back from...george? hahaha! juz kiddin buddy!
|
|
Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
|
Post by Ruth on Nov 13, 2006 8:57:16 GMT 7
i just want to meet other people who are "people" now i feel better already.. Umm, most of us here are people. There are some we don't question too closely 'cause they've become an institution around here. Kinda like beloved pets. Glad you found us. Great work on recruiting new talent, Solongtinik. I think many of us come to the Saloon to maintain our sanity. Raoul - thanks for the clarification on 7 vs 5. Not sure where I got 5 from. Brain cells deteriorating faster than I want to admit. |
|
|
|
Post by Mattholomew on Nov 17, 2006 5:52:25 GMT 7
Best wishes to you alonay- I've met several people with Asian physical characteristic who have run into deeply held Chinese prejudices- being white and fair haired I have little idea what it's like.
One anecdote in particular: I used to work in Lianyungang, Jiangsu (a provincial sort of place) with a Chinese-American girl who was from San Francisco. She spoke halting Mandarin with a thick accent which used to confuse the locals greatly.
Anyway, we were feted by the town's mayor once and after the meal was finished and the toasting began, he asked all of the foreigners to stand for a photo. She stood, and was quickly told to sit down, as she was not "foreign enough".
Awful.
Anyway, I hope that gradually Chinese attitudes toward race are improving and really, meeting nice and competent teachers like you will push things in the right direction.
|
|
|
|
Post by cheekygal on Nov 17, 2006 10:54:24 GMT 7
A bit delayed welcome, alonay. But I didnt expect an introduction in this dark room  Enjoy your stay, come up to the Ladies Lounge and hope to see you posting more!  |
|
|
|
Post by solongtinik on Nov 17, 2006 18:54:43 GMT 7
>>But I didnt expect an introduction in this dark room
hehehe! that's why it's called when the weird... here's another weird...
|
|
|
|
Post by con's fly is open on Nov 19, 2006 17:56:38 GMT 7
Welcome, Alonay! You came to the right place: the Saloon has gotten me through some rough patches. And don't you worry about that nasty George. Just come sit beside me and I'll fend him off for you. |
|
|
|
Post by George61 on Nov 19, 2006 18:04:47 GMT 7
Alonay, be very careful around Connie. He is a dangerous prevert. He has to be fended off himself. I am the only one to be trusted here!! ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by cheekygal on Nov 19, 2006 23:49:01 GMT 7
Otherwise he is one fluffy friendly Nanuq |
|
|
|
Post by alonay on Nov 20, 2006 20:37:25 GMT 7
uhuh.thanx for the warning people..
well i guess it's time to get some introductions into this "dark room"..
hope to hear more from you guys..
i'll just sit down and relax..
|
|
Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
|
Post by Escaped Lunatic on Nov 21, 2006 5:59:33 GMT 7
>hope to hear more from you guys.. Hi there!!!  (ooops, I hope Solong doesn't mind me mercilessly flirting with her friend) “You know, of course, that the Tasmanians, who never committed adultery, are now extinct.” - William Somerset Maugham |
|
|
|
Post by Dajiang on Nov 21, 2006 11:30:59 GMT 7
it IS quite dark in here with all that black and blue actually.
when i imagine the saloon being an actual bar though, i would think it'd be like 'cheers' or something; a brown cafe sort of thing.
or a tacky chinese bar with black walls and blue neon lights. bit of gray from all the cigarette smoke...
yeah, thats probably more to the point.
|
|
|
|
Post by con's fly is open on Nov 22, 2006 22:31:53 GMT 7
I always picture walls of naked cinder block, floor painted black and covered in pistachio nuts, bug zappers popping constantly... Cheeky: you rock as always. |
|
|
|
Post by George61 on Nov 23, 2006 3:33:16 GMT 7
I always picture walls of naked cinder block, floor painted black and covered in pistachio nuts, bug zappers popping constantly... Cut it out Connie, you're not in Canada now!! |
|
Enjoy your stay, come up to the Ladies Lounge and hope to see you posting more! 
