Fun Facts from Tim

[TimD]

I thought I'd take a minute or so and relate some of my experiences with my wife. Not just my trips to China but her trips here.

 

One of the most intersting facts was that when Chinese eat cold dishes they like to drink hot drinks, like tea or just plain hot water. The first time she was here she had some stomach problems that she said were due to drinking cold drinks while eating hot dishes. She explained it to me like a hot glass taking to cold water, it will shatter.

 

"Face" is something very important to the Chinese. Never insult or reprimand in front of peers or coworkers. Never motion with your finger or point at a Chinese person, this is considered rude. If you wish someone to come near use your whole hand and not your finger.

 

When in China you may see men holding hands or walking with their arms around one another. This behaviour is common and doesn't have the same meaning as it does here in the states or other western countries.

 

Connections are key in China. It's good to network and give good face to whom ever you meet. Learn to schmooze.

 

If you smoke it is considered rude not to offer a smoke to those around you.

 

Always remember that not all Chinese aspire to be Americanized, they are perfectly happy being Chinese just as we are happy being Americans.

 

I personally was suprised that a lot of the clothing and music out there has very little western influence....my god some of the shoes out there are just crazy, I don't think teen agers here in the states would even wear them...but a lot of the influences I saw were from Korea and Tiawan. My wife tells me a lot of what's hot and what's not out there and most of it is Asian, not western.....I think we all grow up believing that everyone in the world wants to be like Americans, well they don't and that's just fine, it's what makes this world a wonderul place.

 

I think the biggest culture difference that I enjoy is the whole event of going out for dinners. Dinners with friends are more of an event than just stuffing your face. There is always tons of food, good talk and good drink.

 

I could write a few more pages about the differences between an American wife and a Chinese wife, but maybe I will save that for another post.

 

I'm really not expecting to have much of a problem adjusting to the culture out there when I move. I think I will have more of a problem coming from a quiet suburb and moving into a big city.

 

-Tim

[Mick]

You make a good point about going out to eat. Eating is a social event in China, whether it be a formal banquet or a dinner among friends. I used to enjoy this aspect of Chinese culture as well. Much emphasis is placed on food, how it is served, seating arrangements, and the like. It is nice but takes a little getting used to. In Jiangsu, where you will be, things are a little more traditional, like where I was in Anhui. My last four years were spent in Guangdong. Things are a bit more developed economically down there and more influenced by western ways. Up where Owen is in Liaoning, things are quite traditional I think. I find it interesting to experience the differences between the different areas. Yet the entire culture is changing so fast it will make your head spin. Unless you are deep in the countryside, you cannot fail to see it flying by right in front of you. Buddha's saying that "You cannot step in the same river twice" is certainly true of modern China. Again, I really look forward to your upcoming posts.

[rocksplit]

"You cannot step in the same river twice"

Heraclitus migth be the one who got his feet wet and provided that insight.

 

 

Octavio Paz writes beautifully, somewhat related:

 

 

Wind and Water and Stone

 

The water hollowed the stone,

the wind dispersed the water,

the stone stopped the wind.

Water and wind and stone.

 

The wind sculpted the stone,

the stone is a cup of water,

The water runs off and is wind.

Stone and wind and water.

 

The wind sings in its turnings,

the water murmurs as it goes,

the motionless stone is quiet.

Wind and water and stone.

 

One is the other and is neither:

among their empty names

they pass and disappear,

water and stone and wind.

 

 

 

 

Between Going and Staying

 

Between going and staying the day wavers,

in love with its own transparency.

 

The circular afternoon is now a bay

where the world in stillness rocks.

 

All is visible and all elusive,

all is near and can't be touched.

 

Paper, book, pencil, glass,

rest in the shade of their names.

 

Time throbbing in my temples repeats

the same unchanging syllable of blood.

 

The light turns the indifferent wall

into a ghostly theater of reflections.

 

I find myself in the middle of an eye,

watching myself in its blank stare.

 

The moment scatters. Motionless,

I stay and go: I am a pause.

[warpedbored]

Very nice writing. and in response to the above letter after reading it I find myself missing a long noisy Chinese dinner with Bing and her family.

Carl

[rocksplit]

Tim,

 

I want to thank you as well. Your perceptions are bright.

 

Maybe too late now I come to understand I should have learned to schmooze better with Consular Affairs.

 

But yes I love eating in good company; not a bad experience even when alone. For now I wait and don't want to just freeload at the table, so the poems should be regarded as food to.

And yes, hot water is good, do you ever tasted Kuding Tea? I love it.

 

I applaud your decision to live in China. You will be enriched and might direct some pearls our way . I loved my years in Japan.

 

We plan on keeping our apartment in Haikou once united.

 

Daniel

[Mick]

Rocksplit: Yes, I know that Heraclitis is generally credited with the saying about stepping in the same river twice, but those in Asia, especially India, challenge that view. They attribute it to Buddha and claim that it was pirated by someone traveling with Alexander the Great around the Fourth Century BC. Who knows who actually said it first. Maybe Noah!!!!!

 

Thanks for the posted writing by the way. You are obviously a literate man.

[rocksplit]

Mick,

 

The power of ideas and perception itself as an idea! Yes, it is wonderful how they travel... I am deeply interested in cross cultural influences, the spread and change of ideas.

 

The greeks traveled all the way over to India; influences between the cultures are deep and radiate both ways. China had a huge influence, even if not widely accepted, on the renaissance... (Needham etc.)

 

The translation of religious, scientific or literary works alone is in itself thought provoking, just think for example of the Tao Te Ching or, Dao De Jing ... . ... the origin of the concept of zero... Or...

 

absolutly agree : ...let love conquer ignorance!

[Mick]

Yes, this is indeed a fascinating realm of inquiry and has long been a passion of mine as well. For example, one can find the basis for binary mathmatics in the broken and unbroken lines of the sixty four images of the I Jing. Hope you get your visa and start eating soon. My prayers are with you.

[chinadave2001]

Hi - thought I'd add my two cents here. The Chinese explanation doesn't add up because while both Buddha and Heraclitis lived in the sixth century BCE, Alexander lived in the fourth century BCE. Therefore, one may deduce that it is rather unlikely that Buddha's idea could have traveled to Heraclitis via Alexander the Great. It is more likely that they came to same idea at roughly the same time period.

Another interesting connectionbetween the Greeks and India is the comparison of the Odyssey/Illiad and Mahabarata/Ramayana Epics, both of which involve epic struggles that are very similar.

dave

[Charlotte]

I could write a few more pages about the differences between an American wife and a Chinese wife, but maybe I will save that for another post.

 

Hi Tim,

When you start that post, I will follow up with one on the difference between a western/American husband and a Chinese husband.

Good luck on your new venture in China!

[TimD]

Hi Tim,

When you start that post, I will follow up with one on the difference between a western/American husband and a Chinese husband.  

Good luck on your new venture in China!

I bet you and half the women in this country could including my daughter's mother

 

The wonderful thing is my beautiful Chinese wife has brought out the best in me and smacked the crap out of the worst in me. I fear her gung fu

[owenkrout]

I could write a few more pages about the differences between an American wife and a Chinese wife, but maybe I will save that for another post.

 

Hi Tim,

When you start that post, I will follow up with one on the difference between a western/American husband and a Chinese husband.

Good luck on your new venture in China!

OK. I am calling both your bluff. I want to see those posts and soon!

[owenkrout]

Shee... It really is time to go back state-side for awhile. I am starting to write in Chinglish. What I intended to say was that I am calling both of you on your bluff.

 

No, wait... that would be on your bluffs.

 

Or would that be, calling you both on your bluff?

 

I think I am just going to go lie down for awhile.

[TimD]

I am calling both your bluff.

I think I am ready to go to China now, your post made perfect sense to me

[warpedbored]

now this topic sounds facinating. Do tell. I am extremely interested in the differences

Carl