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| Articles: Message from China |
Missing China
Almost one and a half year after our first contact with the Chinese
Radio Amsterdam, I write this final column about our adventure in
China. What message should such column contain? We talked a lot about
being foreign in China and all the awkward and funny things of the
Chinese but perhaps we should end with telling you what we learned and
are expecting to miss.
Mark and Maaike are back in the Netherlands and they visited our studio. You can also check out their own website (www.siegerist.nl).
Graduation day
Since we are not enrolled in any degree program, this story does not reflect our experiences of graduating in China. However, living on the campus of one of the biggest universities in Asia, it is hardly possible to miss the graduation of Chinese students. Furthermore, many of our Chinese friends graduated this year so we shared a lot of experiences. So, what raised our eyebrows?
Becoming Chinese
Getting a cab in the city centre is never an easy exercise, especially not during dinner time, in the weekend, when it’s raining. In Holland, it would be decent to adhere to the ‘first come, first go’ principle. After living in China for more than nine months now, we know that around here it just doesn’t work that way.
Foreign in China
What is it like, being a foreigner in China? What is really different or hard to get used to? Is it the food? The crowded buses? The lack of privacy?
The rush hour bus experience: squashed like sardines
In China, taking the bus during rush hours is an experience in itself. The record for having the most people in one vehicle at the same time is undoubtedly in Chinese hands! There is nothing like it.
Never too busy to see a friend
It is impossible not to think about friendships when you think about Chinese people. I am one of the lucky few who can say to have been thoroughly introduced in this magic domain of the Chinese culture. I am a lucky man, since it is not easy for a foreigner to be allowed to experience the benefits of a broad friendship network and learn first-hand how friendships work. I can tell you two short stories which illustrate that it is truly magic.
'A matter of characters'
Many people ask us what it is like to study Chinese.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Santa, Christmas trees, the Holy Infant: we expected to miss all these things being in China.
A matter of good manners
One of my relatives used to tell me that in China it is considered polite to burp after you’ve finished your dinner, to indicate to the host that you enjoyed your meal. Was he right or did he just want to justify his own actions?
We're all living in America
Sometimes our popular shock-rockers - Rammstein - actually do make some interesting observations. Allowing myself to exaggerate a little bit beyond my academic self, I can say that we are all living in America.
Hangzhou: Take me down to the Paradise City
'Above there is Heaven, below there is Hangzhou', according to an ancient Chinese saying. 'The most majestic city' according to Marco Polo. These are two often quoted praises of the city we live in: Hangzhou.
Shanghai: Under construction
A few months after our first radio interview with the Chinese Radio Amsterdam, we arrived in China. We spend the first couple of days of our one-year study and leisure adventure in China recovering, relaxing, sight-seeing and absorbing impressions in Shanghai.
Introduction
Our radio station friend - Mark - is taking a one-year assignment in China, accompanied by his girlfriend Maaike.
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Which Chinese dialect do you speak?
Cantonese
56% [5 Votes]
Mandarin
33% [3 Votes]
Hakka
11% [1 Vote]
Wenzhou
0% [0 Votes]
Other
0% [0 Votes]
Votes: 9
Started: 03/08/2010
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