Hey all. I’m just trying to compare the similarities between the Chinese society and the Taiwanese society when it comes to having a foreigner in th midst. I don’t know much about the Taiwan society, but here’s a few examples of things that a foreigner goes through in China.
Laowai meets girl on the streets. Girl likes laowai. Girl invites laowai into home (in Deyang Sichuan). Girls mother doesn’t look too happy. Girls brother takes laowai out later on cause family needs to do something. Brother goes out of his way to tell laowai that if you have sex outside marriage in China, the police will put you in jail. Girl never contacts laowai again.
Laowai meets friendly people on the streets in other small town in Sichuan. Get their numbers. They seem friendly. They appear happy to meet you. They either A. Never speak to you again after getting your number or B. They may invite laowai out to dinner once. After that they never speak to laowai ever again.
Chinese English teacher (works at your school) invites you out to ktv. After that she never speaks to you ever again.
When the chinese person feels compelled to give you an answer as to why they’re like this and why they can’t really be your friend, they tell you that it’s a difference in their culture. Which we all know is bull because they have western elements in their own culture like western fast food restaurants and western clothing, sports, Michael Jackson, Linkin park, etc etc.
I haven’t been in Taiwan long enough to really know the society. But are the Taiwanese in any way similar? What would the differences and similarities be between the two societies when it comes to attitude towards foreigners?
Jonny, change your topic to “What are my chances of getting laid in some small backwater redneck town in Shi chuan vs Taiwan?” … Only then we can have a discussion.
I lived in China for a year and the friends we made there were really loyal. Mom mother is still in contact with some of them and we were there more than 10 yrs ago.
[quote=“Jonny”]Hey all. I’m just trying to compare the similarities between the Chinese society and the Taiwanese society when it comes to having a foreigner in th midst. I don’t know much about the Taiwan society, but here’s a few examples of things that a foreigner goes through in China.
Laowai meets girl on the streets. Girl likes laowai. Girl invites laowai into home (in Deyang Sichuan). Girls mother doesn’t look too happy. Girls brother takes laowai out later on cause family needs to do something. Brother goes out of his way to tell laowai that if you have sex outside marriage in China, the police will put you in jail. Girl never contacts laowai again.
Laowai meets friendly people on the streets in other small town in Sichuan. Get their numbers. They seem friendly. They appear happy to meet you. They either A. Never speak to you again after getting your number or B. They may invite laowai out to dinner once. After that they never speak to laowai ever again.
Chinese English teacher (works at your school) invites you out to ktv. After that she never speaks to you ever again.
When the chinese person feels compelled to give you an answer as to why they’re like this and why they can’t really be your friend, they tell you that it’s a difference in their culture. Which we all know is bull because they have western elements in their own culture like western fast food restaurants and western clothing, sports, Michael Jackson, Linkin park, etc etc.
I haven’t been in Taiwan long enough to really know the society. But are the Taiwanese in any way similar? What would the differences and similarities be between the two societies when it comes to attitude towards foreigners?[/quote]
China can be bad, but when it comes to friends it’s totally different. All my Chinese friends are extremely loyal and trustworthy.
Anyhow, maybe it was you being in Sichuan, no need to worry about this happening in Taiwan.
[quote=“tommy525”]Sounds like you conned them into going out with you and then they got to know you a bit better.
It will be similar on taiwan too.[/quote]
Okay tommy525. Perhaps since you know me better than they do, maybe you could tell me what characteristics they don’t like?
Christ man is your understanding of cultural differences so skin-deep that you think just because a girl drinks coke and listens to Green Day it means she’ll fuck any old piece of white trash…you got a big wake up call coming your way.
Ok, no need to be harsh on this guy. I didn’t read anything that made him sound like a sex tourist.
I lived in China for several years, and found that most people I ran into were very eager to talk to me again if I would 1) help them practice English, 2) help their friend practice English, or 3) help them or anyone with any remote connection to them with their English homework/thesis/application/contract, etc. I found mainland Chinese to be users mostly, and didn’t really meet many people interested in, or even capable of, a real friendship with a foreigner. That’s not to say I didn’t meet nice people, but it never turned into much of friendship (mostly because of lack of common interests or the already mentioned “users”). I thought I had a bunch of Taiwanese friends until I got into a bad spot, and all the people I had helped numerous times all disappeared when it was time to return the favor.
I would never say it’s impossible to form a genuine friendship with either a mainlander or Taiwanese, but chances are it’s never going to much more than a drinking buddy.
