When I was moving here and people were saying things like, “oh, Thailand! wink-wink!” I would retort, “No, TAIWAN, as in Semiconductors, not Thailand, as in sex tourism.” That usually got them to comprehend.
I will explain what Taiwan is like (lifestyle, environment), who lives there (the various ethnic groups) and possibly where it is (for those who could find it on the map if they bothered to look). But no one I know is ignorant enough to not have even heard of it or have some idea of its importance in manufacturing and its dilemma in relations with Mainland China.
Confusing Taiwan with Thailand is acceptable as long as the person knows that one is Chinese and the other, SE Asian, Buddhist, has great beaches, prostitution, ect.
Not knowing that a country called Taiwan exists is inexcusable.
Although it’s true when people back home call me up they say “How’s China?” :fume: I must have told them a million times that this is TAIWAN and not CHINA. It gets repetitive and a bit irritating to have to keep correcting them. :loco:
I know what you’re talking about. Even my husband keeps telling everybody his wife lives in China, and he’s well-informed and politically aware and has been here as well as in China several times :s
I cured my mother of confusing Taiwan and Thailand by having her come here to Taiwan and then look at travel guides for Thailand. I bet she doesn’t make the same mistake anymore!
I cured my mother of confusing Taiwan and Thailand by having her come here to Taiwan and then look at travel guides for Thailand. I bet she doesn’t make the same mistake anymore![/quote]
My mother was forced to join in a KMT school for oversea Chinese. She told me at classes she may not speak any Hakka or consider herself as Indonesian. If she broke the rules her teacher hit her bloody. If she hears just the word Taiwan she thinks on old KMT generalissim age.
Although it’s true when people back home call me up they say “How’s China?” :fume: I must have told them a million times that this is TAIWAN and not China. It gets repetitive and a bit irritating to have to keep correcting them. :loco:[/quote]
I have the same experience. So many people say things like “How was China?” or “When are you going back to China?”