A little too commercial but still very Chinese.
Trip Start
Sep 21, 2006
1
77
101
Trip End
Ongoing
Lijiang,
China
Sunday, October 7, 2007
About the Chinese People:
The Chinese people have such a higher tolerance to noise than us Westerners. It's common to see them sit right in front of an incredibly loud speaker that continuously yells out the same marketing sentence over and over, for hours. The kind of thing that drives us nuts. But they seem to feel comfortable with it.
They absolutely don't have any sense of privacy
Flat tires are also part of the game.
. You know when we become very uncomfortable because someone is getting too close to us, invading our own private space, bursting our "Bubble". Well, they don't have such a Bubble. They're used to sharing their own space with another 1.3 billion people. Sharing their bedroom with many other people is also part of the daily life. Family is a the core of their society. In many respects, it reminds me of India. Touring the countryside, I had to get accustomed to people getting way closer to me physically than I was used to. It's especially challenging in an overcrowded bus where most men smoke heavily and often spit in the bus alley. Not to mention all those animals you also have to share your space with. The person next to you may very well be transporting 2 or 3 alive chickens that will try to escape at any chance they get. Which sometimes makes for very funny situations.
They are always willing to help. Every time I was looking for my way, someone came over and offered to help in a very broken English. It had to be hard for them, but they still did it, out of pure kindness.
And they're very welcoming. Around China, and especially in the minority areas, I've been invited many times in people's home for tea or full meals. It's the best way to get to know them, even if all you can do is sit and smile, for that's often the best way to communicate there is.
Andre.
Comments
Salut mon vieux
Comment va la vie mon chum? J'ai vu que tu venais en beauce durant les fêtes, c'est une excellente idée... Ton voyage semble bien se dérouler malgré les petits problèmes survenus avec le Tibet lol. Continue à tripper, tes photos sont vraiment malades! Au plaisir de se revoir bientôt, prends soin de toi.
Pier-Yves