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zeus1976
Squeeker
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 14
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Oct 01, 2008 - 09:55 AM |
 
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Standing around a food hall, unable to figure out how the hell to buy some food. A woman comes up to me, grabs my money off me, jumps a massive queue to buy a voucher and comes back to me with both card and change. Then points me in the right direction.
Even a little thing like buying lunch is a complete nightmare to a newbie with ZERO Mandarin skills. |
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Shangstar
Reacher
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 275
Location: The Motherland
Status: Offline
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Oct 01, 2008 - 10:43 AM |
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taxi drivers reducing the fare for no reason at all. I had a fare of 14 RMB once. Had a 5 yuan note and a 100 yuan note. The driver insisted he take only the 5 yuan note. Similar thing happened again a few days ago. |
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SnappySammy
Board Legend
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 10143
Status: Offline
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Nov 28, 2008 - 04:41 AM |
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Perhaps it's a little bit planned |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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timhortons09
Lurker
Joined: Nov 13, 2008
Posts: 29
Status: Offline
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Nov 28, 2008 - 09:30 AM |
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this is probably the best thread on this website |
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Zak101
Raver
Joined: Jan 20, 2003
Posts: 438
Location: Suzhou
Status: Offline
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Nov 28, 2008 - 11:53 PM |
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Got a couple of good ones.
Highly tipsy after a good night out with "the lads". Hail a Taxi home. Arrive at home. F**k, only 5 kuai left in the wallet for a 17 kuai trip. I did say, Highly tipsy.
Cabbie refuses the fiver and wishes me goodnight with a smile.
Stumbling, slurring, swaying Laowai. I did have many Mao redbacks in the drawer at home, or I could raid the wife's purse for a 20 if he could only wait 8 minutes. Very confident that I could pay him for the journey once I got back.
I explain in Chinese that he should wait, and that I would be back with coin, but he waved me away and drove off.
Take his cab number, put it in the phone but I lost my old China Mobile SIM card - vacuumed up.
I have yet to repay his good turn, but I'm sure I will find the chance. Randomly.
Second :
I had some good Aussie friends come to stay with us from Zhengzhou, a couple and their 2 daughters. Went to the megamarket to buy fresh linen (sheets), new pillow slips (cases), new quilt covers, an air mattress & pump + 4 new pillows and what not.
Struggling with all this stuff to the taxi stand, 2 of the plastic handles on the pillow packages broke and they fell to the muddy ground, Ah F**k. Anonymous elderly man picks up the 2 packages and walks with me to the taxi.
Mastercard moment.
#3. Shanghai station. Picked up my daughter from Pudong airport and we're heading back to the 'Zhou after a night in SH. We've got baggage and gifts, she has 2 trolley bags and I've got a large suitcase.
We're hauling our luggage down the ramp on the side of the stairs and one of the wheels on her trolley bag breaks, so it's a dragging event not a smooth ride.
Young Chinese guy steps in, picks up her errant bag and carries it down, in step with us, and we get on the train happy as Larry.
Xie Xie isn't enough. Another good turn I have to repay!
It's not always a sh*t sandwich here. You'll find kindness & honesty from the least expected people.
Complete Strangers swooping in to help.
Heads up and be reciprocal - to the least expectant people, raise the image of the Laowai. Surprise them, let them talk to others about their experience with YOU, the Laowai.
Doesn't cost a penny, and a sincere smile is the sweetest gift you can give to anyone.
You know, I've had so many PMs asking for where they can help in orphanages, or work with disadvantaged people (millions) that I have a stored .RTF file providing advice. Very glad to see that we can give so much if we wish. I'm not Ghandi, I'm not holy.
Another writer here said that good things happen every day to him/her.
Yep, today before a tuition session, I got a huge unprompted hug from one of my kiddie students.
Other days I feel like I'm on an 18 month manned mission to Mars, completely alienated - somehow contemptible for no reason other than being different.
It's not that bad here on balance. Have to keep reminding myself that I sometimes make more folding (cash) in a day than some make in a month.
Save your nails for someone else more deserving.
Cheers,
Z. |
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Last edited by Zak101 on Nov 29, 2008 - 06:07 PM; edited 4 times in total |
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SHstormtrooper
Talker
Joined: Sep 18, 2008
Posts: 92
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 12:05 AM |
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An old local, stood up and allowed me to sit down on his seat as he was getting out of the Metro. That was wierd, I kindly refused because I didn't know what to do. |
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"Life is a bitch, so why marry one?" -JT Money "Life aint nothing but bitches and money" -Dre " I dont charge by the inch, i charge by the foot" -AMG "Big dicks in your ass is bad for your health" -Ice Cube |
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Shangstar
Reacher
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 275
Location: The Motherland
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 12:24 AM |
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a local guy allowed me to get off the Metro before he boarded. |
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heretoday
Talker
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 79
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 01:17 AM |
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I was sitting on the subway and an old lady gets on assisted by her grown daughter. I instinctlively jump up and offer my seat to her and they glady accept. I felt good for having done it but then the daughter later on asked for me to have her seat but I said I was about to get off the train. It was a good experience but I can't help feeling I benefited the most. |
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heretoday
Talker
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 79
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 01:38 AM |
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I was geting money changed in the bank and the teller, a young man, was helping me with the paperwork and I was taken by how cheery he seemed. As we proceeded he got distracted with some detail from a previous transaction that a colleague pointed out to him but he got back to the task of changing my currency.
So I say "xie xie" and leave the bank having counted my money and think nothing of it. That day I had forgotten my mobile, left it at home and when I got to it there were 17 missed calls. And then the next call I picked it up and it was the teller. I handed the phone to my girlfriend and he told her that he had been trying to reach me all day. Apparently he had made a mistake in converting my currency and was insistent that he track me down to make the correction. THen I asked - well how much does he owe me to which the reply was 7 rmb. My reaction was understandably - what a big deal, tell him to forget about it. But he wanted to make amends and was on his way to our apartment with the money. When he arrived I thought this is bizarre in a way but I really appreciated that he had gone so far out of his way to set things right. I shook his hand and marvelled at such honesty and trust while on the CNN in the background the latest bailout for the greedy and wreckless bankers was being reported on. This gesture made me reflect on the absence of cynicism that oftentimes is found in the youth and how life can make us jaded and also about having integrity in small things when no one else is watching. |
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OZDave
Barker
Joined: July 04, 2008
Posts: 134
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 04:48 PM |
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A month or two ago, on a friday evening after a long week of very hot days I was walking home from the metro station in light rain with no umbrella.
I was happy to get a bit wet as it was pretty refreshing after a long week of hot days.
A random chinese guy came up to me with an umbrella, and pulled me under it. He made sure my bag did not get wet which meant he was barely under the umbrella himself.
Despite many prοtests he walked beside me all the way home. |
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conniechong
Reacher
Joined: May 30, 2005
Posts: 288
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 05:00 PM |
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whenever and wherever I see old couples holding hands walking on the streets, is already a pleasant image for the day. |
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Be fear for you can see darkness and catch wind by bare hand |
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Zak101
Raver
Joined: Jan 20, 2003
Posts: 438
Location: Suzhou
Status: Offline
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Nov 29, 2008 - 06:23 PM |
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@ heretoday :
"Then I asked - well how much does he owe me to which the reply was 7 rmb."
..."and was on his way to our apartment with the money"...
Amazing. I hope this story is real, because it raises the bar for Chinese bank service. Either that or I'm so gullible that I (we) believe you.
Equations are nice. Bus/taxi fare = A, return Bus/taxi fare = B. Money returned to foreigner = C. Salaried time = D.
Ultimate result ? A+B+D > C.
Are you sure ? I'm somewhat unsure.
Which Bank ? What branch ? I'm holding out an olive branch here.
Cheers, Z. |
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timhortons09
Lurker
Joined: Nov 13, 2008
Posts: 29
Status: Offline
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Dec 01, 2008 - 03:04 PM |
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going home one day i get into a taxi, i can hardly speak any chinese and after saying my address the driver looked at me blankly. a local woman walking past stopped, spoke to me in english asked me where i was going and then spoke to the driver. she then told me that the driver didnt know where i lived and offered to help me get another taxi, this was very late and i had already waited some 15 minutes for this taxi. she helped carry my bags waved a taxi down almost instantly put me inside along with my bags and told the driver the exact address, i stammered my thanks and said goodbye.
i have been in shanghai now for 2 months and have probably never met a larger gathering of such nice and polite people in my life, of course there are those out there who are not polite but it's the little acts of kindness that everybody remembers. Shanghai has truly made me believe in the kindess of strangers of I only hope that when foreigners come to the country I reside in I can be as helpful and nice as so many people have been to me. |
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MrInvisible
Talker
Joined: Feb 28, 2005
Posts: 87
Status: Offline
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Dec 01, 2008 - 03:19 PM |
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I got a 2-girl "massage" and in the end they only charged me for one girl. That was certainly unexpected! |
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fanfan1
Reacher
Joined: July 18, 2008
Posts: 207
Status: Offline
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Dec 02, 2008 - 09:09 PM |
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1 Standing on the street and looking at my map and compass(I always got lost), a man came and asked me where I wanted to go, after he explained the place for me long times, I still can't understand. He guided me to the place by walking.
2.I ordered my food, everything packaged, suddently realise I forget to put my wallet into my bag, before i said "sorry", the seller said "take it, give me the money tomorrow." |
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SnappySammy
Board Legend
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 10143
Status: Offline
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Dec 02, 2008 - 10:51 PM |
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sounds like a scam! |
_________________
Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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