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gto122
Newbie
Joined: Apr 27, 2009
Posts: 1
Location: Hongqiao
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Apr 27, 2009 - 11:20 PM |
 
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| Post subject: ABCs (American Born Chinese) in Shanghai? |
Are there a lot of ABCs or (American Born Chinese / Bananas) living in Shanghai? We look Chinese, but we're expats too!!! Just wondering if people even value Native English with Native Chinese backgrounds? |
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8lrr8
Wonder Wit
Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 3720
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Apr 28, 2009 - 05:32 AM |
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^ define a lot. they're not the largest expat category, if that's what u're asking. not even in the top 3. |
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missbeverly
Raver
Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 414
Location: Shanghai
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Apr 28, 2009 - 07:56 AM |
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It's like being at the bottom of the barrel of easy-living in Shanghai IMHO.
1) you don't get the 'special/different treatment' other non-Chinese expats get, you get pushed & shoved just like the other billion or so people around you.
2) you don't get the best bargains that local Chinese get, since once you open your mouth they know you're not a local. And sometimes, they get pissy and berate you for it.
It's like being caught between a rock and a hard place 
And no, I don't know that many... maybe 5 Asian-looking foreigners, tops |
_________________
--[ http://beverlys.net/blog | Twitter ]-- |
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8lrr8
Wonder Wit
Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 3720
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Apr 28, 2009 - 08:41 AM |
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| missbeverly wrote: |
| 1) you don't get the 'special/different treatment' other non-Chinese expats get, you get pushed & shoved just like the other billion or so people around you. |
u just dont know how to take advantage of the situation.
| missbeverly wrote: |
| 2) you don't get the best bargains that local Chinese get, since once you open your mouth they know you're not a local. And sometimes, they get pissy and berate you for it. |
that's only if your accent gives u away. not every abc is like that.
imo, being chin-american can be extremely advantageous in SH. it all depends on each individual's skill set. |
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aristonb
Talker
Joined: Sep 19, 2007
Posts: 106
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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May 18, 2009 - 12:28 PM |
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I'm an ABC but instead of American born chinese I am and Australian born Chinese and I love it. I don't get the hassel of street vendors trying to sell fake LV's or being a big target for scams. When you haggle you have fun with the vendors and they will 90% of the time lower the price for you. They will ask where are you from why do you look Chinese blah blah, and plus with broken mandarin skill they will love you for it. Just like 8lrr8 said depends on the skills set. |
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leefc
Lurker
Joined: June 09, 2009
Posts: 28
Location: Lujiazui / San Francisco
Status: Offline
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June 25, 2009 - 10:22 PM |
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| Post subject: easy as 123 |
[quote="8lrr8"]
| missbeverly wrote: |
| 1) you don't get the 'special/different treatment' other non-Chinese expats get, you get pushed & shoved just like the other billion or so people around you. |
u just dont know how to take advantage of the situation.
@8lrr8 - any suggestions on how to take advantage of the situation? or is more just having to be able to speak mandarin better?
my ABC Shanghai experience has been more along the lines of misbeverly. maybe we need to take mandarin classes. |
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tihZ_hO
Post Roaster
Joined: Feb 17, 2004
Posts: 4231
Location: Shanghai / Jakarta
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June 25, 2009 - 11:30 PM |
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Way back in 1993 standing in the arrivals immigration line at Honqiao airport and being the only foreigner in sight a Chinese guy in front of me kept on turning around to me. Eventually he said hello - he was an ABC. We chatted and I found out this was his first time to China and he couldn't speak Chinese at all, not a word. He asked me if I knew some Chinese and if I could teach him some such as "Thank you, Hello" which was about all I knew anyway.
So, in the line I told him that "Xie Xie" means "thank you", he repeated SHAY SHAY I corrected him now emphasising the pronunciation and tone... this went on for a while until I noticed the VERY odd and strange looks we were getting from all the Chinese in the line with us! 
Being the 1990's with few foreigners not only would I get looks, but now I am "teaching" a Chinese guy how to say "Hello and Thank you" and he is not getting it! 
I still think of that...
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_________________
Battered deep fried butter, donut hamburgers, is it any wonder America has more body mass than China. China is the counterweight for America or else the Earth would be unbalanced and fly into the sun. |
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SnappySammy
Board Buddha
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 13143
Status: Offline
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Oct 22, 2009 - 04:16 AM |
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wonder who helped him with his Chop Sticks... |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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jinganjosh
Seeker
Joined: Oct 03, 2009
Posts: 53
Status: Offline
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Oct 22, 2009 - 09:37 AM |
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| missbeverly wrote: |
It's like being at the bottom of the barrel of easy-living in Shanghai IMHO.
It's like being caught between a rock and a hard place |
Oh! Is the resulting bitterness the reason for them being so much more obnoxious than other expats? |
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ariolz
Lurker
Joined: July 14, 2009
Posts: 25
Status: Offline
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Oct 27, 2009 - 10:19 PM |
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i got scolded few days ago in puxi one of the restaurant.
Waiter: yes sir? (chinese)
Me : heineken please. (english mix chinese)
Waiter: huh?
Me : green color beer? (broken chinese)
Waiter: huh???
Me : coke... damn pissed off
Waiter : dont act like a laowai(chinese) while he is leaving my table.
Me : WHAT!? **** you! (stand up and pushed him)
ended with him getting fired, me getting a free meal for that night with 50% discount card. its **** insulting man... pfft |
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