The biggest challenge there are with strangers. Let say taxi drivers in Manila..they have a nose as sharp as a dog they can sniff you're Chinese. Always ripping us off with extra tip. Sometimes they are not contented with 20pesos (3rmb) they want 100 more (15rmb). There are times on coding days and can't take my car out so I have to take a taxi or when it's raining and I really hate it when this happen. Moreso when they started a "friendly" conversation which in most case are usually about you're rich I'm poor ,give me some tip..In short, I hate stupid conversation with strangers if topic are about you're rich I'm poor and what-not..
Here in China although taxi driver don't ask for tip but I'm always tense when they started to talk. I've been ask many times "where you from? your Mandarin sounds taiwanese". They are not contented with "No, I'm not from Taiwan" answer. basically they want me to tell them where I'm from or he will start the guessing game.
So for the last 1+ years here I have tried every country I could think of and result are "you are rich, what does your family do?" If I say America, I get all the praises for my Mandarin and end up with the "rich" word. If I say Philippines, they start asking my parents nationality and business and still end up with the "rich" word. Lately I said Xiamen (my mother birthplace) and still all of them thinks people from Fujian are rich!! They usually tells me people from Fujian are bosses and have business. I tell them No Shanghainese are richer just look at Shanghai.. but they argue that Shanghai is a great place but majority are working class. "OK but I'm not rich, if Iam, I'll be driving a BMW now and not riding your taxi, right?" the driver will just laugh.. Have anyone of you experience awkward moment like this here in China? most especially those Chinese born outside China?
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