On my way to work there’s a small street stall selling all different kinds of congee. I usually go there to buy take-away congee for breakfast. One day I have time to sit down for breakfast. The woman in her 40s selling the congee comes up to me to have a chat. A while into […]
Category Archives: Small talk
I’m at a Spa getting a massage and start talking with the girl working there. A while into the conversation she asks: “Do you have a boyfriend?” I: “I do.” She: “Where is he from?” I: “He’s from Northeast China.” She: “Do your parents approve of your relationship?” I: “Of course, why wouldn’t they?” She: […]
I’m at the hairdresser’s. When the hairdresser is almost done with cutting my hair, he says: “Your hair looks really creative now, doesn’t it?” I: “It does.” He: “You know, your hair looks good on you, but you should wear make-up and dress up, like for example wear more beautiful clothes and high-heels.” I: “I’m […]
More than a 100 years ago, over a million people took to the streets in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark to celebrate the first International Women’s Day in Europe and to demonstrate for women’s rights at the same time. Today, this holiday is almost forgotten in Austria. The same is the case with many other […]
On the way to the subway there’s a small street restaurant that I like going to for lunch. When I finish with lunch the other day, the chef asks me if I’m studying in Shenzhen. I: “No, I’m working here.” He: “How old are you?” I: “I’m 25.” He: “You look much younger than that.” […]
A four-year old girl is sitting right next to me on the subway. She looks at me and asks her mother: “Mum, are foreigners and Chinese the same?” I answer her instead: “Almost.” She looks at me surprised, and asks her mother again: “Mum, why can she speak Chinese?” I tell her: “I’ve studied it […]
As I enter the long-distance bus station in Guilin, a guy in his 30s asks me: “Where are you going?” Thinking that he wants to sell me a black-market ticket, I say: “I’m buying the ticket at the booth, thanks.” He asks again: “Where are you going? Guangzhou? Shenzhen?” I queue up in front of […]
A guy enters the elevator right after me. I just came back home from Ikea, carrying a heavy bag and a suitcase. As he sees this, he says: “Wow, you’re amazing. Do you teach English here?” I: “No, I’m working as an art director.” He: “In which field?” I: “Advertisement.” He: “Oh wow, that’s amazing. […]
Three guys who probably just turned 18 come up to me. One asks me if they can take a picture with me. I say yes, but it will cost 100 Kuai per picture. He takes out his wallet, jokingly. After taking a picture with every single one of them, he says: “May I ask you […]
I am sitting in a Lanzhou-style noodle restaurant across the street from my apartment, head bent over a bowl of daoxiaomian. I can feel that somebody is watching me and look up. On the table opposite of mine a guy in his 30s has just paid and is now looking at me. As I look […]
I have just arrived at Chongqing airport on this Friday in early June 2012 and am taking a cab to my hostel. After the usual small talk the cab driver points at my jeans and asks: “Foreigners really like wearing jeans, don’t they?” I: “We do. Don’t Chinese people like wearing jeans too?” He: “Chinese […]
As I walk down the street looking for the entrance to the supermarket, a guy in his 70s comes up to me. Chinese grandpa: “Excuse me, I’m looking for Sunshine Western Restaurant, do you know where it is?” I: “I’m sorry, I don’t. I’m not familiar with this area. Cg: “Where are you from?” I: […]
I’m at Ikea buying stuff for my apartment. An elderly woman comes up to me, looking curiously at the things in my shopping cart. She points her finger at one thing and asks: “What is this?” I: “That’s a chair.” She: “Where do you find these chairs?” I: “Over there, right at the back.” She […]
I took a cab to get to my new flat the other day. Cab driver: “Where are you from?” I: “Austria, and you?” Cd: “I’m Chinese!” I: “But where are you from in China?” Cd: “Hubei. How old are you? Twenty-something?” I: “Yes, I’m 25. How about you?” Cd: “I’m 32.” I: “You look younger […]
A woman in her 40s starts talking to me in the elevator. Woman: “Your facial features are beautiful.” I: “Thanks.” W: “Are you Chinese?” I: “No, I’m Austrian.” W: “How come you speak Chinese fluently then?” Has anyone ever mistaken you for being from a country different from your country of origin because of your […]
China elevator stories 