One day in August 2013 I’m at the gym. It’s a hot and sweltry evening. After only 15 minutes of working out, my head is red like a tomato. A guy in his 40s stops in front of me. He says: “Your head is red like a tomato”, and laughs. I: “It’s hot today, that’s […]
Tag Archives: speak Chinese
What’s the toughest part of learning Chinese for someone with a mother tongue like German (it probably also applies to people with other mother tongues)? After having studied Mandarin Chinese at university for 4 years and after having lived in China for 2 years, I consider myself to be kind of fluent in Mandarin Chinese. […]
One day in May 2013, I’m at a Lanzhou noodle restaurant near my apartment. While I’m waiting for the food, I send my then-fiancé now-husband a voice message. When the guy sitting across the table from me hears that I can speak Chinese, he starts chatting with me. After talking about where I’m from and […]
Y, his 9-year-old niece, her mother and I eat dinner together. Y’s niece has just asked me about the positive aspects of having a different citizenship. We start talking about something else. She says: “I’ve read in the news that in a country really close to South Korea there’s a guy who’s always making threats. […]
Today I’m featuring a guest post by Sarah, fellow Shenzhen-expat and the face behind the blog Reclaim Your Fearlessnesss that gives tips on how to live the life you want to live and not let others dictate it. I love her blog and have nominated her for the Liebster Award last month (see her answers here). Sarah has grown up […]
One day not too long after our wedding and honeymoon, Y and I are at work. When we finish with work that day, one of our coworkers talks with Y. I can’t hear what they talk about, but Y tells me a bit later. Here goes: Coworker: “So, when is it due?” Y: “When is […]
One morning in March 2013 I buy congee at my favorite congee place near the subway stop. The lovely woman selling the congee says: “You know, you and your boyfriend can be lucky that you can be together like this and aren’t married yet. Once you’re married, you’ll have kids and then you’re not free […]
One day, my in-laws and I are waiting for my husband at the market in his hometown, Siping. I take a picture of a basket with string beans. When one of the women working at the market sees this, she points at a basket with tomatoes she sells and says: “Take a picture of these. […]
This is part 3 of 4 of a conversation with a 17-year old girl working at the hairdresser’s doing massages. Click here if you’ve missed part 1 (“Do you have brothers and sisters?”) and here for part 2 (“How much do you earn?”). Stay tuned for part 4 (“Is your hair dyed or is this […]
This is part 2 of 4 of a conversation with a 17-year old girl working at the hairdresser’s doing massages. Click here if you’ve missed part 1 (“Do you have brothers and sisters?”). Stay tuned for part 3 (“I have the heart of a boy”) and part 4 (“Is your hair dyed or is this […]
If you drink Chinese medicine, at the beginning of the treatment your TCM doctor will usually require you to go see him/her every 3-4 days. The formula of the herbs will be adjusted every few days and while the basic ingredients might stay the same, the doctor might delete some of the herbs while at […]
One day after work, Y, another colleague and I go to have dinner at a nearby street side restaurant. The road leading there is surrounded by trees – mainly mango trees and durian trees. On our way to the restaurant, three guys cross our way, each one of them carrying a really huge durian fruit. […]
As much as I love Shenzhen with its many flowers and lots of space – when it comes to food I would trade it for Honkong without hesitation. A few years ago I entered a congee restaurant with the name Congee Wonderland in Hongkong. I became addicted to their congee and try to go there […]
Y and I pick up my two wedding dresses the other day. Before we leave the shop, the tailoress says: “Promise me to be happy. If you find out that the dresses are too tight before flying back to Austria for the wedding, you can call me and I’ll change them once again. Or if […]
The first time I go to a blind massage place in China in 2013 reminds me of all the reasons why I hadn’t been to one of these places for a few months: It hurts like hell and is not remotely connected to what comes to most people’s minds upon hearing the word massage. (If […]
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 […]
At the exit of the subway stop near my place there are usually half a dozen people with motorcycles waiting for passengers. I’m passing by this place every time I get off the subway on my way back home from work. While most of the drivers shout things like “Hello, sit on my bike” or […]
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 