Random Facts about China

Recently I have been thinking of all the randomness I know about China (maybe I should narrow it down to mostly HY because that is where I live)... things that you can't learn from wiki.com... so I am going to try and come up with 50 for you...
(note... may vary depending on what area of China you visit/live)

1. Before coming to China we had to get medicals done- this included blood type. My doctor and I didn't understand the importance of this questions... We assumed I was A positive without doing the test because insurance does not cover blood typing... after pregnancy- found out I was A negative and the importance of this question on the medical- The A negative blood does not exist in China... if you are this blood type- it is important before coming to China to donate blood to yourself and have it available for you if you need blood while in China. Oops

2."Laws are not so important, breaking the laws simply makes your life colorful" quote from a sophomore student... even though we read this and think he isn't so educated... he actually is very educated and very Chinese... At least in HY you can break the laws... just know your limit.

3. About Rules... no smoking on buses and give your seat to the pregnant woman is just a friendly suggestion but never followed.

4. 95% of all food (number estimated) is stir fried and dripping with oil

5. You can rarely find fitted sheets... all sheets are "flat"

6. There many jobs here that I have never seen anywhere else in the world... such as street water sweeper, sludge remover, knife sharpener man etc...

7. They do not sell Medium Ball Point pens here... pens are fine tipped and mostly gel.

8. The style of clothes resembles something from the early/late '90s. Saved by the Bell all over again.

9. It is hard to tell when a couple is officially married... there are two different dates - one- they got the paperwork... two- they had a party at the restaurant. Weddings are not planned way in advance like in America... You might find out someone is getting married the week before it happens and be the first to know.

10. Talking about weddings-- there are two dresses for the Chinese wedding - red one and white one... both can be rented for the occasion and returned.- I like this concept!

11. Funerals can last up to 7 days. Many poor people will tell their children not to spend money on the cure to whatever is ailing them... but to put the money towards a funeral so it appears that he/she was an important community member. Funerals include tent, fake paper flowers, fireworks, something like what we could call a "wedding singer/performer" except it is "funeral singer" Funerals are set up on random street corners and alleys.

12. It is against the law to find out the gender of your child during pregnancy.

13. Shoes sizes seldom go up to European size 40... even at size 40 they look at your foot and laugh and tell you they only have one style-- the ugliest one on the rack.

14. Every single pair of underwear I brought to China has a hole in it.

15. Chickens roam the grounds simply waiting their doomsday.

16. Everything in America seems to be "made in China" but you cannot buy any of these things in China.

17. The best chocolate on the market is Dove and it is OH SO TASTY!!

18. Coca Cola only cost $0.38

19. Sweet little old ladies can haulk a loogie like you have never seen or heard.

20. In our apartment complex there are many up and coming musicians... we have a drummer, violinist, trumpeter, recorder player (yes like the kind you played in 3rd grade that squeaked) and a drag queen. Practice is permitted at any hour.

21. There is not one single "yield" sign or "stop" sign in HY.

22 You can always fit one or two or three more on a bus that already has 100 people on it.

23. There is no such thing as personal space. In fact, for many years the Chinese did not have a word in their language for "private"

24. There is no such thing as HIPPA in medical situations.

25. There is no anesthesia administered for ANY kind of procedure.

26. Rats range in size from one inch to a foot!!

27. Chinese dorms-- there are 8 girls to one room (probably about the size of your college dorm you share with one roommate)

28. There are NO showers in the dorms.

29. Deodorant is not widely available or used.

30. Students have to pay to take a shower.

31. In the summer, hold your breath... your classroom has a strong odor

32. Even students that fail... pass. If you fail a college class in China (HNU) all you have to do is retake the exam the next semester... the teacher must give you a 60 % and you are on your way.

33. Chinese girls LOVE stuffed animals... Build-A-Bear would be a million dollar idea for China.

34. "Cute" is a fashion style- this include a bow in your hair and a teddy bear on your shirt.

35. Biscuit... maybe it is because I am from the South of America... but a biscuit is NOT a cookie/cracker/undefined not so delicious thing

36. Oreos have made it in China. All different flavors- strawberry, orange/lemon, creme, green-tea and ice-cream flavor all with the chocolate cookie.

37. If an American man wants to buy underwear- the aisle helper will assist buy showing him the underwear with a picture of an extremely overweight American male model on the front... and they will in fact still be too small.

38. On every aisle of the supermarket is a lady that wants to assist you with your purchase... even if you don't want assistance.

39. Don't drink the tap water!! All drinking water is bottled. A 20 ounce bottle of water cost $0.15 and a 5 gallon jug of water cost $1.23 delivered and carried up 85 stairs (in our case)

40. We order at least 3 per week. We love our water man (he is very thin)!!

41. Make-up- Brands like Maybelliene, Loreal and Olay are behind the counter brands... kind of like in America how Lancome, Este Lauder and Clinique are. They are also very costly.

42. Mom and Dad do not raise the child... little ole grannie does. Including carrying the child to school on her back. No wonder she is hunched over.

43. Take your shoes off at the door!! Let's just leave it at that... you don't want to track in the house!!

44. KFC is popular in China. In my opinion it is dying out in America... but it is well alive here. Different menu though... there is no mac-n-cheese, green beans or potato wedges... actually there isn't anything the same.

45. Bottle teas are DELICIOUS in China... not so great in America.

46. Every price is negotiable... if you are Chinese.

47. Chinese mindset- there are two types of people in the world- Chinese and Foreign. If you aren't Chinese... you are foreign.

48. I always carry around at least a couple 100 in money (RMB that is) In America, I never had a Franklin in my wallet... much less a Lincoln. This is a CASH society.

49. I have forgotten many thing since coming to China- including my debit card PIN.

50. I am an Oral English teacher... however... my English skills have declined. I have found that even I have adapted many Chinglish phrases. I look forward to improving my Oral English over the Summer!!

YAY!!! there is 50 :-) Hope you enjoyed and learn a lot... again... this probably cannot be found on wiki.com :-)