Travel experiences: Beijing taxi cab conversations

A couple days ago, about 9 students went to the other end of the city to try some Southern Chinese cuisine. We went to a hot-pot restaurant, which is extremely similar to a fondue place in the states. You are given raw meat and vegetables as well as two types of broth, and you stick the meat in the broth in order to cook it. The difference is that in America that meal would have costed upwards of $200, but in this great country it was closer to $20 (for all nine people). It was a good experience eating Southern food. It just put in perspective how China is not a homogenous place. Just like in America, regions have their own customs, cultures, food, dialects and stereotypes. Southern Chinese feel that Northern Chinese are dirty and rugged, while Northerners feel like Southerners are way too stuck up. It seems like they took the differences between the Northerners and Southerners in America and switched them around.

The biggest learning experience came on the cab ride home however. When learning a language, it is very important that you are not scared to make mistakes. Yet sometimes are inhibitions get the best of us and prevent any discussion, which usually happens in cab rides. However this particular ride was different. For some reason, all of our inhibitions non-existant. Maybe it was because of the massive amount of 25 cent beers we drank at dinner. Maybe not. So I will try my best to remember the conversation with this Beijing cab driver. The American who asked the question would just be labeled AM.

AM: What is your favorite part of Beijing?

CAB: My home, where I can spend time with my family

AM: If you weren’t a cab driver, what would you want to be?

CAB: I have been a cab driver for so long that I can’t think of being anything else. I work 12 hour days and have gotten very good at driving in Beijing.

AM: Do you have any kids?

CAB: I have two kids. On is a 22 year old. He is in college studying computers. I have a 16 year old daughter who is in High School, she is planning on going to college as well.

AM: Did you ever think about going to college.

CAB: I am from a city way up north, and they only accept a certain amount of people from each province. I did not do well enough on the test to get into college. I am happy that my children have the opportunity to do that.

AM: What do you think of Japanese people? (This question was asked by the most intoxicated member of our group-but I am glad that Mike Scrimenti asked it).

CAB: I dont like them at all. They were very bad people in 1937. They haven’t even apologized.

AM: What about Koreans?

CAB: They are good people

So those were the important parts of our conversation. A couple things I want to point out. The life of this cab driver can be very representative of China. There is not a dying urge to get rich quick. There is however the goal to do better than your father did. This cab driver came from a rural farming area, and most likely was malnourished. He moved to Beijing when he was old enough to leave home. He is making about what an average Chinese person makes (around $1000 a year) but this is considered good because he is easily able to feed his family and send his kids to college. Another thing I would like to point out is his hatred for the Japanese. This is becoming more and more of an issue in China, and should be very important for Americans to watch out for. Any gesture we make to the Japanese is seen as a kick in the face to the Chinese.

Tips for travelers to China

China

I am here to give you an insiders view of China and what it is like, so that when you come to visit China you know what to expect.

First a little background. I currently live in Hangzhou, China which is about 2 hours south of Shanghai. I’ve lived here for a year now so I know a lot about China.

Facts~~

-When you land in China don’t be surprised by the heavy pollution. In China that’s normal.

-BRING TOILET PAPER!

I can not stress this enough. On my first trip to china I was caught completely by surprise when I walked into the bathroom and there was no toilet paper. If you don’t bring toilet paper you will have to use napkins or tissues, and if you think you can walk into a local restaurant and ask for some napkins, think again. Most places charge you for napkins, even when you eat there.

-PREPARE TO SQUAT!

In china you will find few western style toilets, meaning no sit down toilets. Instead you have your traditional Chinese toilet which is basically a hole in the floor you squat over. If your lucky them might build some western style toilets at fancy hotels.

-DO NOT DRIVE OR RENT A CAR!

Driving a car is paramount to suicide. The roads of China are so unsafe that I am still afraid to drive here, even thought I’ve lived here for 6 years. Thousand are killed every day in the what is the country with the most accidents in the world. The average driving are is 50! That’s right, and most of them are worse then teens, when they first get their license. In order to pass the driving test you never have to drive on a real public road, so when you get your license it’s your first time.

- DON’T DRINK THE WATER!

The water is microbiologicaly unsafe and it can get you really sick. Drink only bottled water or carbonated beverages, or boil the water before drinking,though it still doesn’t filter out the heavy metals in it.

FOOD~~

To tell you the truth it really depends on where in China you travel. Northern Chinese food has a totally different taste then southern food.

Here are a few favorites of mine.

I will try to spell in pinying but forgive me if I misspell it. I can speak Chinese much better than I can write it.

-(Onion Pancake)(tong you bing) Trust me it tastes a lot better than it sounds. Best eaten hot off the grill it is a northern dish so try it in Beijing.

-(Beef Noodles) (niu ro mien) There are some really good places to get this in Hangzhou. You must try this before you leave.

-pan fried dumplings (gou