How to instantly make a Friend in China

Posted by on August 30th, 2012 | Comments off

It is a lot easier than many think to make a Chinese friend in China. Ok, let me rephrase that, meet a Chinese person in China (everyone’s definition of a true friend is different so I am keeping it simple). Here are somethings to know. People in China hardly ever introduce themselves to strangers, it’s not part of the culture. If you look like a How to instantly make a Friend in China, Chinese Friendforeigner though, they are more welcoming. Now, many people have never talked to a foreigner but have seen many Western television shows so they have a ton of questions for you, you just have to introduce yourself. With this though, when a Chinese person first has the chance to talk to a Westerner they are normally extremely nervous. To make the situation not too awkward here are some proven things I have done on many occasions.

How to Make A Friend in China

Ask them what their English name is. If they don’t have one give them one and make it funny at first. Example I gave a guy the name Chainsaw, another Gun. Then after explaining what it is laugh a bit and give them a common English name.

Ask for their Chinese name and how to write the character. Ask them to explain it to you and why they were given it.   Many Chinese names seem like Hippi names to Westerners. Examples would be Big Mountain, or White Snow. 

Ask what American television they like. Common answers are “Prison Break, Big Bang Theory”

Ask for any American sports they like. Most people know of basketball and will ask you who is better, Kobe or Lebron.

Then ask them what food they like. I have not met a Chinese person that is not proud of the food in China and will talk for a long time about all the different time. (I have my beliefs why, for this listen to the podcast and I’ll explain)

Normally at this moment you have enough of a connection to exchange business cards or phone numbers. Which means any problem or anything you can call or text the Chinese person at anytime. 

One more secret. Teach the person a secret handshake. People in China hardly shake hands and if they do it is a standard formal handshake. They all have seen though, Western television shows where people do “Top Gun” handshakes. I have don’t this to guys and girls and always have gotten a bunch of laughs and smile. (Only do this in business setting after the formal meeting and drinks have been poured and you’re at the karaoke bar. The karaoke is a huge part of the Chinese business culture.)

 

For part one of the podcast, that post can be found here

http://www.mychinesebusiness.com/no-atm-fees-worldwide/

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Chinese Salaries, How much do Chinese really get Paid?

Posted by on August 27th, 2012 | 1 Comment

The first things, related to business in China, that people normally ask me is, “How much do people in China Really get paid? How much, really is are Chinese salaries? I want to hire a Chinese person but an average Chinese Salary is how much? ” I asked a couple of people what their salaries are and what their friends make and here is what they told me. Remember that this is for Chinese people working in Beijing, China. The capital will have a salary that is a lot higher than almost all other parts of the country. (I honestly would say as high as 30 percent more compared to other parts of the country) Also, this is in RMB the Chinese currency. With the dollar decreasing this amount gets more valuable. A problem though is there is inflation that is not mentioned in the economic reports of China. Even with the buying power increasing the cost of goods is rising faster.  The Podcast goes into more explanation… One thing that is the most important thing to consider, people are paid by the month not the hours they work!

I am writing this on August 10, 2012 (yeah I always write my post way ahead of time)Chinese salaries, how much do Chinese really get paid

Right now 1000RMB = about 157 USD

Chinese Salaries:

For a waitress at restaurant 1200 Rmb (no tips in China!)

Manager at a coffee shop 3000 Rmb

Computer programmer 8000rmb

Military 2000 (but a lot of benefits and are fed well. This was emphasized to me many times that they eat very well)

Chinese teacher 4000rmb

Martial art instructor (150 rmb an hour split between them and the school where they teach) Continue reading this post…

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China and signs of Wealth

Posted by on August 26th, 2012 | Comments off

I was on the phone with a Chinese friend and she told me she had to do some chores around her apartment. SheChina and signs of Wealth then started to ask me some of the words for the different appliances in English. We talked for a bit, but when she asked me how to say dishwasher I started to laugh. The reason is, the entire time I was in China I never once met a person with one. We then started to talk about the things that they do have and then this got me thinking about a conversation I had with a friend that led me to ask other Chinese people questions. What I had learned for these questions was what was considered signs of wealth for this generation and the parents of this generation. With this, I also learned a little of dating in China and expectations for the men to have before people are considered eligible for marriage.

For example in this generation a man that has his own apartment is looked very highly upon as a good suitor; if the Chinese man has a car to add to that apartment even better. In the previous generation though, if there was a refrigerator it was considered a very good sign.  For the very rich, a man may have a bicycle.

I asked some people if they liked it now or the past. Many I talked to liked all the new toys they had, but hate all the pressure to get them. They would talk about the older generation with not as many worries, they knew the government would give  housing. They did their work and that was it. Now, there is a lot of pressure because they could work their whole lives and never have their own home. Continue reading this post…

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6 facts about Concubines China in the Forbidden City in Beijing

Posted by on August 24th, 2012 | Comments off

The last post I did was 9 Interesting Facts about the Forbidden City. When I wrote this I kept thinking about all the tours I went on at the city and the part of the tour that everyone liked, was when the tour guide talked about the 

6 facts about concubines China living in the Forbidden city

concubines. The moment this was mentioned a silent tour group would change and become this uncontrolled classroom. Here are are some of the things that were mentioned that people than whispered about:

 

 

6 facts about Concubines who lived in the Forbidden City

The King had many concubines and sometimes would complain because of his daily chores to try to produce more sons.

The concubines were jealous of one another and were able to ascend up the social ladder if they produced a son.

The concubines on occasions would poison or kill other concubines.

A common gift for a concubine was a backscratcher.

Before a concubine would see the Emperor she would be bathed and inspected by the Emperor doctor.

Up until one point when the Emperor died the concubines would be buried with him. (this changed at the protest of the people. We were told that the people did not think it was fair to kill all these young women that had just been assign to an old emperor. Remember there were always new women being brought in to be concubines. On the tour it was said that in the Qing dynasty the emperor may of had as many as 20,000 women that were considered to be the emperor concubine. Remember that this is justified because of the Yin and Yang theory; the circle shape where half is black and half is white. The reason for this is the man is the Yang and the Emperor is the ultimate Yang. So to balance out he needs a lot of Yin or women.)

The Forbidden City Beijing, China 9 interesting Facts

Posted by on August 22nd, 2012 | Comments off

I have been to the Forbidden city three times. Whenever someone comes to visit Beijing, China one of the first things they want to see is the Forbidden City. Below are some of the statistics that are mentioned on the tour.

9 Interesting facts about the Forbidden City Beijing, China

The city was built from 1406 to 1420.

The city consists of 980 buildings and covers 7,800,000 sq ft., but there is said to be 9,999 rooms.

The city housed emperors and their households for almost 500 years. The Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

More than 1 million people worked on building the city.

During the Second Opium War the city was occupied by Anglo-French forces.

The walls are 26 feet high and surrounded by a 171 ft wide moat.

9 interesting facts about the forbidden City in Beijing, China

There are over 2,900 boxes of artifacts that are in the national Palace Museum in Taipei.Up until Chairmen Mao, no building could be built higher than the top of the Forbidden City.On display in the city are many backscratcher and other daily used objects.

At times there were up to 9,000 people living in the Forbidden City.

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