The Chinese

I thought only the Thais share a certain contemptuous attitude towards the Chinese. When I was growing up, I always heard my family, the most vocal being grandma and aunts, quibble about certain undesirable manners and social etiquette associated with the Chinese or the "Chinese way" or Jek. They would always tell us kids not to chew or speak loudly and such. But then, that's Thailand, the country with one of the most racist collective attitudes i've known, where the people claim a certain pretension to national pride and superiority, which can only be achieved by making others seem inferior.

Only until recently did i learn Thailand wasn't alone. In Singapore and Hong Kong, the country and the city that directly trace their lineage back to China, the people similarly look at the Chinese in a not so good light. Like what the Thais call Jek, Hong Kong Chinese call "DL" which stands for da lu meaning "mainland" in Mandarin. For example, it's not uncommon to hear a Hong Kong person say that spitting in public is "so Dee-El." In Singapore where English is an official language, they even have (whether officially or otherwise) two separate adjectives: Chinese and China. While the majority of Singaporeans are Chinese, they are not "China." so who is China? the manual workers, the cleaning ladies, waitors, and "China wives" imported from Mainland because Singaporean women are too educated to bother. Also, you can use it to describe fake or spin-off products such as "China iphone." and China aunties are those ladies who gossip about other people in the elevator.

I spent two months in Beijing and I should know this first-hand. Public restrooms are the best place to have your first truly Chinese experience. And yes, they pretty much live up to the reputation. Some people don't shut the door while they're doing their business. If you think your feet aren't clean, go ahead and wash them in the sink, provided that you have long enough legs and the sink isn't too high off the floor. Public transportation is a nightmare because people don't queue. And if you're White, people will not spare you. While others might look at you quizzically, the brave few will come up to you and ask if they can snap a shot. Yet i would describe that summer as one of the best summers in my life, if a 10-pound increase in weight is any indication. And the people i got to know, mostly our Chinese teachers and language tutors, were sincerely nice, friendly, and very funny. They helped demystify why they eat so loud (to show appreciation for the food) or why they aren't afraid to tell you off flat out if you do something wrong. Much of this can be attributed to the once communist, strict society where people didn't time for touchy-feely sweetery and personal space was and still is unheard of.

And surprisingly some of them still think Thai students ride elephant to school and our houses are made of banana leaves! Jeks, please, we wish. but if anything, honest political incorrectness is only a good thing in my book.