(no subject)
So I've been reading a book on Chinese culture and customs to have a basic idea of what to expect when I'm there. One of my professors lent it to me since it helped her out a lot before she went there to teach.
Some excerpts from the section on Chinese stereotypes - the book is "Culture Shock! China" by Kevin Sinclair with Iris Wong Po-yee:
Non-Chinese: Pitiful barbarians who, if they become troublesome can be speedily kicked out of the country
Americans: All crazy, but also generous, friendly people led by treacherous warmongering politicians. If they are female, probably have sexual designs on innocent Chinese boys. If male, likewise except these are on Chinese girls as well as boys.
Germans: Clever, technically brilliant people, generally hard-working, but overweight and often drunk.
French: Flamboyant and foppish, not serious but very artistic. Verging on constant anarchy.
British: Devious, tough, ruthless and brutal. Not to be trusted in any deal unless there is an obvious advantage for them that will make them keep their word. After having Chris Patten as the Last Viceroy of Hongkong, China's official leadership now loathes everything about him and the British democracy he preaches. On the other hand, Chinese leaders adore Mrs Thatcher; why not, she gave them have Hongkong with virtually no strings attached. For reasons no Britons can understand, Chinese think them stylish.
Australians: Acceptable as business partners. Generally a rowdy, hard-drinking people. A likeable bunch of lunatics who speak an incomprehensible dialect.
Canadians: Nice, honest, open and generous farmers who can be trusted. Easy to do business with because they are a bit simple.
Indians: Toadies of western liberalism whose addiction to democracy makes them totally untrustworthy. Also the be regarded with deep suspicion because of recent emergence of Indian industry as a challenge to China's export-led economy. Also, many Indians are brown and Chinese are bluntly and sometimes obviously intolerant of coloured people.
Russians: Brutal thugs itching to steal more northern territory from China. Not to be trusted. But they serve as an excellent lesson to 1.2 billion Chinese of what happens when a totalitarian state collapses, therefore most useful to the leadership.
Japanese: Suspected of ulterior motives in offers of help to develop China. Probably awaiting opportunities to rob China's riches and to control the country. They did it before; how can we trust them again?
New Zealanders: Poor cousins to Australians except they get drunk faster. Always complaining about everything and saying how much better it is back home. Why don't they go there?
Blacks: Sex-crazed, drug-addicted womanisers who want to attack Chinese females. Suspected of having AIDS, black marketeering, and smuggling. Also, totally beyond the pale because they are black. Also, assumed to be great dancers.
{Penis envy?}
Filipinos: Brown Yankees who yodel and pluck guitars. Not serious people. But they are no threat to the sacred Motherland, so are tolerated.
Italians: Cultural robbers who stole the idea of the noodle from China and called it spaghetti. Smooth and handsome romancers who drive fast cars. Watch out for them.
[tee-hee - I'm half Italian.. . I can live with that]
Arabs: Constant tormentors of western countries who keep western barbarians occupied outside China. Therefore good. Often encourage Islamic extremism which causes ripples among the many millions of Muslims in China's north and west. Therefore most dangerous and untrustworthy.
Some excerpts from the section on Chinese stereotypes - the book is "Culture Shock! China" by Kevin Sinclair with Iris Wong Po-yee:
Non-Chinese: Pitiful barbarians who, if they become troublesome can be speedily kicked out of the country
Americans: All crazy, but also generous, friendly people led by treacherous warmongering politicians. If they are female, probably have sexual designs on innocent Chinese boys. If male, likewise except these are on Chinese girls as well as boys.
Germans: Clever, technically brilliant people, generally hard-working, but overweight and often drunk.
French: Flamboyant and foppish, not serious but very artistic. Verging on constant anarchy.
British: Devious, tough, ruthless and brutal. Not to be trusted in any deal unless there is an obvious advantage for them that will make them keep their word. After having Chris Patten as the Last Viceroy of Hongkong, China's official leadership now loathes everything about him and the British democracy he preaches. On the other hand, Chinese leaders adore Mrs Thatcher; why not, she gave them have Hongkong with virtually no strings attached. For reasons no Britons can understand, Chinese think them stylish.
Australians: Acceptable as business partners. Generally a rowdy, hard-drinking people. A likeable bunch of lunatics who speak an incomprehensible dialect.
Canadians: Nice, honest, open and generous farmers who can be trusted. Easy to do business with because they are a bit simple.
Indians: Toadies of western liberalism whose addiction to democracy makes them totally untrustworthy. Also the be regarded with deep suspicion because of recent emergence of Indian industry as a challenge to China's export-led economy. Also, many Indians are brown and Chinese are bluntly and sometimes obviously intolerant of coloured people.
Russians: Brutal thugs itching to steal more northern territory from China. Not to be trusted. But they serve as an excellent lesson to 1.2 billion Chinese of what happens when a totalitarian state collapses, therefore most useful to the leadership.
Japanese: Suspected of ulterior motives in offers of help to develop China. Probably awaiting opportunities to rob China's riches and to control the country. They did it before; how can we trust them again?
New Zealanders: Poor cousins to Australians except they get drunk faster. Always complaining about everything and saying how much better it is back home. Why don't they go there?
Blacks: Sex-crazed, drug-addicted womanisers who want to attack Chinese females. Suspected of having AIDS, black marketeering, and smuggling. Also, totally beyond the pale because they are black. Also, assumed to be great dancers.
{Penis envy?}
Filipinos: Brown Yankees who yodel and pluck guitars. Not serious people. But they are no threat to the sacred Motherland, so are tolerated.
Italians: Cultural robbers who stole the idea of the noodle from China and called it spaghetti. Smooth and handsome romancers who drive fast cars. Watch out for them.
[tee-hee - I'm half Italian.. . I can live with that]
Arabs: Constant tormentors of western countries who keep western barbarians occupied outside China. Therefore good. Often encourage Islamic extremism which causes ripples among the many millions of Muslims in China's north and west. Therefore most dangerous and untrustworthy.