I want change this situation and try to be friends with foreigners
By dellahappy
@dellahappy (260)
China
April 17, 2011 8:23am CST
Recently i choose an oral english course and my english teacher is an American man not very young and he has stayed in china for nearly 20 years.we often meet after class in the school campus.But altough we chat a lot i still feel there is a deep gap between our asians and westerners which prevent us being friends.let's me give u a example,yesterday afternoon when i and my friends finished lunch we happened to see my teacher riding his bicycle coming towards us ,so i politely greeted to him "hi **, have you finished lunch".he sai"not yet,are you willing to treat me" oh no he misunderstood my mean and later i asked "can we pay a visit to your house?" he ask this way "how much will you pay for a visit?"oh that drives me crazy,whether he is playing some word games,i ask you english speaking guys,what does he mean?and i think there are so many differencs between us ,he can't understand us and we hardly understand him,i'm confused....
7 responses
@shibham (16977)
• India
28 Apr 11
well. I understand your problem. there are differences in english between eastern and western countries. i am also from easter countries and when i joined mylot i found myself helpless because i was not able to communicate well with my western friends. But now i am a little skilled.
Regarding your query... when asked him about launch and he used the word treat.... i think he meant as... are you willingly to offer/serve me?.... next about the pay... he meant that you are giving some money for his permission.
Take care.
1 person likes this
@dellahappy (260)
• China
28 Apr 11
hi,shibham,you have done a good job here and i will learn from you more.you know langague is a tough stuff for me ,and that's the reason why i am here.
@felelis (96)
• Thailand
17 Apr 11
Relax, it's just a joke. I think he's trying to make you feel more comfortable talking to him. He's trying to talk to you like how a friend would talk. I'm also Asian and I always joke my friend like that. :)
And for the second one, it's just some word jokes, since it's the same word used in different meanings.
1 person likes this
@dellahappy (260)
• China
18 Apr 11
yes,thanks a lot for your comment,i think mylot can help me tide over the language difficulties and make new friends.And i read your profile knowning you are a thai,i began to know Tailand from the movie "love this little thing",and i like the male lead Mario maurer,i have watched all of his films.Your culture and customs are also very compelling,hoping for extraexchanges in future...
@dellahappy (260)
• China
30 Apr 11
thank you for your comment,tony,i am happy to see another chinese .you know we chinese are quite inactive here.welcome to mylot...myfriend,and i hope we have future exchanges on many others things...
@dellahappy (260)
• China
30 Apr 11
thank you for your comment,tony,i am happy to see another chinese .you know we chinese are quite inactive here.welcome to mylot...myfriend,and i hope we have future exchanges on many others things...
@llsling (331)
• China
7 May 11
Culture barrier ... How much do ya exactly know about your American teacher ? I know lots of Americans are really cocky . But just get over it ,maybe he's just kidding around with you . You shouldn't be too serious about how they behave what they say especially some old guys . If you can barely get in and appreciate their culture then just stop trying and get out of it .
@llsling (331)
• China
10 May 11
I know this about Americans ,every one of 'em seem to have a very own passion ,pleasure in spite of some of 'em can't even afford to pursue their dream . That's why they always are way more advanced in most industries than any other in the world . This is also one of great qualities what we Chinese should be dying to learn . BTW our socialism also has a great bad impact on changing people's attitude ,we seem to take things for granted ,we always kind of thinking that we're working for others other than ourselves ,we're very easily to lose our passion sometimes before we even try it . And this is the very inspiration for me to learn English (i do it on my own other than over courses in school ,I'm a college dropout .)
Hope you appreciate that in their culture as well . Make the best out of life . Regards ,fun learning .
@dellahappy (260)
• China
10 May 11
hi,IIsling,thank you for your comment,actually i know little about him except that he has stayed in China for a long time but still can't say chinese,i don't think he like chinese culture like other foreigners while he are interested in photography and video,he likes traveling and he even asked me to bring him to vedio my sister's forthcoming wedding.he is kind of humor so sometimes i can't tell when he is serious or just a joke....
@Devilova (5392)
• Indonesia
17 Apr 11
That what will happen if you count on School langue.
English is more like our region langue, foe example Javanese.
You will see Kromo alus, Ngoko or Kromo Inggil.
Use the ordinary langue, like
Would you mind if I come to your home?
Or some kind like that.
GOOD LUCK GALZ.
English is more like our region langue, foe example Javanese.
You will see Kromo alus, Ngoko or Kromo Inggil.
Use the ordinary langue, like
Would you mind if I come to your home?
Or some kind like that.
GOOD LUCK GALZ.
@dellahappy (260)
• China
17 Apr 11
yeah,i should use more ordinary language rather than the official language,but a important factor i think is culture gap...thanks for your reply and have a nice night
@misterMR (796)
• Philippines
17 Apr 11
Don't worry, he was not meaning any harm. In fact, he was even joking around. When he said, "Not yet, are you willing to treat me?" It means that, he hasn't eaten yet and he was asking if you could buy food for him. Then, when he said "How much will you pay for a visit", actually that just means that he was trying to make you laugh. Again, don't worry. Ta mei you jiang chou hua, ta ye shi mei you pian hua. You'll find time adjusting with it. So good luck!
@misterMR (796)
• Philippines
18 Apr 11
Hello della, well actually I studied in a Chinese school ever since kindergarten to high school or secondary school. That is why I can speak mandarin a bit. I have a lot of Chinese friends too, and they also speak Mandarin but some of them know Hokkien/ Fu Jian hua. Just believe in yourself and learn with it the fun way!
@dellahappy (260)
• China
19 Apr 11
oh!really it's so cool,i always think it's difficult to chat with someone of different culure ,having different ways of living habits,thinking things differently even strange to me ,i admire you can get along so well with people of other countries it's really a great wealth...
@dellahappy (260)
• China
17 Apr 11
hi,misterMR,thanks for your reply.and i think you know a little chinese also,so do you known some chinese students? you have a good ability to lear language.yes i have to ajust with this and learn more
@Oldsix691418 (3872)
• China
6 May 11
I think your teacher must have learned about China very much since he's been here for over 20 years,and he must have known what you meant,but it's you that misunderstood him,I think he must be saying that for a joke.
@dellahappy (260)
• China
10 May 11
i think so and that's why i am puzzled and that's me who ruined the conversation and hopefully i can make progress here...
