Life & Times

I know that some people might not always understand what I’ve wrote or understand what some things mean but after receiving a comment in Chinese from the post “Update for China Telecom”, I’ve decided that maybe some times I need to explain what things mean.

The comment:
什么意思为“这是中国”？
According to Yahoo! Babel Fish Translator means:
What Meaning is “This is China”?

The way that I use it might not be the same as others but its normally used only in a state to express confusion or lack of understanding of something here in China. First we all know what China is a developing nation and many of its customs and traditions are very different or even confusing for foreigners. My own personal opinion is that China is developing too fast because the government is focused on catching up with the USA too fast. This means that sometimes things wont be done right or the proper training might not be given just so certain achievements can be claimed. In result of this is creates a situation where to a foreigner that we don’t understand why something is being done one way when its much easier to be done another. I know that when I have a hard time to understand something or no matter how hard I try or how many times its explained to me how it works here, I just say “This is China”.

Its also been used as a phrase by local Chinese who cannot think of the right words in English or cannot figure out how to explain something to us so that we can understand. They would simply say “this is China.” its how we do it. It happens a lot when we say “well why don’t you do things this way? its how we do it”, the reply is almost always “this is China and we like to do things our own way”.

Its not meant to be a negative comment in any way, shape, or form but is rather and expression of confusion and the ability for us as foreigners not to understand something. For example, the entire incident with China Telecom, I’ll never understand any of that but to some its just normal everyday life.