chaz2

Sitting in the reception area of the Huayuan Hospital in Shanghai. In front of me is a coffee vending machine. The sign over the machine: COFFEE: Helps you improve your mood, gives you energy, helps the digestion, helps you lose weight, and helps you look and feel youthful 3.00 Yuan per cup.... read more

Yes, our Shanghai Hilton Elevator Boy has tipping experience. Its June, 2005, I’m stepping into an elevator at the Hilton Hotel. A porter politely let me in first. He steps in behind me, dragging a shining brass cart absolutely chock fill of luggage. "My goodness," I said, "so much luggage! Where is this group from?" I ask. "America" he says with a smile. "You seem happy," I observe. "Mei Shemma" he says, which means 'nothing really'. "So," I ask, "do the Americans give good tips?" "The best!" He says, "Out of 10 Americans, 9 of them give you a tip." It turns out he has a head full of statistics. "What about the English?" I ask. (As in the USA, Chinese for "English Person" is incorrectly understood to be inter-changeable with "British person") "The English are ... read more