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Published: August 13th 2007
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Just for you?
Waiter told me three times, "It's big, are you sure you want it for yourself?" "Yes, it's just me and I want it!" :) He was trying to be thoughtful, but I don't know why he just wouldn't give me what I asked for! This is one of my favorite desserts. The ice is shaved so finely that it tastes like cream. There's some jello-like custard underneath too. Last week it was announced that nearly one million toys were recalled due to lead-containing paints used for various Mattel/Fisher Price toys manufactured in China. Yikes - that's a lot of Doras, Diegos and Elmos! 😞 Scary that such a large US retailer would let unsafe toys be distributed. Don't they test toys for safety issues? I trust that the toy companies are doing what's appropriate to rectify this. I've bought a lot of those Fisher Price toys!
Well, the real responsibilty lies with the Chinese company that used the paint in the first place. I'm guessing the company knew that the paint was toxic - I read this article on Yahoo today, "China Toy Boss Kills Self After Recall". Sheesh. I guess it's pretty common for officials to kill themselves after scandal is revealed.
I've been reading this book called "One Billion Customers" by James McGregor
http://www.amazon.com/One-Billion-Customers-Lessons-Business/dp/074325841X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1191662-7568757?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187004555&sr=8-1 The book discusses doing business in China in light of political, historical and cultural issues. One thing that he mentions is that the West is a very guilt-based culture and Asians have a shame-based culture. Westerners fear corruption, dishonesty, etc because they will feel bad if they know they've done something
Fa Piao
This is what the fa piao (proof of purchase/receipts) look like. Each paper has a specific denomination. wrong. On the other hand, Asians fear the shame of doing something wrong to taint their family or name. However, if one is never caught, then there is no shame. Since there's no absolute consequence (guilt) then corruption or bribery might not seem so bad. Anyway, guess China Toy Boss felt shame, only after being caught. The book is interesting and goes about trying to understand Chinese culture and history before trying to understand business in China.
There's even a Chinese proverb "Zhi lu wei ma", which translates into "Point at a deer and call it a horse." I guess it goes way back to give lip service and to say one thing and do another. I get the impression that is the way it is here. Even when I go shopping - I'll ask if they have a different size (usually larger) and the sales person will say, "that one will fit you, I promise!" when it clearly is not my size. Or when I was looking a kids' sized pea coat, I asked, "Is this for a boy or girl?" and the response is, "Are you buying for a girl or a boy?" I replied, "Just tell
Woohoo!
A winner! 5 entire yuans (look where I scratched off)! me what it is". Response is, "It can be for either one!" Anyway, my experience is that most people will say anything to you to make a sale.... begging, flattery, pushiness, etc. It's so pathetic. Buyer beware.
I told my tutor today that in the States that nearly every retail store accepts returns with a receipt. She was incredulous. Almost every sale is "final" here. Sheesh, who would have thought that exchanges and returns are luxuries?!
So today I was riding back from school and stopped to find a snack. I saw people line up for this fried nian gao, which are slices of sticky rice flour cake. Some kind of sauce is poured on top of the nian gao and then a meat/fish looking thing is placed over it and topped with soy sauce or something. I'd never seen anything like it, and wasn't so sure what it was. I decided to be more adventurous with my eating, and I start standing in line. I asked the person if front of me in Chinese, "Is the nian gao salty or sweet?" she answered, "neither, it's plain". Then I said, "Is the sauce sweet or salty?" She said
Family bike
I was so nervous when I saw this. Not sure if you can see. Dad riding, Mom on back holding a baby AND an umbrella (it's not raining). She's not holding anything, feet dangling. At least invest in a back pack or something to hold the baby! "a little sweet." Then I asked what the thing placed on top is, and she loudly replied, "Pai Gu! (pork chop)!" Sheesh! So then I said, "Sheesh, I was only asking, no need to get excited." Then she lightly replied, "Just try it and then you'll know." She had a point - I could have just bought one (6 RMB) and figured it out on my own what it tasted like. I also realized that I should have asked a more general question (i.e. "describe what every sauce and food tastes like in that dish") from the get-go so I wouldn't have to play 20 questions with her. I was just curious though! Anyway, people are rude to me all the time, but that's the first time I tried to point out to the other person that I thought they were rude though. If you're wondering, I got my very own and took 5 bites and threw it away. The sauce tasted like sweetened MSG. Gross.
Oh, one more food happening! I won money from one of my fa piaos yesterday (see my fa piao posting)! I usually scratch the silly receipts each time and underneath it usually says "Thank You". But yesterday I won 5 Yuan! It's not a hoax - the fa piaos actually have a value! 😊 The caveat - you have to go the bank to claim your prize (see my bank posting).
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fa piaos
i forgot what you said before, are they like lottery tickets for free? but isn't 5 yuans like less than $1?