The first thing I would recommend is making a Chinese friend. There is nothing better than getting a little help from a local. I would recommend trying to find a college student if at all possible. This is mainly because their English tends to be the best and they usually are more open to meeting new people and eager to help.
My second recommendation is to stay away from small shops and restaurants. The smaller businesses tend to sell based on a bargaining system. If you can't speak fluent Chinese, or don't have a Chinese friend, you pretty much don't stand a chance in negotiating a good price. Stick to larger restaurants and department stores that have set prices. This way you'll never get charged anymore than anyone else.
The third recommendation I have is that if you plan on staying in China for awhile, that you try and learn the language. Once you learn Chinese you can start to understand how they think. This is priceless. I don't know how many times I got special treatment just for saying a few kind words in their native language. They view it as a huge sign of respect.
Hope this helps. Good luck with it all!I'm working in china. How can I deal with chinese people to stay long working into this country??
Do lots of research particularly their history and culture..I mean alot...They are not tricky but its just everything they do surely with motives. They won't do anything for free..Remember that..No such things as close-knitted friends/buddies or brothers..
Be honest but always stay alert. Say ';no'; whenever you think it is right to say so. Talk to your Chinese co-workers after work and see how they view things, try to understand their thinkings and share with them what you think it is better to do things together with (be patient, ask yourself - why you want to be in this country and stay longer? - if you want to stay longer and be happier - then - you have to find the ways to make things work! - this is the attitude that you should have when you are working in China!).
Check every detail and go through with your Chinese sub-ordinates to make sure things are alright and show them how you deal with things ';properly';.
Mutual respect is mostly needed when you work with people from different cutures.
Welcome and I wish you good luck.
Be alert, don't tell them your personal secrets. If there is a question that is suspicious, then respectfully decline an answer. Respect is the key but always be alert.
Yes, you are right, chinese people are tricky. Alot of them will not do stuffs for free.
Excellent question. Some suggestions:
- make sure your actions will abide by any laws or regulations applicable to that area. For example - planning laws, accounting requirements for companies. Don't listen to what other people tell you - do the research - and this applies for all things which you are concerned about, not just laws.
- guanxi (connections) is something constantly emphasised as important. However, I would suggest, before someone tells you they have the right connections, first think if you do need those connections? What is the offeror requiring in return?
- find a local person who can give you general hints and tips about the area - they may be a better connection to the whole area than anyone else
Remember this phrase ';Chinese logic verses Western logic'; when things like last minute schedule changes, apartment maintenance issues (amazing how they can turn changing a fuse into a months long ordeal requiring the assistance of five different people to fix it), shopping, and such come up. What makes sense to us for some reason doesn't always get through to them.
Try to learn patience, but also find an outlet for your gripes. Meeting with other foreigners on a regular basis for a b#tch fest can be quite cathartic. We have a regular weekly gathering for this in my city. Technically it's not for this purpose, but we always ending up talking about the things that make us crazy while living here.
Look at each day as an adventure. Crossing the street in my city is like playing ';Frogger.'; So far I've ';won'; everytime, although I have had taxis run over the very front of my shoes twice, but no damage done.
Remember that Chinese people talk around things. They don't like to flat-out say ';no.'; This might be part of their perceived trickiness, but they don't like to make foreigners unhappy so they take forever to get to saying something is not possible.
Participate in a physical activity. I found going dancing helps me get rid of pent up frustrations and I've met a lot of new friends this way. I know the universities in my area often let foreigners join their open sports activities, if that's more your style.
Don't be surprised at being the F.O.D. (Foreigner On Display). It's common for your school/company to show you off as a foreigner working for them. Look at it like it's an acting job. Be polite, smile when called upon, and get out as soon as time permits. Have someone call you at a certain time if you think the event will drag on so you can say your friend is waiting for you and you have to go.
Guanxi (exchange of favors) is China's corruption backbone. It's damn near everywhere. True Chinese friends will expect nothing in return for gifts, but beware of accepting things from people you don't know as they will probably expect you to help them in a much more expansive way later.
It IS possible to find true Chinese friends. I have many Chinese friends who give so much to me, but want nothing more than my friendship in return. These are not F.O.D. situations. In those situations you almost always hear, ';This is my good foreign/American friend. They work at ........';
Learn some Chinese so you can make small talk with street vendors and small shop owners. Once they know you they will be more inclined to give you discounts and preferrential service. Also, you'll want to be able to bargain with vendors. Most vendors appreciate it if you can haggle well and will give you a cheaper price in the end. If they don't come down on the price don't go back to them. If they give you good prices take your foreign friends to them and they will sometimes give you a super cheap price or throw in free things in appreciation of your bringing your friends there.
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