Forums > Living in Kunming > "I don't like these Chinese ways"

The dialogue BillDan described is pretty much the same you would have speaking Chinese with them, and is also the same dialogue with slight nuances that in any other country an open minded local would have with a foreigner. Where are you from? Why are you here...

After this first getting to know each other you can have pretty interesting conversations depending on your Chinese level, food quality, food safety is usually a good one every Chinese person is concerned about. International relations...really everything you can talk about.

The people that stare more bluntly are often straight out of the countryside, so if you can manage to understand their usually strong accent asking them if they are some sort of minority is often a good opener. Or perhaps and that is something I haven`t tried you could ask them about this years potatoe harvest or the terrible drought.

Anyway I think as soon as Chinese people realise that all foreigners give more or less the same answer they will also start getting bored of having these formal friendly conversations about where are you from and then enthusiastically praising how good your Chinese is, to either start speaking English or telling you everything they know about your country.

I think staring is normal human behavior and we can`t resist but stare at something new exciting that captures our eyes. Well more or less.

Forums > Living in Kunming > Studying + Teaching part-time

to Yuanyangren:
Things like that happen in Australia, too. But a student visa there does give you a legal opportunity to work 15 hours per week.

If you get a new passport in France you also get a new passport number. The Australian immigration authorities issue visas according to passport numbers. So yes it is possible to cheat, but not if you come from let`s say Germany where the passport number doesn`t change.

to castor:
How do you want to get your teaching hours acknowledged if you work illegaly? I think if you want to work for a legally registered school and want them to give you some sort of proof for your teaching time there, you need to have a working visa. Otherwise you could as well just get one of your friends to confirm you have been working as a teacher for x hours in y.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > Mandalay Hostel Guesthouse Suggestions

You will not have a problem finding a guesthouse in Mandalay. But be prepared to pay 10 to 15 US Dollar for an air conditioned room with bed and shower.

Mandalay is a little bit cheaper than Rangoon but still quite expensive in terms of accomodation. Food and Taxis are much cheaper than in Rangoon with food beeing cheaper and better tasting than Kunming and Taxis beeing much more expensive (no taxometer) and often borderline scrapheap.
Don`t visit Mandalay castle unless you get really bored. It is 10 Dollar and really not worth going inside.

Forums > Living in Kunming > Two flies and your out.

I think they shouldn`t be too strict on that rule because it could cause lots of trouble if puplic toilets get closed...

Forums > Study > Chinese graded readers wanted

Where can I buy these graded readers in Kunming?

I can almost read books but I still find it a bit hard and therefore boring.

I have read enough textbook stories about student live and visiting the sights of Beijing. I am quite interested in getting some different input during summer vacation.