When in Rome, do as the GOOD Romans do.
Driving like a bad local driver will NOT make you less of a hazard.
Driving like a good local driver will require you to adapt a different mindset to driving. Actually the driving here is very predictable, once you learn how to predict driving gets easier. Predicting will help you stay out of harms way. Even defensive driving has a different set of rules here.
I agree Mandarin essential.
English is the business lingua franca.
Japanese, especially in China. As business links with Japan are growing and most (not all) Japanese only speak Japanese.
From a career point of view, Spanish may be the best additional language to learn. Why do I say this. Spanish is the world's third language. Most of S. America use it, and China's trade links with Latin America are growing strongly.
Also German, French, Italian, Spanish (EU) and other European business people usually already speak very good English.
But be aware, not all your kids may be linguists. One of them might be a dancer, or a computer geek with no social skills (OMG!!!!). LOL
There seem to be a lot more serious accidents in the UK, by sheer weight of numbers. Driving here IS much slower, generally, and accidents are mostly very minor with no real damage done.
The comment about don't hit the guy in front is the unwritten rule, but seems to apply. Confession time: driving here I use the mirrors a lot less, because there is so much crazy stuff going on in front of me I don't have much time to use them. Fact.
There is also a wealth of stuff in the Chinese driving test about 'the courteous driver' (chortle).
Ultimately drivers here are more inconsiderate, but that is not about the driving culture specifically. Is it?
If you are not going to be here long term, it is possible that rote learning habits will be beneficial.
Here's mu 2 cents.
The eastern model is the acquisition of knowledge, the western model is the application of knowledge.
However, unless you acquire knowledge you can't apply it. Some of this knowledge must be memorised, for example the Periodic Table in chemistry.
Why are Chinese kids so good at maths (especially calculus) and chemistry? Because of rote learning.
Why are there so much growth in liberal arts degrees, and reduction in science degrees in the west. Because many schools have dropped rote learning practices and the 'hard' subjects that require more disciplined learning, and less reasoning.
I think that if they kids who acquire good learning habits and good reasoning skills (critical thinking/critical expression), they will develop strong academic capability all round. Kids can get the former in school, and the latter at home. As a parent who takes an active interest in your kids development, I think you will hit this balance. Gawd know my parents couldn't.
I am actually amazed that I don't see more accidents. The few I have seen are only scrapes or mild fender benders.
I agree that there is no concept of the vulnerable road user here.
But, and it is a big but here, the general rule is 'don't hit the guy in front'.
I used to be a motorcycle instructor, and we used to tell trainees "If you go out with the attitude that everyone else on the road is trying to kill you, you are in a better position to be safe".
If the barrier lake had filled, and then dam collapsed, the impact would have been much greater. An interesting follow up would be about formation of development of this barrier lake, and what led to the decision to act.
A thought on the aging population in China. We should not forget the economic changes that have occurred in the last two generations.
The people of retiring age over the next 10 years (50-65 now) are the generation who made the big money. What will they do with the money when they have time on their hands? One of the things they will likely do is travel.
This generation of middle class retirees is not the poor, financially dependent, aged who rely on their children for support. In fact many of them are supporting their children financially.
These people are mobile and rich enough to travel in a way that their parents could only have dreamed of. There are millions of them.
I would guess that the number of people who will be able to afford to travel by air will continue to increase, even if the population declines.
As for there being not a lot to do in Kunming, it has always been the springboard to other places in Yunnan. I just see more people using the springboard.
A reasonable choice of lumber that has improved over time. Fancy hardwoods like walnut, and mahogany are in abundance. There are some plywood and rubber-wood boards available. There are also some kiln dried imported softwoods and merbao available. Some of the lumber is very green, so look for the kiln dried if you need stable timbers.
Echo everything said by others.
Breakfast great and the serve from 8am. Most other places say 9am and they still are not ready.
Sandwiches are cheap 22-32, and really packed full of filling. We got some sandwiches for a day out, the only mistake I made was ordering two, as this was too much. These are seriously good sangars, and they are wrapped in alu foil.
In fairness to Metro, they are a wholesalers, and not really a supermarket. Hence the need for a card, which can be got around.
They have improved in the year I have been away. They now carry a more consistent range of imported foodstuffs and they also seem to have sorted out the mported milk supply.
They have a wider range of electrical appliances now, there is a coice of more than one toast. There is also a better range of seasonal non foods, like clothes, shoes, garden furniture and camping gear.
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Six-day visa-free transit on offer in Kunming, other cities, beginning January 1
发布者The only potential sticking point that I could see is if the visitor needs to show a hotel evidence of a hotel stay.
Lijiang China's number one tourist hotspot
发布者Great. More tourists.
Sichuan water release devastates parts of northwest Yunnan
发布者If the barrier lake had filled, and then dam collapsed, the impact would have been much greater. An interesting follow up would be about formation of development of this barrier lake, and what led to the decision to act.
Beijing approves massive Changshui International Airport expansion
发布者A thought on the aging population in China. We should not forget the economic changes that have occurred in the last two generations.
The people of retiring age over the next 10 years (50-65 now) are the generation who made the big money. What will they do with the money when they have time on their hands? One of the things they will likely do is travel.
This generation of middle class retirees is not the poor, financially dependent, aged who rely on their children for support. In fact many of them are supporting their children financially.
These people are mobile and rich enough to travel in a way that their parents could only have dreamed of. There are millions of them.
Beijing approves massive Changshui International Airport expansion
发布者I would guess that the number of people who will be able to afford to travel by air will continue to increase, even if the population declines.
As for there being not a lot to do in Kunming, it has always been the springboard to other places in Yunnan. I just see more people using the springboard.