I really don't mind this sort of thing unless it becomes one-after-another, but I think a simple polite refusal or acceptance is the proper form. As for the appropriateness of the exercise, I think the form ("Hello my name is Joey I'm 7 I live in..." etc.) is a bit primitive, but the fact that real kids get to talk to real English speakers is good - all too many people in China have a nervous kind of feeling about 'foreigners' that is a result of bits of xenophobia in Han culture that stresses a 'They are REALLY DIFFERENT who knows what they'll do or say?' attitude, which often demonstrates or results in inappropriate this that or the other ('Welcome to China!' 'But I speak Chinese and have been here for 15 years.' Never mind, welcome to China!' etc. - after which it begins to be about face rather than real communication). Young kids, especially, can be talked to simply like real kids from anywhere, will respond to kindness even though it comes from a funny-looking guy whom they otherwise might be taught to fear as an ogre, and will be delighted. I really don't have much of a problem with this, unless, obviously, some parent simply uses you inconsiderately for a long period of time. The value of the exercise is not really in teaching method/learning more language, but in learning that people who look different and speak different languages are people too - as good a lesson as I know for people of any age, and a good one to acquire while young.
Yunnan's Stone Treasure: Shibao Mountain
Posted by@flengs, 1. okay, I bow to the voice of greater experience. What are the places that are not walkable in one day? I know there's a lot of area that I have not visited there.
2. getting a bit lost can be worthwhile - art of discovery dept.
Yunnan's Stone Treasure: Shibao Mountain
Posted byPS: Shibaoshan is really worth the visit - there's a place to stay there, or you can walk down the trail to Sideng (the main tourist-oriented Shaxi village) in an hour or two.
Yunnan's Stone Treasure: Shibao Mountain
Posted byI think you can ignore the 'plan well get guide must have van perfect route' stuff - lately it seems that an awful lot of non-Chinese people in this area need a GPS every time they leave their apartments.
Kunming to monetize street vendor chaos
Posted byShyam, I don't understand what is natural about markets and festivals, but if they are, why aren't supermarkets 'natural'? Or are they?
Changshui once again closed by fog
Posted byLiving in a cave & making fire with flint isn't necessary, as it's perfectly possible to live in houses & make fire in easier ways without polluting the universe. However, 'dealing with it' is exactly what I propose, rather than simply using something because it exists and somebody wants to sell it to you, regardless of the effects it has - simply going along with everything is not 'dealing with' anything at all: no decisions, no thought is required. And just because the horses produce manure doesn't mean you've got to have an airplane.