Chinese People

Hong Kong is a very international place.  There are people from all over the world who work and live here.  Yet there are sections of Kowloon, where we live, which is 99% Chinese.   So far we have not encountered even a whiff of racism, the people here acknowledge us with shy smiles, a greeting, usually in English, or a polite head nod. In general the Chinese we have met so far are very kind and gracious.   Yesterday Rochelle and I inadvertently became part of a scavenger hunt for a University group doing their first week of orientation.  They had to take a picture of a foreigner and so we were it.  That was fun being surrounded by 25 Chinese kids in their uniforms. Here are some of our insights about the Chinese:

Kids learn English at a very young age.  We met little Bianca, couldn't be more than 3, with her mom on the Sky Tower elevator.  Bianca said hello in English and said her name was Bianca.  Then she asked my name.  She had a little trouble with Dirk but got it on the third try.  Very cute.  Most Chinese adopt an English name that is kind of similar to their Chinese name.  Fu yun becomes Fanny for example.  Some of the English names are kind of weird though: Bosco, Winkie, and Garfield(a girl's name) just wouldn't go over very well in Canada.

Chinese are loud.  When they get together they are very boisterous and LOUD.  Not really emotional like the Italians but loud nevertheless.  It is probably because there are so many of them.

There are lots of Chinese.  The streets are packed with them.  We went to a district in Kowloon called Mon Kok which has a night market.  Kinda like the Red Deer Farmer's market, but way bigger and its every day at night.  Hence the name.  Apparentely Mon Kok is the most crowded spot on earth.  Wall to wall people.  Yet, people are calm and gracious and even though we were slightly jostling each other people didn't get upset.

Umbrellas!  When it rains it pours here.  We got caught in the rain once and were drenched in a second.  Felt good though like a luke warm shower.  Umbrellas are also used when its hot as a shield against the sun.  I don't have an umbrella yet, my baseball cap will do, but I saw a cool army umbrella the other day.  Maybe.

The contrast between the old Chinese and the young is jarring.  The old gather in parks at 6:00 am to do Tai Chi. Some do it with fans or swords.  The young meanwhile show up @ 7 to play basketball or soccer.  They are the big two sports @ here.  The old have no use for computers or anything electronic, the young are glued to their Blackberries, even while they are walking on the street.

This contrast is also evident in the buildings.  We live in a very modern building but right next to it is a run down street with an open air market just like from 100 years ago.  We enjoy a lovely swimming pool, but overlooking it is a run down apartment block.  Yet, despite the obvious socio economic differences here there doesn't seem to be any tension.  People go about their business either making big bucks in an ultra modern first world sky scraper or just a block away eking out a living repairing shoes or selling fish in an open air market.  Of course most are somewhere in between, but it makes the city very interesting and vibrant.

Uniforms.  The Chinese love their uniforms.  It starts early.  From Kindergarten to grade 12 everyone has to wear a uniform.  And if you are a business man or woman only a formal dark suit will do.  I think its ok.  It keeps envy and the petty, "keep up with the Jonses" nonsense that is evident back home to a minimum.

The Chinese are short.  Duh.  Upon our arrival in Hong Kong we were ushered onto a shuttle bus.  The seats, according to North American standards, would have been comfortable for grade fivers.  My seat barely had room for one cheek and as for leg room? Well my knees were basically @ my ears when I sat down.  The subways barely have clearance for my crewcut.  One Chinese kid couldn't stop staring and smiling as he saw me standing there like a giraffe amongst gophers.  Even stairs are narrow and small so it feels like you are tap dancing uphill when you use them.

The Chinese do look different!  That sounds kind of racist, but one teacher told us of a Chinese kid who said all white people look the same. Well they are starting to.  They all look big, cumbersome, and pale.  With a low fat diet; constant heat and humidity that melts any access fat away; and the constant Tai Chi plus basketball keeps most Chinese pretty slim.  Sure a lot of the Chinese are slender due to genetics, but we're eating less here, probably because we don't need the extra calories to ward off any cold.

Most Chinese walk or take the public transport to get around.  This also keeps them fit.  There are a lot of cars here but we have noticed that they are all very new, very nice, and mainly German.  So that gives you an indication who can afford to drive.  We've yet to see a rust bucket or a pick up.  Our cars back home would not have passed Hong Kong standards.

Finally one last interesting thing.  When the Chinese give you something, like a card, money, or object they give it to you with both hands.  It is impolite to give something with one hand.  This is taking some getting used to but when we remember the Chinese are always very grateful that you are respecting their traditions.

Enjoy the pictures.  Till next time!

Dirk and Rochelle