tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post1124871389173204217..comments2024-01-08T19:49:13.932+00:00Comments on Froogville: List of the Month - Things we most like about Chinese cultureFrooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-19581515711556943382011-01-10T03:52:14.824+00:002011-01-10T03:52:14.824+00:00Looks like you didn't really read the cooking ...Looks like you didn't really read the cooking post, Anon.<br /><br />It was hedged around with all kinds of qualifications (<i>some</i> Chinese cooking I like: especially Chinese cooking <i>outside of China</i>, where quality of ingredients and standards of food preparation are higher). And it was NOT framed in the context of or comparison with British cooking (which - though I think it is unfairly maligned - is not indeed one of the richer or more various of the world's cuisines; but the more appropriate comparison with China - since it is a continent-sized 'country' - would be <i>European cuisine</i>; and on that basis, the amount of variety in Chinese cooking is pretty disappointing). And I don't think I ever called it "boring" - apart from the rice. "Shite" or "crap" were the terms I mostly favoured. The majority of comments I received in relation to that post (some in private conversation or e-mail correspondence only) were strongly <i>in agreement</i> - I've even had a few Chinese friends (who've spent time overseas) concur with my general points.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-56484931453387907372009-02-20T09:54:00.000+00:002009-02-20T09:54:00.000+00:00I just came to this blog, but that cooking link is...I just came to this blog, but that cooking link is pretty impressive. A denizen of the UK criticizing Chinese food for being "boring," and "all the same." It was like the bizarro internet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-38944307415191949342009-02-17T06:25:00.000+00:002009-02-17T06:25:00.000+00:00For the time being, and no doubt to the delight of...For the time being, and no doubt to the delight of the fenqing, the thing I like most about Chinese culture is the perspective I get from our Brisbane apartment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-73134127002482152432009-02-16T08:56:00.000+00:002009-02-16T08:56:00.000+00:00Ah, but first I have to earn the money to buy my f...Ah, but first I have to earn the money to buy my freedom....<BR/><BR/>Really, Don, it's not the odd "uncivilized" behaviours like the spitting, the pushing, and the disinclination to use public toilets (even though, in Beijing, you find one about every 200 metres along the street) that bother me. I was never much put out by them, and scarcely notice them at all.<BR/><BR/>As we shall perhaps see in that threatened future post, it is more deep-seated matters of attitude and belief which disturb me here: a lack of compassion, a lack of conscience, a lack of a sense of privacy, or personal space, or respect for the individual. It's not that these things are totally absent, but they are much rarer, much more marginalised values than we are used to in the West - and I do think that's <I>a bad thing</I>.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-4302935820159847452009-02-15T23:51:00.000+00:002009-02-15T23:51:00.000+00:00I don't think those annoyances ever completely lea...I don't think those annoyances ever completely leave you, though with time your tolerance increases.<BR/><BR/>In my case, they followed me back to Canada. We have many Chinese that come here for long visits to their sons/daughters and bring their customs to Toronto. Public spitting/clearing nostrils, check. Walking in the middle of the road, check. Very loud talking in public places (even when it is quiet, check. Letting baby crap on the side of public roads, in front of a public school, check. I had to tell this lady it was illegal and to not do this again, or neighbours would call the police. She had no clue and said she'd not do it again. At least not in front of me.<BR/><BR/>I think you deserve to take a small leave from your self imposed stay and take a holiday, or you might go stark raving mad. Everyone has their limits. Mine was 12 months.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-35254688137519432562009-02-15T11:36:00.000+00:002009-02-15T11:36:00.000+00:00Ah yes - the idealism is about all that I have lef...Ah yes - the idealism is about all that I have left of my youthfulness.<BR/><BR/>That might be one of next month's <I>bons mots</I>.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-67632249779387381742009-02-15T07:40:00.000+00:002009-02-15T07:40:00.000+00:00Nice...glad to see you haven't lost your youthful ...Nice...glad to see you haven't lost your youthful idealism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-27387545250786967572009-02-14T19:20:00.000+00:002009-02-14T19:20:00.000+00:00No, I was wrong, perhaps not bloke, more lad: "A y...No, I was wrong, perhaps not <I>bloke</I>, more <I>lad</I>: "A young man characterized by his enjoyment of social drinking, sport, and other activities considered to be male-oriented..." So is <I>boulevardier</I> only older and richer.<BR/><BR/>Valentine schmalentine, I say: it's not for marrieds, it soon shades into Darby-and-Joan-manmanship, though not quite yet in my case, as she is twenty years younger than me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-61944325554596366452009-02-14T16:56:00.000+00:002009-02-14T16:56:00.000+00:00No indeed, FJ.I was thinking about balancing the u...No indeed, FJ.<BR/><BR/>I was thinking about balancing the upcoming 'things I can't stand about China' post with an (even longer) 'things I can't stand about the UK' one.<BR/><BR/>Tony, thank you, and I'm so glad you're still with us. I was a little worried that - having downgraded me from 'boulevardier' to 'bloke' - you were a little miffed with me.<BR/><BR/>And I trust that you both had very happy days, since you are fortunate enough to be well married. Me - I was tortured with doubts and regrets and heartaches about a couple of exes who maybe shouldn't be exes. (Yes, two. That makes it even more difficult.)Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-81447341296343053282009-02-14T14:17:00.000+00:002009-02-14T14:17:00.000+00:00I guess the test is whether you could come up with...I guess the test is whether you could come up with a list that long of things you actually like about the UK (once you've turned the nostalgia filter off...). I think I would probably struggle.FionaJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14549293886140689966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211251.post-37424176488328200662009-02-14T11:15:00.000+00:002009-02-14T11:15:00.000+00:00This is a lovely piece, one of your best.This is a lovely piece, one of your best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com