Chinese Hysterics

[peacetraveler22]

I've never been to mainland China, but was completely amused at all the press attention our respective leaders received yesterday. First, the Chinese are offended that Obama was chewing his Nicorette gum, which the American public is used to seeing. The President was an avid smoker before entering the White House, and I have no doubt he will resume the habit once he's out of the White House. In the interim, he tries to curb his cravings with this gum. I assume his desire for a cigarette is at its highest during stressful events, like yesterday, when he is on the world stage. But, I'm most amused, and confused, that the Chinese censored Putin putting the shawl on the wife of the Chinese President. Why??

Last night, when I was watching the news, I heard several American commentators call Putin's act "noble" and "gentlemanly". Why did the Chinese consider his act censor worthy? I don't know who would ever want to enter politics in today's age, where almost every single moment of your life is put on display, and analyzed by social media, body language experts....the list is endless. Politicians - they are still humans. Some good, some bad, some evil. I think the public sometimes loses sight of this.

Who knows a lot about Chinese culture? Explain this situation to me. I have no interactions with the Chinese in my lawyer life, or thus far in my travel life. Now I'm very curious to explore the customs and culture of this mysterious land...because they seem very unique and quite formal. The opposite of American culture, and I'm always attracted to the strange and unusual. In travel and almost all aspects of life.

Comments

[roman-yhnovec.livejournal.com]

:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, customs around the world are sometimes funny. Esp. when supposedly sophisticated world leaders, like Putin and Obama, unknowingly step into a pile of crap for failure to abide by local rules of interaction. However, I can see how some foreigners would perceive Obama as being unprofessional because he has a very laid back and casual demeanor, walking with a certain "swag." But, he's American. :)) Some people have told me that business dealings in Asia are much more formal when compared to America. He probably forgot to adjust his mentality when he stepped off the plane :))

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

I can imagine. I was to China twice but each time for two-three days so I don't know a lot about their mentality. But the main difference is in it, of course. As far as I understand when any man, not a husband, shows such attitude even like a gesture in China, it means that this man doesn't have any respect to this husband. If Putin would render such gesture to a wife of a Prince of Saudi Arabia or any other strong Muslim country - will you have such a question?
And as for difference in mentality. There is a museum of shit in Korea (and different ways of visiting different restrooms), but it I would say almost impossible in the Western countries...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"Museum of shit!" :)))) Horror! This scares me even more than local Chinese food and fried insects. I think you are right, some Chinese perceived his act to be sexual or in a flirting manner. After all, Putin is single again. :)

[j1980.livejournal.com]

он наверное забыл о жвачке

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't know what he was thinking? But it would have been worse if he walked in with a cigarette in his mouth. :)

[moebiuscat.livejournal.com]

As far as I understand, the relationship between Chinese president and his wife (who was a famous folk singer) is public and they are frequently shown as romantic couple. Putin putin' a shawl on his wife undercuts his carefully groomed images as a caring husband. There were lots of jokes about that already, so they decided to censor it.

It's communism - so it's natural. Even when I was a kid (early 80-s) I remember my father telling me never to tell any jokes I hear at home at school. Back then one could get in a lot of trouble or even to jail over a political joke told to friends. And during Stalin's times, a political joke would get you life in prison or death by a firing squad. I'm not kidding. This is the nature of a communist dictatorship, and even though it's relatively soft in China, it's still what it is.

Though I dislike Obama very much, I can't seriously hold a chewing gum against him. I wish it would be the worst thing he's done. However I understand why people are talking about it. Chewing gum at a public event is considered in most places an uncultured and rude thing to do. I'm sure in China too. So at the official event it supports the exact "rude, uncultured and arrogant American" stereotype that an American president should avoid. Definitely not a good behavior for the president. Basically he's saying to the world "I don't have enough will to hold off my cravings until a bathroom break, so the hell with social conventions". Basically he's reinforcing an image of a weak president - worst thing he could do really. I sympathize with his problem, but he has a duty to project a strong and civilized image, and this weakens it.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I understand the uproar over the gum chewing and agree it's usually viewed as not polite, or downright rude, in formal business situations. I think it's the same even in America. Obama is constantly shooting himself in the foot, doing stupid things like this, or taking actions which further damage his image. So, who do you think would be a good Presidential candidate in 2016?

Shawl

[robsilver.livejournal.com]

As it was explaned in some russian media yesterday, you just can't touch somebody's wife no matter what.

Re: Shawl

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Did Russian media speak about Obama's gum chewing?

[genka8.livejournal.com]

This incident is somewhat reminiscent of hugging and backslapping of the Queen by Michelle Obama. Different cultures.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they are advised about local customs before they arrive in the country, but perhaps they forget. For Americans, it's especially hard because our culture is not really formal at all. But I think you should abide by the local rules as a foreign guest, at least in most situations. Btw, you know a lot of American politicians love to be photographed with cute babies. Holding them, hugging them, or smiling at them. Has Putin ever been photographed like this? Seems out of character for him.

[seadevil001.livejournal.com]

In absence of real news (or inability to speak of those) mass media people gnaw on what they see.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

They talked about more important stuff, but I don't really pay attention to all of these geopolitical affairs and games. I find the human interaction more interesting.

[valkirya77.livejournal.com]

Who knows a lot about Chinese culture?

and I would also like to know)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Have you traveled outside of Russia yet?

[pasha1980.livejournal.com]

Looking at the photo it looks like they are secret lovers - this is probably why her husband was upset at his gesture.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Unusual to see Putin so smiley. :) Also, I envision him with someone much younger. I wonder how many girlfriends he has now?

A real life interaction... not as nice as from a distance

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

Of my experience with a relatively young Chinese PhD who used to be working in a cubicle next to mine, he was rude while talking to his wife, he was very polite with his father who he called back to China almost each another day and reporting him all his business activities (spying?), he never was accepting any of his mistakes trying to justify them with a weak reasoning, at the same time he was very persistent in work he was doing, however his level of technical expertise was kind of underdeveloped, so the results of his work were not always satisfactory. He was also very surprised that we do not know the exact date of Chinese New Year. Also, he, a pretty young man, who got his BS, MD and doctorate here in US, he did not know who are The Beatles. After some questions he asked, I also understood that neither him nor his wife and daughter never visited dentist. His daughter was 9 years old with really rotten teeth... He got laid off during economical troubles of 07...09s
Generalization based on a single example is wrong, I know, but he lived more than 10 years in US but did not learn much... It could be just him.

Re: A real life interaction... not as nice as from a distance

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's interesting. I think Asian women are more traditional/subservient when compared to American females. Yet in some Asian cultures, like in Tokyo, they have a completely wild sex scene and females are running around dressed in scantily clad clothes, or looking like anime figures. One of my friends told me he visited a "pantyless" cafe in Japan. Waitresses wore no panties, and there were mirrors on the floor. :) So, in some ways Asian culture seems very buttoned up and proper, but also freaky. Though I understand Chinese and Japanese cultures are probably different. In general, Asian cultures confuse me. Can you tell? :))

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

My son traveled to China in the summer.
At first he was surprised that China is not working Google), Facebook.
But even in the valleys have internet.
 
The purpose of it was the Shaolin. He is engaged in wushu.
Unfortunately, Shaolin nobody speaks English. He was very difficult to explain what he wants to buy food, rent a hostel. Helped electronic translator.
  He wants to learn Chinese language.
 
Hostels in Beijing, at the airport speak English, it was convenient to talk to people. When you do not understand something, people come up and offer assistance. It was this very surprised and pleased.


Son fascinated people and the country.

   He especially liked the girls))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's a really "foreign" place for most people. For instance when I go to Western Europe, the culture isn't very different from America. That's why I like Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia much better. There, you really feel like you are in a foreign place. :)) I wonder why your son liked the Chinese girls so much? I've noticed a lot of my male friends in America also love Asian girls.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

amazing!
turns all readers Shannon Russian people.
Americans are you reading?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Americans don't read my blog, except for Russians who have immigrated to the States. Americans don't know what LJ is, it's completely dominated by Russian users now.

[sozidatel-lesa.livejournal.com]

здесь был я

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Did you like China?

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

Putin must urgently marry)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm sure he has a lot of female attention. :)

The confusion

[ru-ua-by.livejournal.com]

This handkerchief for feet.

Re: The confusion

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Handkerchief for feet?? Извините, я не понимаю?

[jenden-bm.livejournal.com]

I think the issue was blown out of proportion and sensationalized. Can't imagine this being a big deal to anybody, not even for chinese.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Media all over the world likes to focus on such sensational stories because they are mindless and feed entertainment to the majority, who don't wish to focus on more thought provoking issues. However, I do find all of these cultural nuances interesting. Did we previously communicate in the pora_valit community?

[amelivalenti.livejournal.com]

На хуя ты на инглише вещаешь в русскоязычном сегменте? Отзынь!!!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hugs from America! Calm down.

Chinese business etiquette

[urussshitan.livejournal.com]

All Chinese very much don't love when strangers and foreigners touch them.
Women in particular feel physiological hostility to tactile signs of attention
from strangers or little-known people.
Embraces, pat on a back, in general any other forms of close corporal contacts
can shock Chinese.
That is why the moment when Putin covered the first lady with a plaid, censorship of China at once cleaned from all mass media.
Plus Putin knocked the U.S. President - Obama on a back "friendly "when they were photographed all together, that Chinese too regarded as ignorance...

Re: Chinese business etiquette

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks for putting the comment back in. It's very helpful. :) Visit more often.

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

I lived with Сhinese when I studied in the college in London and we also have some chinese students in my Moscow Institute and I did not mentioned too many differences comparing them with western people. The most remarkable is that they like to cook, they do not buy prepared meals and do not visit eatery. And they like to cook and eat collectively.

They are also not big fans of communist party. They even told me that they are ashamed of the leading role of the Communist Party in their Constitution. Social networks such as Facebook are blocked in China.

There was a big friendship between Russia and China during soviet times. I have a book, chineese presented to my grandfather, they wrote there that it is a present for "a loved older brother".

Unfortunatly, we quarreled with them later because of the debunking of the Stalin's cult of personality and peninsula Damansky.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

My family also likes to eat collectively. :) You will see when I publish my holiday posts about Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

My version this is not a problem with the shawl. Problem is with Mr. Putin suggestive grim as if he is about to make out with her.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's a very unusual look for him. He usually has a very sour, mean looking face.

[deo-from-diary.livejournal.com]

http://papahuhu.livejournal.com/130579.html?thread=406035#t406035

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Have you learned the Chinese language since you moved there? I understand it's difficult to find English speakers there.

[rollson.livejournal.com]

I was working in chinese company.
They (Chinese) slurp and fart.

But actually they are like we are.. like human..

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Slurp and fart? :)) At work? This does not sound like a good office mate. :)

[olegpro.livejournal.com]

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

[fortunatus6.livejournal.com]

I am proud of our President

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why are you proud of him? Because he acting as a gentleman in this instance, or you're proud for other reasons?

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

in the interim, he tries to curb his cravings with this gum.

I have had a friend some time ago who has said to me after giving a birth that it's not all that painfull and she doesn't understand what is all that fuss about and why are they scream so much in movies.

Same here with me and cigarets. I smoked really a lot. Almoast every free minute I didn't know what to do, I went and smoke. But then I decided to drop it and I just stopped and no sufferring has followed.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's good you were able to stop smoking so easily, but for most cigarette smokers this isn't the case. It's a serious addiction, just like alcohol or drugs. My sister smokes. I really hate it. :(