Dear Fei, Congratulations on your new position in that multinational company that you have been longed for. Regarding your question on if you should give yourself an English name, I don’t think it’s necessary. First of all, how hard is it to remember or pronounce Fei? It’s simple and catchy. It’s much more unique and original than David, John, Jack or whatever names Chinese seem … Continue reading Keep Your Chinese name
If you ask me what is the most common phenomenon in Shanghai, I would say queuing. With a population of 20 million, queues can be seen everywhere. It’s very likely that we will have to line up whenever we go to a supermarket, bank, hospital, let alone the shopping malls during sale season. Shanghai people are well-known for their love of joining the crowd. A … Continue reading Be Careful What You Queue for
When I told my parents and friends that I wanted to be a freelance writer after graduating from university, almost none of them were supportive. There are two types of freelancers in my eyes: those who are forced into freelancing because they are having trouble finding a job, and those who are talented in certain field and enjoy the freedom of working for oneself. I … Continue reading Freelancers Not Free in China
I read an article in a local newspaper the other day that said a 10-year-old pupil in Shanghai had saved more 200,000 yuan ($30,000) in her bank account. What’s more, a couple of her class-mates got allowances from their parents that were in the tens of thousands of yuan. Maybe her parents are rich enough to give her anything she wants, or maybe they are … Continue reading Making Allowance for Wealth
As I was reading an article on holiday texts, it reminded me of the conversation I had with a friend of mine. He said in the US, handwritten notes, cards and small gifts are still the best way to show care and get closer with friends and families. A text seems a bit rude and offensive. As American, he is overwhelmed by how much time Chinese … Continue reading Why China Prefers SMS
When East Meets West 