Thread: China + birds
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Old 03-20-2008, 04:12 PM   #14
Colly Wolly
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Originally Posted by SoonerCoug View Post
I work with lots of Chinese people (directly from China). We have huge communication problems for a variety of reasons.

I never cease to be amazed by the vast cultural differences. Also, it's basically impossible for me to have an intelligent discussion with most of them because of what I perceive to be their warped sense of reality resulting from intense indoctrination. It's a little like trying to have an intelligent discussion with Lingo.

My Chinese friends are shocked when they see birds. Many of them say that we have a "bird disaster" in our American cities. They consider birds in cities to be something like an infestation.

I've tried to explain to them that it's pretty normal to have birds in cities outside China. When I tell them that the reason they don't have birds is because Mao ordered them exterminated, and rampant pesticide use has killed the rest of the birds, they get angry and tell me this isn't true.

They also think Josef Stalin was a stud.
Nice observations. I agree with you. There is a crazy phenomenon afoot. As China continues to open it's doors to Westernization and free market capitalism, it's people are becoming more fervently nationalist. They defend their Mao-era history (when pressed they will acknowledge he was "7 parts right, 3 parts wrong). They want the whip cracked on Tibet and Taiwan. Anyone have any explanations/thoughts on this?
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