Hi everyone
Some friends are visiting us and coming into Kunming on the bus from Hekou. Does anyone know which bus station they will come into?
Thanks in advance
Hamish
Wow, someone really needs to go get some cultural senstitivity training! I haven't read anything this offensive in quite a while.
Firstly, if you haven't noticed, you are in CHINA. You are also in Kunming, which is *not* a semi-westernised city in the same way the Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing are. The Chinese are not western, and I, for one, think that is a good thing. It wouldn't be an interesting experience for me to live in China just to have everything the same as at home. I could just stay at home and save myself a lot of time and money.
Secondly, the sign at Salvador's clearly states that the building is old and it cannot support "pooping" or toilet paper. Installing a western-style toilet will not fix this problem. It is an infrastructure issue. Ironically, whilst I find your post culturally insensitive to the point of being offensive, I do actually agree that the toilet is the greatest weakness of Salvador's. I strongly suggest that whinging about it here is not constructive, and that maybe you should go talk to the management (two of whom are American and even speak English reasonably well!), and suggest a more thorough and regular cleaning roster and the use of air freshener.
Thirdly, you need to understand that "most" Chinese families have NOT adopted western-style toilets. As I have said above, maybe they have adopted western style toilets in the more westernised cities, but the vast majority of the Chinese population does not live there, and they have not (lothes.blogspot.com/2006/03/asian-toilets.html). In any case, I would take a dirty squat toilet, which I don't have to touch, over a dirty western-style toilet any day! (www.escapeartist.com/efam/75/Surviving_In_China.html)
As for the cigarette smoking assertion, if you don't like the smoking, I'd strongly suggest that China is not the place for you, as they have the highest incidence of smoking in the world (www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/fact_sheets/fs_20020528.htm). In fact western cigarette companies are trying to break into this market, and the government is trying to stop them (www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1099728,00.html). So the west is actually *contributing* to the problem, not trying to solve it. Is that a good habit? Once again, I suggest you talk to the management at Salvador's and see what they have to say.
Maybe you could raise a petition for a better toilet and non-smoking area? I think that would be a better use of our time, rather than me feeling like I have to write this demonstrating that not all ex-pats are as culturally insensitive as you.
Regards,
Hamish
Hi Andrewc,
There is a New Zealander, Phillip, in town, who is teaching Karate-do lessons. He runs beginner classes on Monday & Wednesday nights from 7-8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5.45-6.45pm. He is also available on the weekends for classes by arrangement. He charges 200 Yuan per calendar month, and maybe a bit more for private lessons by arrangement. I no longer have the information on the exact address but the dojo is on the top floor near the corner of Xichang Lu and Xiba Lu just to the south-west of the main part of the city. Phillip's number is 135 293 973 34. Hope this helps, Hamish
The Kunming Business Association is hosting an informal dinner, organized to give local foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to exchange experiences and practices on doing business in Kunming and Yunnan.
This month, it is being held on Friday 8th June. If you are interested and would like some more information about the dinner or the association, please contact Hamish on 159 251 70 750.
Geteven said:
>"It is impossible to find a bank with no international withdrawal charges."
>"Anyone have a banking success story?"
Actually, yes! In Australia, we have a company called Wizard which offers a credit card (called Clear Advantage MasterCard) which has no fees for withdrawing from an international ATM. We can use this card at ICBC ATM's to w/draw cash, and also at Carrefour, Metro, etc with the MasterCard. Not having to pay the ATM fees, and foreign currency conversion fees has saved us a LOT of money.
Not sure about American banks for the OP (original poster), but in Australia we have this, so something similar might exist in the US. Wizard is a subsidiary of GE Finance, so have a look at what GE (General Electric) offers in the US.
Hope this helps,
Hamish
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