I really don't mind this sort of thing unless it becomes one-after-another, but I think a simple polite refusal or acceptance is the proper form. As for the appropriateness of the exercise, I think the form ("Hello my name is Joey I'm 7 I live in..." etc.) is a bit primitive, but the fact that real kids get to talk to real English speakers is good - all too many people in China have a nervous kind of feeling about 'foreigners' that is a result of bits of xenophobia in Han culture that stresses a 'They are REALLY DIFFERENT who knows what they'll do or say?' attitude, which often demonstrates or results in inappropriate this that or the other ('Welcome to China!' 'But I speak Chinese and have been here for 15 years.' Never mind, welcome to China!' etc. - after which it begins to be about face rather than real communication). Young kids, especially, can be talked to simply like real kids from anywhere, will respond to kindness even though it comes from a funny-looking guy whom they otherwise might be taught to fear as an ogre, and will be delighted. I really don't have much of a problem with this, unless, obviously, some parent simply uses you inconsiderately for a long period of time. The value of the exercise is not really in teaching method/learning more language, but in learning that people who look different and speak different languages are people too - as good a lesson as I know for people of any age, and a good one to acquire while young.
Popular night market locations closed, ban appears permanent
Posted byI think street vendors are fine, although not nearly so many together as are on Wenhuaxiang.
As for the chengguan, I hope enough get in hot water to eliminate the pay-to-look-the-other-way syndrome.
Popular night market locations closed, ban appears permanent
Posted bySeems to me that the clearance of this market is, on balance, a good thing, but such determined activity by the chengguan, apparently carried out in the unnecessarily rough manner which has been their trademark, must have been at the orders of some serious source in government or Party, at some level. Would like to know what level that was, and why it all seems to have come down so vigorously and all at once (the timing, just before Chunjie, doesn't strike me as odd - there's usually a coming-to-an-end and then beginning-anew theme around this time of year)?
Getting Away: Yunnan's eerie Wumao Earth Forest
Posted byHey, great photos. I've long heard of the 'earth forest' but somehow the thing never sounded that interesting to me, but thanks to your photos I now have a different point of view.
Kunming to put 45,000 public use bikes on roads
Posted bySeems to me the deposit might be returned only after the bike has been returned, and vice versa. Naturally, profit-seekers here have to be controlled by law, registration, etc., and not allowed to run off with the deposits. I don't understand that people would junk the bikes somewhere if it meant they'd lose Y299.
Kunming to put 45,000 public use bikes on roads
Posted byTiger, thanks for the Guardian article - seems the refundable Y299 is a good idea.