User profile: Alien

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Kids approaching foreigners for English small talk

I don't see how it's rude - most 'white-skinned foreigners' in Kunming speak pretty good English, whether or not it is their mother tongue. It is important, however, to communicate the idea (which is largely the result of the fact that most foreigners who travel here can speak English) that English is the language of non-Asian (at least) foreigners.
Anyway, back to the point: if you don't want to get into conversations with the kids, don't growl at them but be nice - the expat growl would only reinforce the xenophobia they may be getting from history and culture through their parents, teachers, etc. - i.e., they don't have to carry cultural baggage that is no longer appropriate (if it ever was).

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Forums > Living in Kunming > car buying, rental, and a whole nine yard

@6750cc, I have always loved driving in the countryside but have stopped driving because it is obviousl f****ing up the world. Sorry about your pleasure. Suggest you folks ride in ordinary buses here rather than filthy ones. Yes, public transportation could be better, but private-automobile transportation is destructive but could be worse, is getting worse and will be worse.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Cheap Apartments in Kunming

I have a small flat - bedroom, living room, small area with enough windows, kitchen, bathroom with small bathtub, squat toilet, Y800/month. It's a litttle over 2 kms. from Wenlinjie.

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@ redjon: OK, I agree.
@ForeignGuy: (1) I appreciate the problem, but it's possible to know a language and control its use in the classroom. (2) What about living in KM? Don't know your Chinese ability, but I'm not pretending everybody become fluent, which is the kind of irrational and impossible goal that has kept friends of mine from learning any Chinese at all - and that is a stupid mistake. On the other hand, if you can only buy things in the market in Chinese etc. you are shortchanging yourself, as well as those you attempt to communicate with and live among.

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Although I have studied at Keats and find it's the bet place to study Chinese in Kunming that I know of, the article sounds a bit like a plug for Keats.
As for studying Chinese, imagine how idiotic it would be to live in any country for more than about 6 months and not be abler to hold a conversation in that country's language.

Reviews

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Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.

As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.

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Large portions, seriously so with the pizza, which is Brooklyn/American style, I guess. Convivial, conversational, good place to drink with good folks on both sides of the bar, especially after about 9PM.

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Really good pizza and steaks. The wine machine fuddles me when I'm a bit fuddled, & seems unnecessary. Good folks on both sides of the bar.