One of the families we have met here in Guangzhou but who traveled here from a different province were sharing with us that everyone stared at them wherever they went. (Yes. It's true!) They, however, felt that the stares were hostile and it made them feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. That may be because they were in a different place than we were. Or maybe I am limited by my extreme naivete, but I have found the Chinese people to be friendly, helpful, and polite. They seem to me far kinder to foreigners than we are in the US (at least in my area of the US). I interpret the looks as curiosity and no worse, and in general, I just smile. Once, in Kunming, an elderly man came up and chattered at our guide for a moment and then went on his way. The guide told me he said that he had seen me earlier, and I had smiled at him so kindly. That is the impression of Americans that I would like to leave behind. There is another family here - not one with our travel group and I don't know what province they traveled from - but I have noticed them several times because the mother has a very loud and bossy voice. She is also very overweight. I don't say that to be judgmental; they are probably very nice people. But they do seem to be the stereotypical American family who will not leave a good impression behind.
Everyone, from the guides, to the shopkeepers, to hotel employees encourage my faltering attempts at Chinese with enthusiasm. Michael wishes I would stop - but how else do you learn?
exactly! a relative was in a foreign country once and trying to learn more of the language. they said, it's so hard to just try and find out so many words! I said, "welcome to learning a new language!" Truly immersion is the way to learn!!! I've done with 2 other languages!
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