How we went to the southwest Chinese city of Chengdu on a trip to see the pandas, and entered a pollution-filled haze that the air quality index said was: 'hazardous'
You had a great time, Chengdu is awesome! We love visiting there. I did a whole series of articles on Chengdu in Medium last year. Tibet -Lhasa - is a special place to visit. 🙏
I take it since you grew up in China that you must be fluent in Mandarin, Simon? What Is the coolest thing about being there as someone who's been well integrated but is still technically a foreigner?
I actually grew up in British Hong Kong, so unfortunately didn't learn much Cantonese - Hong Kong's lingua franca - growing up (there was also very little Mandarin there, then). However, I've picked up some Mandarin as an adult, though by no means fluent.
I guess the most difficult thing is explaining to a Chinese person you're from Hong Kong, most just don't get it (or won't accept it). So I guess you always have the benefit of being an outsider, so you can choose when you want to play the 'dumb' foreigner!
You had a great time, Chengdu is awesome! We love visiting there. I did a whole series of articles on Chengdu in Medium last year. Tibet -Lhasa - is a special place to visit. 🙏
Lhasa is definitely on my to-do list - so much to see in China!
Sounds like quite the experience!
I take it since you grew up in China that you must be fluent in Mandarin, Simon? What Is the coolest thing about being there as someone who's been well integrated but is still technically a foreigner?
I actually grew up in British Hong Kong, so unfortunately didn't learn much Cantonese - Hong Kong's lingua franca - growing up (there was also very little Mandarin there, then). However, I've picked up some Mandarin as an adult, though by no means fluent.
I guess the most difficult thing is explaining to a Chinese person you're from Hong Kong, most just don't get it (or won't accept it). So I guess you always have the benefit of being an outsider, so you can choose when you want to play the 'dumb' foreigner!
Ah ok! Yeah I can see how that would be handy 🤣😅