Shi Bu Shi
(pronounced in Beijingese "Sure, Boo Sure" with an emphasis on boo!)
It means literally "Is, Is Not?"
As with many things here, the label and the actual thing are only superficially connected. Living here is like living in a Vegas version of your real life. While it seems to me, living here for the majority of citizens is still very much like life in the middle ages. Not of course the growing and rising middle class who live quite well, but the majority of Chinese. I wonder how they will benefit from the growth of China?
On Tipping or Not
As an American, I feel guilty sometimes for not tipping for services which I am so accustomed to paying for in the States. It is like a unstated agreement with all the other foreigners to not begin tipping, as we have all become so used to getting things for nothing or close to it. Its like a flood gate scenario and you don't want to be responsible for the tidal wave. But to be fair, the idea of customer service does not exist here. Its a chicken/egg thing. Tips create incentive when service is aware of the possibility. The mentality here is that the foreigners happily pay a bit more for goods and go to places for foreigners expecting this hike, so why add tip?
Just know, even in fancy places the level of service you will receive is very basic. It may be more cultural than anything. Still trying to get a better sense of this whole issue, but the locals are getting savvy to what they might be missing out on. I can feel it.
Literally Translated
Public Bathroom = "Protect Your Health Room"
Local News Update
English language magazines are being halted starting with their summer issues, presumably for fear of possible content that could be exposed to the Olympic visitors, but who knows! There is not logic to the way media is controlled here. It is a crack down and all our magazines "That's Beijing" and "Time Out Beijing" will not be available as we've known it. Though the branding my continue to exist, the content and producers will be different. We can look out for a new project called "Beijinger" started by the folks who have been bringing us "That's Beijing." The weird thing is that usually they leave the foreigners alone to read and see what we want, knowing the general Chinese population neither has access or the desire for access to this kind of information. But now, something must be different as the rope has tightened. The biggest benefit to the status quo is that the language barrier is so strong, even for foreigners who have studied for years. Apparently, its still hard to decipher a menu, so how could you even begin to talk about bigger issues.
On the up side, blogger blogs seem to be allowed for the moment. Let's see how long that lasts.
I am learning as much as I can to try to understand what and why here. Trying to keep an open mind and keep perspective. Just hoping to make some observations, share some insight, and not sound like an ass.
Missing the air in New York and all of you who care enough to read this!
Love to you all.
I held a two week old human baby last night.
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