Halloween at the Blue Bar was a bore. There were too many people. In retrospect, the school should have held the party at its own location. The mix of Expats having a Friday night drink and students wasn't at all right.
But I should say my mood at the party was tempered by trouble on the home front. Things are peaceful now but only because of the level of the fury before. But at the party, I was the opposite of a genial host. I was more like the head mourner at a funeral.
Being a lowly Expat English teacher in Wuxi, China I have to deal with snobs. I have learned to put up with it, but my wife can't. And China, despite all those years of Communism, the snobbery here is more intense than you would see in the West.
Being in a foul mood, I noticed a lot of Chinese yelling "laowei" as I passed (usually I ignore it), and I then heard them talking a lot about me as they muttered that word at least three or four times in their ensuing conversation. When they come to Canada or America, they would never hear passerbys saying "China Man" to each other.
The never ending adventures of a Canadian who lives in Wuxi and Jiangyin, China with his Chinese wife Jenny and their son Anthony aka Tony
HI Andis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw you yeasterday, I Know you were in bad mood, see the picture , you looked like lost sth. so I told you Jenny called me afternoon ….. after backing home, we had a long call at night, I’m sure she’s forgived you already when you went home last night.
Both of you have no mistakes, Just because of the difference thinking way and different culture. She ‘s a candid girl,wife and mother. You’d cherish her.
Why you said you are a lowly expat English teacher? A teacher is always respected by people. and you're good at teaching. It 's your good job......
Re the word “laowai”, many people seldom see foreigner , so they feel unusual,strange, you have different skin or eye color and inflat face. They like to say “laowai” but no other meaning. Laowai was respected by most chinese always……
When I see you at school, You ‘re a normal teacher, but when I see you in the blog, I look you and Jenny as good friend, so that’s way I say above things..good luck!!