Socialising 61
Socialising with the Locals
In 1997, one of the author’s colleagues was making his first
trip to the United States. In preparing to depart, one of his
questions was, “How much does it cost to get mugged in New
York?” After carefully explaining that there was no fixed or
negotiated price involved with being mugged, it was strongly
suggested that he avoid going to places that he was likely to
be mugged. Pirated movies had strongly influenced his view
of crime, sexuality and lifestyle in the United States.
Upon returning from the same trip, it was none of these
three that had created a profound impact; the one that had
an impact was that no one knew that he was a foreigner in
the United States. His sense of heritage and belonging was
so strongly affiliated with China that it was staggering to him
that anyone would think he was from anywhere else.
Stranger yet was a place where people’s citizenship wasn’t
dictated by their ethnicity. In China, it is clear when you
are a foreigner. Unless you are born Chinese, you can never
become Chinese. Blood is the defining factor that makes
you Chinese.
The expression used for foreigners in China is laowai.
Alternated with ‘hullo’, it is the most common greeting and
exclamation of surprise when you are sighted in less worldly
parts of the country. Laowai is a combination of two words
that mean ‘old’ and ‘outsider’. Together they are a polite
word for foreigner.
