5 Guilty Pleasures in China Expats Secretly Enjoy

5 Guilty Pleasures in China Expats Secretly Enjoy
Aug 15, 2016 By Bo Brennan , eChinacities.com

You know, it is tough being so firmly nestled in our foreign, gilded roosts here in China. We eat our gluttonous towers of McDonald’s hamburgers and sub-par mayonnaise and corn covered pizza. We delicately spit our food into our napkins instead of on the table. We roll our eyes when children titter in delight at our foreignness. It’s all part of being an expat in China. However, it’s important, pengyous, to remember some of the baser pleasures that flourish in China. It’s okay to admit it, and, I’ll lead the way, for I am as guilty as anyone. So, let us descend from our ivory towers and embrace those guilty pleasures in China expats all secretly enjoy.

1) Ayis
I have to be honest, I was a hold out for a long time, but, eventually I caved, and now I embrace the concept of the ayi wholeheartedly. The siren lure of the ayi proved to be too, too strong. Our friends and family back home stand indignant over video chat on Skype; “Gnash-gnash, look how lazy and entitled you are, gnash-gnash,” goes the chorus like a shower of scornful confetti. Let’s be honest though, the only reasons we didn’t have ayis back in the motherland is because we couldn’t afford it. We come to China, a place of bountiful cheap labor, and soon we’re drowning in the flood of 50 year old Chinese women washing our underwear for 30 RMB an hour. No shame here.

Spitting
Photo: aztux.com

2) Spittin’
The tranquil sounds of old men hocking up their pollution-encrusted phlegm from the bowels of their lungs sing tenderly to me on my walk to the metro every day. This, followed by the satisfying splash of gray-yellow snot hitting the pavement, is one of those China things everyone likes to write on their blog about. We just don’t do it in America or wherever the hell you might be from. It’s just not a thing, but now, it’s time to come clean everybody. We all do it here, and there is no sense in denying it. You have to get that stuff out somehow, right? Of course, most of us don’t do it in buildings or in the office or in people’s houses… but in the street, breathing in a toxic mixture of car exhaust and flagrant humanity, your only choice is to hock all that nonsense out.

3) Being Pushy
China is a jungle sometimes where only the strong survive and a critical part of that survival process is pushing old people—or anyone else for that matter—out of your way so you can pay for your beer at the Kedi. Say you’re in line and an ayi (not yours, of course) comes and swoops in and takes your sweet, tasty line spot you’ve been devoutly holding for several minutes. When I first came here, I would demurely step aside and figure that she was probably in a rush and that it didn’t matter too much. Now, I’m a shorter, angrier, whiter Tim Duncan blocking out a bombardment of impatient ayis coming at me from all angles. It doesn’t stop at your local Family Mart either. Take the metro for example: at first, I let it bother me that people came on the train before I was able to get out of the car, but now, I’m coming off the metro like I’m diving feet first into the mosh-pit at a Metallica concert, and, you have to admit, it’s even better when you barrel over an old person.

4) The Laowai Pecking Order
One of the simple joys of living in China is thinking condescending thoughts about foreigners who have lived here for less time that we have. I can hear the imaginary conversations with these A-holes now—“You’ve only been here three years? Pish-posh. I’ve been here for 47 days longer than you. You can’t even begin to fathom what I know about China.” We all do it, and you can count on it always being here, just like the baozilady serving up hot, delectable, steamed buns at 04:30 in the morning. So, enjoy it in the privacy of your own home, with your close friends or in the wonderful anonymity of expat website forums.  The key to this one is just keep it to yourself as much as possible, because nobody wants to be that annoying, old foreign dude at the bar who has been teaching elementary schools in China for 23 years and talking about how this new batch of foreigners totally don’t understand what it means to live in China. Don’t be that guy.

Chinese massage
Photo: publicdomainpictures.net

5) Massages
The pièce de résistance of guilty pleasures in China is the humble, stress-atomizing massage. Harking back to the aforementioned note on the glut of people living in China, the supply of labor has driven the cost of a back rub down remarkably and thus allowing you, if you’re lucky enough, to solicit some sweet, sweet anmo action for less than the price of a good hamburger. It’s cheap and relaxing and wonderful and damn it feels good after a long day at work.
Now, at the risk of sounding crude, I am not unmindful of the abundance of “special” massages that has proliferated every hill and vale that grace the tangled insides of the Chinese borders. I’m not here to throw stones, my friends. I daresay that many people in the warm privacy of close, forgiving friendships would readily admit to visiting a “special” massage a time or two. Girls, even. Though tales of a female “special” massage parlor is like a Sasquatch or Yeti sighting; you hear tales whispered in dark, clandestine halls but no one has ever seen it with their own eyes. Maybe that would be a good idea for an article…

Epilogue

Now that we have sullied our hands in the basest, most ignoble trenches of expat rituals and acquired customs, it is time for all of us to ascend again to the dizzying heights of our lofty, presentable social norms and mores and pretend that we have no idea what I was just talking about. The doors are closed, and I’ll see you at the top. 
 

Related links
8 Bad Habits to Avoid Developing in China
Sticky Expat Etiquette: Dealing with Other Foreigners in China
Protect Yourself from AFS (Arrogant Foreigner Syndrome)

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Keywords: Guilty Pleasures in China China expats

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Jan 01, 2020 23:33 Report Abuse

Guest14813506

Point 4 can be applied to any country

Oct 11, 2016 01:38 Report Abuse

royceH

Just don't do it

Aug 25, 2016 14:36 Report Abuse

Guest427330

One of the worst thing i notice while tianjin that in the morning on the way to work i always find POOP on the foothpath.i still don't understand why these stupid villagers do like this.disgusting people.

Aug 19, 2016 12:02 Report Abuse

Robk

Yup, I remember this article. Didn't grab my interest then, still doesn't now. I would suggest perhaps coming upon new material and writers. It is like you (the editors) are under the impression that expats here have a shelf life of three years for the site (possibly for China as well). There are plenty of stories and items to write about, why recycle and risk annoying your loyal fan-base?

Aug 15, 2016 23:44 Report Abuse

kuntmans

Is this website fully automated now, just a script that throws out these pieces from years ago based on number of hits?

Aug 15, 2016 16:51 Report Abuse

Hotwater

More recycled dross. ECC articles are starting to look like the equivalent of gutter oil.

Aug 15, 2016 13:52 Report Abuse

dom87

how often you wanna get out these bullshit articles from 3 years ago? First and foremost all comments are negative and yet you still post it again... it is really redonkulous this website really goes down

Aug 15, 2016 09:13 Report Abuse

Timtimtim

I don't like any of these things...

Aug 15, 2016 01:54 Report Abuse

juanisaac

The top ten reasons not to have a “top number reasons” guide 1.I appreciate the effort of writing the piece, but can a writer appreciate the effort of reading it? They help the writing process to just fill in a paragraph after a number, but some articles actually do need an introduction and a conclusion to know what is going on. Sometimes I would really like to know the “why,” not just the “what.” 2.Variety of pieces is also a key to keep interest. Top any number guides get boring fast as they all seem to be the same. I can see that they are a necessity sometimes, but let’s not abuse the option. 3.Writing 101- what is actually the purpose of some of these? To make an argument, to describe, to entertain- something first taught in a community college writing class. That I can get away with some stuff that other Chinese can’t is not actually news. That I can afford a Chinese maid at cheap prices brings nothing to my life. 4.See number three. 5.See number four. 6.See numbers five and four. 7.(This is one is just for filler.) 8.I forgot this one. 9.Personal experiences are good, but not totally indicative of what is out there. A bit of research with stats and numbers also helps to bring authority to a piece. I talked to this guy, I heard this, is not always evidence. 10.Start at one again.

May 29, 2013 11:22 Report Abuse

jknox00

You are the lowest of the ex-pat 'pecking order'. Just for thinking there is a 'pecking order' you get to be part of.

May 30, 2013 06:04 Report Abuse

beaufortninja

The only time I spit is when I'm in an alley and there's no one else around. And I don't push. I'm a civilized and cultured person. Also, I clean up after myself. This article is mighty presumptuous.

May 23, 2013 13:27 Report Abuse

jknox00

Easily the worst best 'douchebag article' of the year. No, actually I don't spit phlegm and no its not a secret little desire. In fact, to this day I still maintain a rule about being the least 'pushy' as possible and probably to a fault. Only exceptions if I'm purposely blocking queue-jumper (I'm brutally 'pushy' with them on purpose). I don't consider hiring people to do jobs I cannot do a 'guilty pleasure' and I find it disturbing the author sees it that way. Massage is crucial to me due to back problems (real massive-surgery ones btw) but was especially disgusted at the 'wink-wink' about getting hand jobs for cash. Dude - DO NOT 'wink' at me about this. Real men don't pay for sex and believe this - I DO 'look down' on you for such a thing. Possibly more annoying is that most pathetic petty BS about who's the big champion know-it-all about China. Again, disturbs me you even consider that kind of small-man attitude a 'guilty pleasure' and not a 'secret shame'. But congrats on accidentally writing a powerful emotion-invoking article. The only problem is that it was the 'made me want to puke' douche-chill invoking kinds of emotions. Objectively speaking - it's also a reminder that we have too many ex-pats being little douchebags and possibly hurting our reputations in China.

May 23, 2013 04:48 Report Abuse

Guest43004

Memories: It was interesting going to large markets like Carefore or WalMart and have the employees treat one as a foreigner that should go to a smaller store and pay higher prices. Or going to a bank to transfer money and the next day going to computer store refusing to bargain. On leaving, another clerk asking, "Why did you not bargain?" "The banker next door told me he was leaving for a new position." Getting on a small minibus full of students by grabing the sides of the rear door to push in. The next stop the student getting on has to perform the same movement with everyone inside adjusting for one more sardine.

May 23, 2013 01:22 Report Abuse

syoung108

Funny article. And definitely don't be that old dude, until you're old. And then, you're that old dude whether you like it or not. Actually, talking about Metallica and mosh pits pretty much makes you an 'old dude'. Just keep pretending that you'll never be 'that old dude'. --an old dude.

May 22, 2013 22:00 Report Abuse

CARLGODWIN1983

I think it's safe to say that the write of this article must be in the minority. Are you the same foreigner who begs on the bus in CHangsha? Whatever you do or don't do, please go back home and leave this country. I am British. I know people spit in the UK, but not on this level. Needless to say, you are saying that all foreigners spit here. Of all the things they may do, I can defiantly say you are talking crap. I detest spitting as much as mosquitoes, so, I have proven you to be talking crap, and others who have posted comments here also show you up as someone who is talking crap. Travellers are generally better behaved than those who don't travel, I think, but you are definitely not a decent respectful traveler. For the record, I tell most people I have an influence over to not do such disgusting things.

May 22, 2013 14:19 Report Abuse

Guest2181250

I had a good piss on the street yesterday... not sure I agree with most this article tho

May 22, 2013 14:14 Report Abuse

13david

Spitting, rates only next to kids shitting in the streets through their split pants. The universal spitting in China is just gross.I was just about to punch this one guy out for turning around in a restaurant and spitting on the floor near us!Also got a pic of him smoking under a no smoking sign. My Chinese wife now in the non spitting country of Australia has always been disgusted with spitting Chinese. She relates a story of her manager constantly trying to get onto her, wining and dining her then on numerous occasions winding down the window of his limo to have his blood curdling spit. As she said imagine kissing that!!! Pushing, you have to become skilled at it. It's push or be pushed. After a short while of being a victim I became an instant responder. I guess it's the lack of personal space that is the main cause. Anyway it got my hackles up. Here's a bit of advice, develop "wings". Get those elbows out and experience the buzz of knocking over a few dashers and weavers , through the crowds that are China. Don't get me wrong, I love china, but sometimes you have to do what a man has to do.

May 22, 2013 12:03 Report Abuse

CARLGODWIN1983

David, We need a rep system for comments like yours. A thumbs-up isn't sufficient.

May 22, 2013 14:31 Report Abuse

carlstar

wings and a scrum. wait, pause, engage. The spitting thing is just nasty. How is it that one must do it. Is it actually a smoker thing and people use pollution as an excuse.

May 22, 2013 19:18 Report Abuse

13david

Not sure what you mean . Rep system ? Enlighten me.

May 23, 2013 09:57 Report Abuse

chamaflauge

echinacities articles remind me of Listverse...because all these articles do is list things with brief descriptions...Who is in charge of creativity in this department? Why don't these people write about things that matter? wHat about racism and color discrimination in China, and how to remedy this situation....It seems most of these articles are for hipsters.... I remember 3 years ago going to a job fair and echinacities was looking for writers...I was attempting to talk with the lady at the booth because I was highly interested, that was until she met some guy she knew from long ago....They must have had some kind of connection because she totally ignored me after that...I had no hope in getting the job....She basically handed him the position in my face. Now I only come on here for jobs...the rest is just a sham...If you don't know anybody you are basically up sh-ts creek...Caucasians and Chinese are the only writers...I doubt if they have other writers with different perspectives than these two groups

May 22, 2013 09:56 Report Abuse

13david

I agree with the more recent"choice" of topics. You'd think that the powers that be would have more clues as to topics of interest. Surely you don't have to be Einstein to figure out why so many articles receive so few comments. Lift your game Chinacities

May 22, 2013 12:08 Report Abuse

Croquantes

Oh YES. I admit to secretly indulging in pushing. There's a variety of them, the gentle push with a shopping cart to nudge people out of the way, the full body push squirm when someone tries to butt in front you in line, and the ramming speed push when people try and board/swarm a subway door before you're even close to getting off. When my mandarin is advanced enough, I just know I'm going to exult in being able to politely tell people off who do rude things like butting in line and giving horrible service. I can almost imagine the shocked looks on their faces... Oh it's going to be delicious!

May 22, 2013 05:53 Report Abuse