While living in China, I used my Chinese everyday. Very rarely did anyone ever speak English to me because there just weren’t that many people who knew enough English to converse with me. Things like grocery shopping, banking, hair appointments and ordering were all common everyday conversations for me.
Since moving to Taiwan, I’ve found that people really don’t like to speak Chinese with me. They say they don’t understand or they don’t give me the time of day. I’m aware that my accent is a little different, since I learned Chinese in Northern China, but if my friends, students and co-workers understand me, then why doesn’t the rest of the general population? My Chinese teacher assures me that it’s not me.
Here’s a typical example of what I’m talking about. A few weeks ago, John and I decided to rent some DVD’s from Blockbuster. And before you comment on renting, I know. Renting is so passe. We could easily download, but we don’t.
John has been looking for a particular movie for awhile, so we were in the store taking a look around. While we were in the store, I asked how many discs were in a series we were looking at, because the outside of the box wasn’t marked. She understood my question but she got confused when she replied in English. I continued to speak in Chinese and she kept answering in English. Just before we left, I asked her when we needed to return it. She told me in English and when we brought it back on the date she specified, we got hit with late charges. It turns out she messed up and gave us the wrong date in English. Boy, was I ever pissed.
Then she acts like it’s my fault, even though John and I both insist she gave us the wrong date. We paid the late charge and decided to rent the next disc. As we are checking out, she makes a big deal out of letting the other staff know what she’s doing and tells them that they too, should write the date down for us big stupid foreigners so we know when to return it by.
John and I noticed right away that the date she wrote down in English and the date she told me in English were two different dates. But we decided not to say anything and we returned it on the date she had indicated with the slip of paper she had written on taped to the front of the box.
Guess what? It was the wrong return date and she had the balls to try and give us another late charge! Can you believe it? I pointed out her error and reminded her that she did the same thing to us the last time we were in. We had already paid late charges once for her screw-up. We were not going to pay again. She just laughed and brushed it off like it was nothing. Well you know what? It is something! Each time we went in there they made us feel like idiots and made a big deal about us not being able to understand and the mistake has been theirs each time. There’s absolutely no excuse for this one.
John wanted to speak with the manager as we’d already paid late charges due to this woman’s stupidity. After explaining the situation and pointing out the slip of paper, the manager apologized profusely and credited our account with two free rentals.
So tonight we were in there again. John has been looking for a particular movie and for the fourth time in a few days he has been told that it isn’t in. So, he started bitching a bit. He wasn’t loud or anything. He just wanted to know why they never had any movies in and wanted to know where the next nearest Blockbuster was so we could go and rent there as we’d been in several times looking for a specific title. As he’s standing there, she walks to the end of the counter and pulls the movie out that we wanted and hands it to him. There wasn’t any one else in the store and the movie was in plain view. Now we’re wondering if maybe they just don’t like us. What possible excuse could they have for us? We’ve asked for this movie several times. It was in plain view. She obviously understood us and didn’t want to give it to us. Why? Why? Why?
To top it off, when we check out, we check out through a different woman and she makes a big deal out of making sure we understand when the movie is supposed to be back. The other lady must have told the staff about our little ‘misunderstanding.’
Well, understand this. We’re done with renting from Blockbuster in Taiwan. I’ve been here for two years and usually I’m pretty open-minded about cultural differences and misunderstandings, but obviously this is just not my week for making friends. I think I’m going to stay in tomorrow and watch movies….preferably not the rented kind.
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Carrie, go back there one more time and pull out a calendar and teach her the English names of all the months. when she writes the return date in English, you go behind her and write it in Chinese, and ask her in Chinese if this is what she meant. it’s important that when you do that, to only speak in Chinese.
better yet you can use your computer to make little Chinese/English calenders to be used for the purpose of establishing return dates and give one to each of the staff, courtesy of an English teacher. make sure you say “bu-yong chen” lol
those people are the worst examples of Taiwanese indifference. because the movie you wanted is in plain sight, it’s your problem, not theirs. that’s just how it is here.
keep us posted on any updates!
There are Blockbusters in the renegade province? That was your first mistake. Any company that forces directors to edit their movies is bad from the top down. I have completely forgotten about renting DVDs. Kudos to you for not downloading.
I’ll get off my soapbox. Don’t you miss the mainland where DVDs are cheap and plentiful? My DVD purveyor has a razor-sharp memory. Foreigners list their requests on the wall. No matter low long since your last visit, the requested discs are handed over during your next visit.
Their is a place where you can watch free movies and shows online http://www.tvscreenonline.com . This is where I get all my movies at. Just wanna help you guys out.
MJ,
I should mention that the movie was in plain site behind the counter. It wasn’t out on the floor. We asked for it while searching in the store and then when she couldn’t find it, she told us it wasn’t in. When John asked for the address to another Blockbuster, she suddenly ‘discovered’ the movie on the counter. It had been there the whole time.
Mini calendars? That’s a great idea. I hadn’t thought of that one. Maybe I’ll have them made on post-it notes so they don’t have to worry about writing anything down anymore!
Steve,
Funny you should mention it. We were thrilled to see good old fashioned Blockbusters here after leaving China. I stopped watching TV when I moved to China. One of my favorite past-times was hunting through the DVD shops for TV series and the latest flicks. Every time we go to China, we stock up. And yeah, you’re right. The DVD vendors always know exactly what you’re looking for. The only problem we ever had was getting a crap copy, but no one ever minded if we asked to check the quality of the film first on the TV in the shop.
It was a little weird getting used to television again. I still don’t watch that much, but John is a TV aficionado. He has a huge flat-screen TV with surround sound. I don’t mess with it. It’s his turf.
Which branch of Blockbuster is this (if you don’t mind mentioning it)?
I go to one on Jinshan South Road (newly opened). Haven’t had any real problems, but I haven’t been all that impressed, either.
Carrie: I forgot to mention TVU. It’s software that lets you watch network feeds via the net. They even have a great time-shift TV Schedule so you know what time your faves are on in your time zone. Do a search for TVUPlayer.
The only problem I would have in dealing with those cheap dvd shops in China is that you are possibly supporting gangsters, for the most part. It is mainly gangsters involved in the piracy business, just as was the case ten years ago in Hong Kong before they really cracked down on things more.
But the problem with the Blockbusters is not something exclusively to do with Blockbusters, per se, nor is is to do exclusively to do with Taiwan, either.
We have to remember these are really, really young people, usually, working at minimum wage. And unlike some Blockbusters in the larger cities in Canada and the United States, most of the workers in Blockbusters are not cinephiles. Even if you say the name of a well known film, they will not grasp what you mean until long after.
I had the same experience a few times in Blockbuster. Ironically, it was at the Blockbuster in Fengyuan that I had the most trouble. That city (if the same size) is much more urban than Miaoli City, where I had lived before, (and you would think), presumably more sophisticated. In fact, it isn’t.
In some ways, I found Miaoli more sophisticated. I found that, if I tried to speak English, or Mandarin to shopowners or shopworks, I had an easier time communicating in Miaoli than in Fengyuan. Almost nobody speaks good English in Miaoli. It is almost the same in Fengyuan. Still, there are more fluent speakers in the latter city. However, there is a fluidity and openness in people’s attitudes in Miaoli. Don’t catch yourself calling Miaoli residents provincial! Some of their old people (like a wizened bicycle repairman who fixed my bicycle seat, etc.) may have photos of Chiang Kai Shek on their walls, but they are much more gregarious than people in Fengyuan, or even Taichung. I might even extend this to Taipei, where, as a cosmopolitan city which supposedly is more open to the world, to outside ideas, etc., is ironically more closed off in many ways. But maybe people in bigger and more cosmopolitan cities have more of a sense of pride. People who are so proud will not be willing to communicate in their own language, but will think that their English is sufficient, even if it isn’t.
Fee,
This happened in Shu-lin City at the Zhongshan Road branch.
Stevo,
Thanks for the link but I’m going to keep it under wraps. John already watches an unbelievable amount of television. He can do his own dirty work!
Thoth,
Happy Holidays! I know you’ve been busy because you haven’t posted much in the last little while. I’ve missed your comments. Your insight is always greatly appreciated!
:O :S
You have video-store morons everywhere, including and especially back home (don’t you just love “Clerks”?). I would not say this is a general culture thing here. Having rented in other SE-Asia nations, I would have to say that the Taiwanese are exceptionally welcoming and friendly towards me. If I go to the local stores, they sometimes give me discounts or try to make friendly chit-chat (I know – some foreigners would be annoyed with that special treatment as well).
I remember that a long while ago Toshuo was making “Speak to me in Mandarin” T-shirts. That might be a good idea
. I believe you’re also capable of a more direct straight-out “Please say that in Chinese, I want to practice” or something, right?.
Although my Chinese sucks, I sometimes explain to the Taiwanese that English isn’t my native language and I would rather use Chinese. That usually works (from that point on).
Anyways, good story
that’s just the way it is in many asian countries, japan and vietnam included. this is the third time i’ve heard something like this.
there is a reason for it. believe me or not, they try to be polite to you by talking in your mother tongue (which they assume), so that you won’t have to waste your time trying to understand a foreign language (again, they assume). the misunderstanding between you and them have not been resolved in a timely manner, one after another, which lead to you being annoyed/angry, which in turn makes them think you are just another aggorant foreigner.
next time, tell them upfront, and clearly: please speak in … with me. the customer service might not be as good as you might have expected elsewhere, but at least by doing that, it would eliminate unnecessary frustration.
Hi Fili,
Thanks for stopping by. There are times when I’m guilty of not thinking of how things are back home and this is one of them. Of course. You’re right. It’s been so long since I’ve been in a Blockbuster back in Canada that I had forgotten the service there isn’t impeccable! Thanks for reminding me.
Yes. Most days people are extremely friendly and accommodating. I should take the time to include stories that display the other side of living in Taiwan.
For example, the other day I stopped in a local clothing store for a quick browse around. The owner is always happy to see me and loves to chat. When she heard I was sick, she pulled out a bag of oranges and insisted I eat them. I was more than overwhelmed by her kindness.
There are always two sides to the coin.